Who would have ever thought that buying a hot tub would he such an arduous experience? We had to know all about pumps, wiring, covers, cleaners, whether we wanted in ground, above ground, or inflatable. There was so much to learn, so much to absorb. Although the experience of buying a hot tub wasn't my favorite, I must say that learning about hot tub filters was interesting. Here is a little of what I learned.
Hot Tub Filters Galore!
Most people would think that hot tub filters would be like any other filter; just a mesh screen with holes small enough to capture leaves, sticks, and dead squirrels, but hot tub filters are much more than that.
Diatomaceous earth filters (DE filters) are pretty simple. They are the ordinary mesh screens, but with a twist. These mesh screens are coated with a thin layer of DE which acts as a vacuum cleaner sucking up any particles of microscopic dirt. Diatomaceous earth is actually crushed petrified bones that are actually fields of microscopic pores. Just like human bone; under a microscope you can see all the little spongy holes that you can't see with the naked eye. DE acts as a sponge, using all those little holes to work for your benefit. Another benefit of having a DE hot tub filter is that it is earth "friendly". Because it is made from a natural source you don't have to worry about any additional harsh chemicals swimming around in your hot tub. One downside to having a DE filter is that the government has strict regulations on how to dispose of DE, so before you buy make sure you are willing to follow the rules regarding disposal.
Another type of hot tub filter is the sand filter. Sand filters use- yes that's right, you guessed it- sand! I know what you're thinking, sand couldn't possibly be used do filter out dirt and muck, its sand! But that is an incorrect assumption. Sand filters use a particular type and amount of sand and gravel.
The water passes through the sand filter and mixes with the sand and gravel which pulls out dirt, and rocks, and other ickies that you don't want in your hot tub. The sand filter is good at catching all the big stuff, but all the microscopic nasties will escape. For that reason, it would be smart to purchase a coagulate along with your sand filter. A coagulate makes all the microscopic things large enough to be trapped by the hot tub filter. There is a slight downside to owning a sand filter; you have to replace the sand every few years.
The most common filter used in today's hot tub is the cartridge filter. Cartridge filters are usually made with Dacron, which is a fine mesh with little pleats. The key to the filter's performance are the pleats, or tight little folds that snag all the undesirables out of your hot tub water.
Now that I have had the opportunity to share with you what I have learned about hot tub filters, I hope that you will share it with others. The process of looking for, and purchasing a hot tub shouldn't be all boring statistics; you should have a little fun. Know before you go, and all the little things about choosing a hot tub, won't be so annoying.
