Out of all the components that make up a hot tub, hot tub filters seem to be the most abused part. The filter forces out water while your hot tub is running.

The filter is responsible for removing algae, leaves, bacteria, hair, oils bugs, dissolved solids and any other type of foreign material from the water of your hot tub.

Currently, there are three different types of hot tub filters available on the market and each one provides its own separate benefit when used.

The first filter that I am going to discuss are filters that are made up of Diatomaceous Earth. These types of filters are made of extremely fine mesh that is coated with diatomaceous earth.

The DE is similar to a netting which traps any small or microscopic foreign particles in the water. DE is made from crushed petrified bones that look exactly like a sponge with millions of tiny pores.

As you know, many people have put a large focus on going 'green' to protect the environment. One of the advantages of using a Diatomaceous Earth filter is that it is made of organic materials and is non-polluting. In simple terms, it is safe for the environment, which is a definite plus!

However, many municipalities or other environmental authorites have strict guidelines that must be followed in regards to disposing of these filters. This can be a concern for you when it is time to clean these hot tub filters.

There are also sand filters available for hot tub owners to purchase. These filters use the sand as a medium to pull out any dirt and impurities that may be lurking in your hot tub water. The only downside to these types of filters is that small microscopic particles can escape.

There is a way to avoid this issue with sand filters; there are products on the market such as Spa Bright and Clear that will assist the filter by coagulating the foreign particles into larger particles that the filter can catch before the water is regurgitated back into the spa.

 As far as the maintenance end goes, it is highly suggested to add new sand to this type of filter every few years. Please note that these hot tub filters require a specific type of sand. In other words, you cannot take a trip to your local beach and bring back sand to use for your filter.

I would have to say that the most popular type of hot tub filters that are available for hot tub owners to purchase would be the cartridge filters. The cartridges are made with a fine, pleated mesh material which is usually made of Dacron. The filter's success depends solely on the pleats in the material.

The tiny pleats allow for a large amount of material to be used in a small container. In simple terms, the more material you use, the larger the surface area will be to sucessfully trap dirt and debris from the water in your tub!

Continued