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Everything You Need To Know About Spa Filters
Spa filters are one of the most important parts of the spa,
although they are generally forgotten about. It is very
important to change your filter on a regular basis, because that
is what keeps bacteria, dirt, bugs, and all other kinds of nasty
things out of your spa. The spa circulates all of the water
through the filter to trap these contaminates. How often you
change your filter depends on the type of filter you use, but
normally you should replace it every year or two. Below are the
three types of filters you can buy, however you should check
with the manufacturer as to what type of filter they recommend
you should use with your particular spa.
The most common type of spa filter is the sand filter. As the
name suggests, this type of filter uses a specific type of sand
(and gravel) to remove contaminate particles from your water.
The only problem with a sand filter is that it will not remove
all particles on its own. To help, you have to add something to
the water to cause the smallest particles to clump together into
bigger particles, thereby allowing the filter to remove them.
You should also note that the sand in the filter should be
replenished every few years of regular use. These filters must
be backwashed to be cleaned.
The second type of spa filter is the cartridge filter. The
cartridge filter uses a folded polyester mesh or paper material
to trap the particles contained in the water. The more mesh that
is used and the more folds used, the more thoroughly this type
of filter cleans the water. You can often buy cartridge filters
right from the manufacturer of your spa, or you can get filters
made by third parties, usually at a discounted price.
The third type of spa filter is the Diatomaceous Earth filter.
This type uses fine mesh AND Diatomaceous Earth (DE) particles
(which is simply ground up fossils). This filter works the same
way as the others, trapping contaminate in the mesh and DE. Some
places have laws governing the removal of DE, so you need to
take that into consideration. The DE filter has to be backwashed
to be cleaned, and then a new coating of DE has to be applied to
it.
To make sure the water in your spa is properly filtered, you
should run it EVERY day for at least an hour. That way, even if
you aren't using the spa, the water is still being thoroughly
cleaned.
Finally, to add to the life of your filter, you should make sure
that all individuals using the spa are relatively clean before
getting in. The more contaminates you put in, the harder the
filter will have to work, thus shortening its lifespan. These
contaminates may include hairspray, sweat, deodorant, hair, skin
lotions, dirt, and even dead skin cells. In fact, people
themselves are the major source of spa contaminates. Insist that
those intending to use the spa shower beforehand. This can lead
to a large savings on spa filter maintenance and replacement.
About the author:
Credit: Ian Anderson of The Spa Resort, the spa information
site. For more spa information and articles like this one visit:
The Spa Resort