Does my hot tub use filters?
Does my hot tub use filter? All hot tubs have and need filters because If they didn’t, the water would soon become so dirty with contamination. Meaning that it would become completely uninviting to bathe in and also unsafe.
It may be that your hot tub water is not very inviting and you are now looking for a solution to your hot tub’s yacky water….
Why is the water dirty in my hot tub?
There can be numerous reasons why the water is not crystal clear. Does the control panel show a flow error message? If so, it could be that the filters that you don’t know about in your hot tub are severely contaminated and nearly completely blocked.
If you don’t have a flow error message, it could be that there aren’t actually any filters in the filter housing, and the dirty unfiltered water is just being pumped back into the hot tub which is not ideal is it?
Why does a hot tub need filters?
Efficient and effective filters are not only an important necessity to help maintain high quality water for the bathers. The filters also help to keep the unseen plumbing and pipework clean and protect the expensive pumps.
We obviously need to do something about this poor water quality, so where do we find this filter housing?
Where are the filters located in my hot tub?
The filter housing is usually located inside the tub just below the waterline. There is usually a recess in the hot tub where the water flows into the filter housing, usually through a basket type device called a filter basket or skimmer basket.
This is designed to catch and stop any larger items being sucked down and causing damage to the filters, or even the pumps.
The filters are usually located below the skimmer basket, but before we start removing the lift-off panels or the skimmer basket, ensure that the hot tub is switched off for safety.
Take a look under the skimmer basket into the filter housing. Hopefully you should find one or maybe two filters there.
Where can I find information on how to clean hot tub filters?
Visit our Filter Care page to read about cleaning your filters. If you require replacement filters, head to our Filter Finder to help identify the quality Darlly filters you need.
For help and information about caring for your hot tub filters, follow the link to the Filter Care page on our website where you will find a wide range of easy-read topics about filters and hot tubs to help you enjoy crystal clear water in your hot tub.
If you have any questions about hot tub filters or suggestions for Filter Care topics, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help and would love to hear from you.
Happy Hot Tubbing!
The Darlly Team
How to identify my hot tub filters?
How do I identify my hot tub filters?
Well, the time has arrived to replace the filters in the hot tub. They’ve been in there quite a while, you can’t for the life of you remember the part number, and the dreaded ‘How do I identify my hot tub filters?’ question is raised.
‘Fear not’ we shout! At Darlly, we are here to help with our easy-to-use Darlly Filter Finder.
The Darlly Filter Finder can help to rapidly either identify your filter exactly or at least narrow the search down to just a few possibilities to check.
The more details you have about your filter, the easier it is to identify.
What information do I need to identify my filters?
Any information from the list below will be useful in identifying your filters. Not everything is required so just enter the information you have as you go through the short quiz to find the filter you and your hot tub deserve.
Reference code (Manufacturers number)
Brand of hot tub
Design of top of filter – match the image
Design of bottom of filter – match the image
Length of filter
Diameter of filter
What do I do with this information to find my filters?
By using measurements and by matching the thread-type pictures, you should be able to find the quality filter your hot tub deserves.
Find our ‘Filter Finder’ on the Darlly Website or follow the link here to fly directly to the Filter Finder.
For further information and interesting topics about Hot Tub filters, Hot Tubs, and Filter Care, follow the link to our Filter Care section for a range of relevant and useful hot tub topics.
Darlly manufacture a number of different ranges of filters for various requirements. Click on the ‘Filters’ dropdown on the Darlly website to view the ranges to find the quality filter to best suit your requirements.
Those pages also offer another facility to help find your filter by ticking the relevant ‘Find Your Filter’ boxes to narrow the results down.
Not sure about how to measure your filter or identify the top and bottom of your filter? You’re in the right place, just follow our easy visual guide below.
How to measure a hot tub filter
You can use the dimensions that you have to help get to the required filter. How do you measure a filter? Easy! Follow our easy-to-use guide below showing how to measure the relevant dimensions and identify the thread type, if any. All measurements are in cm.
External diameter
This is the measurement across the filter from edge to edge. This example is 12cm.
Length
Measure the length of the filter but do not include the handle or thread.
Internal / Inside diameter
Thread and fitting types
There are number of different types of fitting and thread types available. Filters can have male and female threads which can be coarse or fine, and possibly tapered.
Photo shows male threads, fine on the left hand side and coarse on the right hand side.
Measure the thread diameter. This is the outer edges of the thread for male thread. For a female thread, measure the inner diameter.
The Fine Thread (MPT) has from 6 – 8 fine twists (Pleatco ends P4 or F2M) whereas the Coarse Thread (SAE) will have as little as only 3 thicker threads (Pleatco ends P3 or F2S).
Male thread diameter measurement
Female thread diameter measurement
You now have all the dimensions that you will need to help identify your filter.
Just two more items to note now, nearly there! 🙂
Silverstream and Sanistream Filters
What is the original colour of the actual filter fabric? If it is white, it is a normal filter.
If it is blue, it is probably a Silverstream Antibacterial filter.
The last item relates to the top of the filter. Does it have a removeable twist-and-pull lid?
If yes, this will be a Sanistream filter designed to take an in-line dosing pod such as the Darlly Sanistream DL815 SpaPod (suitable for chlorine or bromine tablets) or a Darlly DL816 AquaSPArkle Pod which is ready-filled with sufficient bromine tablets to last you up to a month.
You should now have all the information you need to identify your filter on the Darlly Filter Finder or Darlly ‘Find your filter’ pages in the online catalogue.
Further assistance or more help and information required? No problem!
The label on the outer wrapper of new filters will have all part number details. (Please keep this for next time 🙂 …..! )
Darlly, Pleatco and Unicel will also sometimes have the part number on the end cap. Our brochure and website darlly.eu contain all of the part numbers to help you.
However, should you be without any part number after following the identification guide above and using our ‘Filter Finder’ guide using your measurements and brand identities, simply call us on +44 (0)1952 – 580500 we will be delighted to help you.
If you have any suggestions for hot tub / spa topics or subjects that you would like to read about in our filter care section please get in touch and we will be more than happy to help 🙂
Happy Hot Tubbing! 🙂
The Darlly Team 🙂
Inflatable Hot Tubs – Saving money on filters
Cheap filters for inflatable hot tubs
Inflatable Hot Tubs – Saving money on filters.
The biggest saving to be made with filters is not to buy them. Obviously, we want to enjoy our hot tubs so the next best thing is to buy fewer filters or make them last longer.
We don’t really want to leave dirty filters in the hot tub so we need to clean them. The downside of ‘cheap’ filters is that they are just that, and not robust enough to withstand cleaning.
Here at Darlly, we make our filters for inflatable hot tubs from the same durable filter material used in our range of filters for full-size hot tubs. There is no compromise on quality.
The filters are designed to be cleaned time after time, and to have a much greater lifespan than could be expected from cheaper filters.
Sure, quality filters can cost a little more initially, but after just a few weeks you can be enjoying the savings at the same time as enjoying the benefits of high quality filtration. Savings are made as a result of needing to purchase fewer filters.
How to clean inflatable-hot tub filters
The filters obviously require cleaning to enable them to filter the water efficiently.
It is reccomended to have at least two sets of filters, one fitted in the hot tub, and the other(s) in the cleaning/drying cycle.
In short, the filters will need to be washed through with clean water to remove most of the debris, and then soaked in filter cleaning fluid for a number of hours.
This should remove the contaminants from the filter fabric before the filter is again washed through with clean water to remove all traces of filter cleaner.
Cleaned filters should always be left to dry completely before they are refitted to the hot tub. This significantly reduces the amount of bacteria being reintroduced into the hot tub when the cleaned filters are refitted.
For more detailed filter cleaning information follow the link to our Filter Care Filter Cleaning Topic.
Use quality filters
All of our filters are built with tri-lobal polyester media which doesn’t tear, rip or fray. It is tough and durable, and can be washed many times over. Darlly filters for inflatable hot tubs will last you for months not just a few days or weeks. Our research has found our inflatable filters will last four to five times longer than a normal inflatable filter.
Darlly filters are designed to withstand the harsh environments of acid ( ph minus ) chlorine and bromine.
Whatsmore, unlike the paper filters that come standard with your Intex, Lazy spa or Cleverspa, the higher flow rates through the Darlly filters means your jets will remain more powerful for longer.
Our manufacturing process ensures that the the pleats in your Darlly filter will not tear or bunch meaning the chemicals in your inflatable spa will be far more effective, and catching dirt, bacteria and oily substances will be done at an optimal level.
At the end of the day, you are paying a lot less for clean, clear and fresh water in your hot tub, It makes so much sense.
Find my filter
If you know what your filter looks like, follow the link here to view our range of filters for inflatable hot tubs.
If you have the dimensions and the end fitting types, follow the link here to our filter finder to help you find your replacement filters.
Where can I get Darlly hot tub filters?
Follow the link here to find your nearest Darlly filter stockist.
Find your local Darlly stockist here
If you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We will do our best to help.
Happy Hot Tubbing!
The Darlly Team
When should you replace Hot Tub Filters?
When to replace hot tub filters
Treat yourself and your hot tub pumps with new filters this spring!
Start the year as you mean to go on, enjoying crystal clear water with high quality Darlly filters.
When did you last replace your hot tub filters?
End of last year? Beginning of last year? Earlier? What condition are they in now, and more to the point, are they still capable of efficiently filtering out the contaminants in the water to give you the most relaxing and enjoyable bathing experience?
Enjoyment of the hot tub experience is most definitely enhanced by clear clean water.
Protecting the hot tub pumps
Your expensive hot tub pumps will also benefit from the protection offered by regularly maintained high quality filters. Contaminants and debris present in the water will be efficiently removed from the flow reducing the possibility of damage being caused to the pumps. Dirt and debris as well as an abnormal pH level can have a detrimental effect on the life expectancy of the pumps.
Hot tub without a filter
Without an efficient filter, the water would soon become contaminated with debris from the environment (dust, leaves, insects etc) and contaminants from the hot tub users such as sunscreen, tanning products, make-up, deodorant, body oils, dirt, hair etc.
Without efficient filtration, these contaminants would soon build up to a critical level in the water. If left unaddressed, the bathing water can become cloudy and algae growth is a possibility. This can upset the balance of the water and chemical usage increases in trying to deal with the problem, which in turn hastens water saturation to the point where the chemicals cease to be effective. As a result, the water can then become damaging to the hot tub mechanicals and/or affect the surface feel of the hot tub moulding.
Darlly Filters
In addition to the range of standard filters, Darlly also manufacture Darlly Sanistream in-line dosing filters that can add bromine of chorine directly into the flow.
Darlly Silverstream filters in which the filter media is impregnated with silver ion particles which help to reduce bacteria both suspended in the water and also collected by the filter.
Follow the link to view the Darlly range of quality filters for your hot tub.
Find My Filter
If you aren’t sure of which filter you need, grab your filter dimensions, note the top and bottom fitting then head to our easy-to-use Filter Finder for help.
https://filterfinder.darlly.eu/filter
If you have any questions or a topic you would like us to cover, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help!
Happy Hot Tubbing!
The Darlly Team
Tell me about Darlly hot tub filters please!
Before we get to the filters, who are Darlly Europe? Briefly, Darlly Europe are Europe’s largest supplier of hot tub cartridge filters. We have the largest range of quality filters, in stock, and available for the majority of hot tubs, manufacturers and brands.
What different types of Darlly filter cartridge are available?
Darlly manufacture three main types of hot tub filter cartridge, Standard, Silverstream and the award-winning Sanistream.
What are the differences between these ranges and how do I know which are suitable for my hot tub?
Standard – This is the largest range of filters from Darlly, the largest filter manufacturer in the world. The standard Darlly filter has a robust very high-quality filter media suitable for nearly all applications of hot tubs & swim spas. Standard filters.
Silverstream – Our Darlly Silverstream range of filters have a similar filter material to the standard range of filters but with the additional benefit of Silver-Ion technology Antimicrobial Protection. The filter material is impregnated with Silver-Ion technology to help inhibit the growth of bacteria. It also offers increased filter life, a cleaner filter, no mould growth, fewer odours and fewer cleaning times. The Darlly Silverstream filter material is a distinctive blue colour to help differentiate it from standard filters. Silverstream filters.
SaniStream – The same quality filter material as the standard filter but with the added benefit of Darlly Europe’s revolutionary SaniStream® Direct Line Filtration system. This is a new and unique technology which combines the world’s finest hot tub filters with a safe, convenient, and effective in-built sanitiser dispenser (DL815 SpaPod) to give an integrated spa water treatment system. SaniStream® is suitable for domestic hot tubs and also allows compliance with Section 76 of HSG282 regulations for hot tubs installed in holiday let units. Sanistream filters.
Follow the links below to our YouTube videos to discover more about using SaniStream filters and SpaPods:-
Don’t forget your Darlly Duck to complement your filters!
Let your Darlly Duck free float around in your hot tub or place in the pool skimmer. When one side is dirty, flip it over. Depending on the saturation, it may be rinsed and re-used. The duck helps prevent a scum line forming and eliminates the need to scrub the acrylic shell of your hot tub, absorbing up to 40 times its weight in oils, lotions and cosmetics reducing contaminants from clogging the filter.
Happy Hot Tubbing!
The Darlly Team
Is the square-feet of a filter important?
What does it mean?
Do you ever check or compare the square-feet measurement of a filter before buying?
We all probably check the price and that it is the correct size and fitting, but the square-feet?
What does the square-feet figure relate to?
In simple terms, if you opened up the filter and spread the actual filter material out on the floor, and then multiplied the length by the width in feet, this is the area measurement in square feet.
You might be surprised how much filter material there actually is!
There are a number of important factors that go into the making of a quality Darlly filter, the area (square feet) is just one of these.
The main items are the quality of the filter material and the amount of it. Not only is the ability of the filter material to filter out the contaminants and debris, both visible and invisible to the naked eye important, but also the physical integrity and durability are vitally important to enable the filter to withstand repeated cleaning cycles and to ensure a long and efficient service life.
Read our ‘How to clean a filter’ topic for more information about cleaning.
Remember, if the filter material is holed, ripped or torn it will not be doing its job and must be replaced. The filters also help to protect the pumps from debris.
For a given hot tub, the greater the area of the filter material, generally the time between filter changes will be longer, thus reducing the maintenance downtime of your hot tub and making your life just that little bit easier!
The answer, we now know, to the question ‘Is the square-feet measurement of a filter important?’ is a definite YES!
Make a quality decision, choose a quality Darlly filter and enjoy the benefits.
If you have any questions about filter care or have any suggestions for a topic that we have not yet covered please get in touch and we will do our best to help.
Happy Hot Tubbing!
The Darlly Team
Are all hot tub filters similar quality and equally efficient?
In a nutshell, no! Well, that was easy wasn’t it? Or was it?
Let’s have a brief look over some filters to find out a little bit more about them, what various types actually do, and what we really expect from them.
Finances can be a little tight at the moment so it can be tempting to save a little money by selecting a filter costing a little bit less. Is this a way to save money? Don’t all filters perform equally?
Let us ask ourselves what we want our filters to do for us.
The Hot Tub water always needs to crystal clear and inviting, this goes without saying and it is most desirable. What about how long the filter will continue to do this for us before it requires maintenance? What about how long the filter will last with repeated cleaning? How long before it will require replacing?
Arguably, the most important component here is the filter paper. Two similar-looking filters may differ enormously just in the filter paper alone. Briefly:-
1. The filtration quality affects the water quality.
2. The filter paper area affects how long the filter lasts between cleaning cycles. Filters of similar appearance may have up to 100% or more difference in filter paper area. The filter material pleats should also be robust enough not to ‘collapse’ or deform under pressure whilst holding filtered contaminants.
3. The quality and durability of the filter paper to withstand ripping and tearing through repeated cleaning cycles affects the lifespan of the filter.
4. The lifespan of the filter affects the running costs of the hot tub which ultimately means your pocket.
We can see from this that filters need to be robust quality items to withstand the day to day life that they are subjected to.
So far, we can see that as with most things in life, quality pays in the longer term. Purchasing a cheaper poor quality filter may not result in the saving that we thought it would be.
Something else to consider is the type of filter that we want. Have you considered a Darlly Sanistream or Darlly Silverstream filter?
Darlly Sanistream filters are designed to take a DL815 SpaPod inside. The refillable adjustable-dose pod is designed to hold chlorine or bromine tablets to continually dose the hot tub water.
Darlly Silverstream filters are impregnated using silver ion technology offering antimicrobial protection for the filter and bather. This process gives the filter a premium finish with increased filter life, a cleaner filter, no mould growth, fewer odours and fewer cleaning times.
As we can see, there are several options available when choosing replacement filters. Consider your needs and what you want your filter to do for you. Remember, the high quality filter can be the most efficient at delivering high quality water as well as being the most cost effective and sensible purchase.
If you have any suggestions for future Filter Care topics or you would like more information, please do not to get in touch. We are more than happy to help.
Happy Hot Tubbing
The Darlly Team
What are the main benefits of buying quality filters
Filters are filters right? They all look the same so they will all filter the water and do the same job won’t they?
Some brands are a little more expensive and some brands are cheaper.
I’m trying to spend less and save the £££’s so why should I spend more money when I can get a cheaper filter?
This all sounds very attractive, and a good idea at the moment, with people tightening their financial belts, but in reality, does it make sense or is it false economy?
Generally, in life, we know that quality pays in the long run. The old adage, buy quality buy once, buy cheap buy twice applies to many products and services that we choose to invest our hard-earned cash into.
Let us take a moment to look at the filters in our hot tub, what they do for us and how they look after us whilst we are spending time relaxing and chilling out in our hot tubs. Finding out a little more about the tough life of a filter will help us to understand the benefits, efficiency, longer service life and the financial advantages of a quality filter.
Enjoyment of the hot tub experience is most definitely enhanced by clear clean water.
Dirty or contaminated water is pumped through the filter which collects any dirt and debris from the flow, the dirt is trapped within the filter and the filtered water is returned to the hot tub.
Without a quality filter, the water would soon become contaminated with contaminants from the environment (dust, leaves, insects etc) and from the hot tub users (Sunscreen, tanning products, make-up, deodorant, body oils, dirt, hair etc).
Without efficient filtration, these contaminants would soon build up to a critical level in the water. If left unaddressed, the bathing water can become cloudy and algae growth is a possibility. This can upset the balance of the water and chemical usage increases in trying to deal with the problem, which in turn hastens water saturation where the chemicals cease to be effective. As a result, the water can then become damaging to the hot tub mechanicals and/or affect the surface feel of the hot tub moulding.
High quality filters help to maintain high water quality for your enjoyment and piece of mind.
To maintain the desired high level of filtration, the filters require regular maintenance. The involves removing the existing filters and replacing with clean ones. The removed filters should be thoroughly cleaned using filter cleaning fluid. Just a quick hose down is not sufficient to clean them. The filter should be inspected to check that the filter material is not damaged, ripped or torn. If the filter material is damaged or compromised in any way, the filter should be replaced. In this condition, it will not filter the water efficiently or effectively.
An effective method to remove dirt and debris from pleated filters is to use the Darlly Cyclone Filter Cleaner (SC785) filter cartridge cleaner which easily attaches to any standard garden hose, followed by Darlly Filter Cartridge Cleaner (SC796).
The filters should be soaked overnight in a cleaning solution such as our Darlly Filter Cartridge Cleaner (SC796). Follow the simple instructions on the packaging to mix the solution. This can be mixed in a bucket and the filter(s) should then be submerged in the solution and to left to soak overnight for deep cleaning.
After removing from the solution, a thorough wash with a garden hose will complete the procedure before the filters are left to dry before use.
A thoroughly cleaned filter will provide more efficient filtration than a poorly cleaned one.
It can be advantageous to have two sets of filters to allow continued filtration and to help maintain water quality during the cleaning process.
The effectiveness of the filters can be seen by the amount of contamination trapped in the pleats of the fabric. Darlly’s high-quality robust filters are designed to withstand repeated cleaning cycles to ensure a long service life. Low cost alternatives may not trap contaminants in the same efficient manner or withstand as many cleaning cycles whilst still maintaining filter integrity and filtration efficiency required to maintain the water quality for you to enjoy.
So, back to the original question ‘Filters are filters, right?’ If your filters have a longer lifespan, you need to replace them less often. Fewer filters, fewer ££’s spent…
Higher quality filtration results in higher water quality to enjoy.
Would you want to sit in anything else?
Quality filters can work out less expensive over time with the added benefit of enjoying higher quality water.
Higher quality water usually results in fewer expensive chemical treatments too, thus saving money on chemicals.
Also remember the environmental aspect, fewer filters and chemicals is kinder to our wonderful planet. A win-win here!
In addition to the range of standard filters, Darlly also manufacture Darlly Silverstream filters in which the filter media is impregnated with silver ion particles which help to reduce bacteria both suspended in the water and also collected by the filter.
To view our range of filters click here.
If you have any suggestions for Filter Care topics that you would like us to cover, please do not hesitate to get in touch, we will see what we can do to help .
Happy Hot Tubbing!
The Darlly Team
What different types of Hot Tub filter cartridge are available?
Do you give much thought about the various kinds of hot tub filters available and what your options are?
Darlly offer three main types of filters. In addition to our standard filter, we offer the Silverstream antimicrobial filter and the SaniStream in-line dosing filter.
Standard Filters – This is the largest range of filters from the largest filter manufacturer in the world. The filter is a robust very high-quality media suitable for nearly all applications of hot tubs & swim spas. Find Them Here
Silverstream Filters – Our Darlly Silverstream range of filters have a similar filter material to the standard range of filters but with the additional benefit of Silver-Ion technology Antimicrobial Protection. The material is impregnated with Silver-Ion technology to help inhibit the growth of bacteria. It also offers increased filter life, a cleaner filter, no mould growth, fewer odours and fewer cleaning times. The Darlly Silverstream filter material is a distinctive blue colour to help differentiate it from standard filters. Find Them Here
SaniStream Filters – The same filter material as the standard filter but with the added benefit of Darlly Europe’s revolutionary SaniStream® Direct Line Filtration system. This is a new and unique technology which combines the world’s finest hot tub filters with a safe, convenient and effective sanitiser dispenser (DL815 SpaPod) to give an integrated spa water treatment system. SaniStream® is suitable for domestic hot tubs and also allows compliance with Section 76 of HSG282 regulations for hot tubs installed in holiday let units. Find Them Here
Follow the links below to our YouTube videos to discover more about using SaniStream filters and SpaPods:-
Don’t forget your Darlly Duck to complement your filters!
Let your Darlly Duck free float around in your hot tub or place in the pool skimmer. When one side is dirty, flip it over. Depending on the saturation, it may be rinsed and re-used. The duck helps prevent a scum line forming and eliminates the need to scrub the acrylic shell of your hot tub, absorbing up to 40 times its weight in oils, lotions and cosmetics reducing contaminants from clogging the filter.
Happy Hot Tubbing!
The Darlly Team