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Hot tub filter guides
Direct, sourced answers to the questions spa owners ask most. Every claim links to the manufacturer, Unicel, Pleatco or CDC source.
- How often should you replace a hot tub filter?
Replacement intervals for hot tub filter cartridges from Hot Spring, Jacuzzi, Sundance, Unicel and Pleatco, and why there is no single number.
- How to clean a hot tub filter (step by step)
The cartridge cleaning procedure Unicel and Pleatco publish: hose rinse, degreasing soak, optional acid soak, and rinse — plus what to avoid.
- How often should you clean a hot tub filter?
Rinse and deep-clean schedules for spa filter cartridges according to Hot Spring, Jacuzzi, Sundance, Pleatco and Unicel.
- How to find your spa filter size
Find the right replacement cartridge by its part number or by measuring diameter, length and end-cap fittings.
- OEM vs Unicel vs Pleatco spa filters: what’s the difference?
Why the same hot tub cartridge has an OEM number, a Unicel number and a Pleatco number, and how cross-references work.
- Signs your hot tub filter is bad (and needs replacing)
How to tell when a spa filter cartridge is worn out rather than just dirty, according to Unicel, Pleatco, Jacuzzi and Hot Spring.
- Spa filter cleaner vs DIY soaks (TSP, dishwasher detergent, vinegar, bleach)
Which cleaning solutions cartridge makers actually approve for hot tub filters, and which to avoid.
- Should you acid wash a spa filter?
When muriatic acid soaking is appropriate for a hot tub cartridge, Unicel’s bubble test, and the safety rules.
- Can you put a hot tub filter in the dishwasher or use a pressure washer?
What Jacuzzi, Pleatco and Sundance say about dishwashers, washing machines, pressure washers and stiff brushes on spa filter cartridges.