Where are Hot Tub Filters Located?
So, you recently purchased a hot tub, that’s great! Now, there’s going to come a time when you will need to clean or replace the filter. One of the questions we receive most often at Master Spa Parts is, “Where are hot tub filters located?” We’re sad to say there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Manufacturers can design the filter to be just about anywhere, really. But, it isn’t some sort of united effort among hot tub designers to confuse consumers; it often comes down to where it makes the most sense to place the filter in relation to the other system components. Generally, filters are located before the heater, but identifying which way the water is flowing through your hot tub’s plumbing network can be more hassle than what it’s worth. So, what other options do you have? Read on to find out!
How to Locate Your Hot Tub's Filter
Here are some tips on how to go about locating your hot tub filter.
- Consult the User Manual – We’re sorry to start off this informational article with the obvious, but have you taken a look in your hot tub’s user manual? Because if you’re like most of us, the manual has probably become lost in a stack of mail somewhere, so just use the handy electronic one!
- Search Online for a Manual – Many hot tub user manuals can be found online in convenient PDF format — especially if your hot tub was manufactured by a major brand (view Master Spa Owners Manuals). And like the print version, you most likely want to look at the beginning or end of the document for a section that identifies the major components of your hot tub, such as the heater, drain, etc.
- Search for Your Filter... “I Spy” Style – If you’ve looked online and haven’t found an owner’s manual for your particular hot tub model, there is one more way you can find your filter, but it’s going to take a little bit of detective work. Remember those “I Spy” object-finding books from your childhood? What you want to look for is a couple of different things such as cylindrical (tube-like) plastic housing that has a twist-off cap, or a filter lid that lifts up and your filters are below. This method works best if you have the replacement filter in hand and can make a rough estimate as to the size of the filter’s housing. Most top-loading filter assemblies will have a black cap while the body of the unit will typically be white or off-white.
Steps to Change a Hot Tub Filter
Great! Now that you’ve located your hot tub filter, the next step is to determine whether you need to give it a good rinse or order a Master Spas replacement hot tub filter. Changing out your filter is relatively easy to do and will only take a few minutes of your time. So, let’s get started... just simply follow along with these easy steps:
- Power Off Your Spa. You can never be too cautious when working on high-voltage appliances, and hot tubs are no exception to this rule. So, before you go about changing your filter, it’s best to turn offer power to your hot tub. The best way to do this is by flipping the circuit breaker switch that leads to your hot tub. This not only keeps you safe, but also keeps any debris from becoming accidentally pushed into your hot tub’s pump if for some reason it decides to begin the clean cycle before you have time to insert a filter.
- Remove the Hot Tub Filter. Once the power is shut off to your hot tub, you can now safely remove your hot tub’s filter. Depending on the style of filter being replaced, you may need to turn the top of the filter counterclockwise to free it from the assembly, while others can be simply pulled out.
- Clean or Replace the Filter. Now that you have located and extracted your hot tub filter, you now have two options: clean the filter or replace it with a new one. If your hot tub filter appears to be discolored, or you’ve owned your hot tub for more than a year without a filter change, you likely want to swap it out for a fresh filter. If you’ve determined that your hot tub filter needs to be replaced and you don’t have a replacement on hand, a good rinse-off should be sufficient while you wait for a replacement to arrive. If the filter is cracked or split, it’s best to wait for your new filter to arrive before starting your hot tub. Never operate your hot tub without a filter in place.
- Restarting Your Hot Tub Once you’ve inserted your filter and replaced the cap, be sure to run your hot tub on “high” for several minutes to get rid of any air bubbles that may have formed in the plumbing.
Keeping a clean filter in your hot tub is extremely important. Filters keep debris, bacteria, and particles from entering the pump and heater — two parts of your hot tub that are way more expensive to replace than your filter. Now that you know the location of your hot tub filter, it should make it easier to stay on top of this essential hot task in the future.
Have a Question About Hot Tub Filters?
If you have a question on maintaining your hot tub, or you are searching for a specific hot tub filter, feel free to contact us at any time. Within the Master Spa Parts online store, you can find a huge assortment of hot tub filters for brands such as Master Spas®, Down East Spas, Healthy Living Hot Tubs, and the Michael Phelps Legend Series™. Plus, you can take advantage of the store’s everyday low prices and super-fast shipping. Happy hot tubbing!
