hot tub filter systems
There are three different ways in which the water is filtered in whirlpools. Some are outdated, while others are only suitable for certain whirlpools.
Types of hot tub filter systems
- cartridge filter
- Sand filters for whirlpools (filter tank systems)
- Filterballs Filter
Cartridge Filters: Cartridge filters are the oldest technology used in whirlpools. A cartridge filter is a vertically folded filter fleece through which the water is filtered horizontally. At the top, there is a blue lid fixed to the fleece, and at the bottom, a blue base with a connection (thread or hole). Cleaning is labor-intensive and often necessary. The annual costs are high, and there is always a significant risk of contamination. The technology of these hot tub filter systems is completely outdated and is losing market share to filter ball filters more and more quickly. It is almost exclusively used in private settings and still during the original delivery of whirlpools, because the hot tub manufacturers make very good money from it, as new ones must constantly be purchased by hot tub customers.
Filter systems: Colloquially, this is referred to as a sand filter for hot tubs. The filter tank can be filled with almost any filter medium (sand, glass, filter balls). The filtration works very well. Costs and effort are low. However, the reason this hot tub filter system is rarely used in hot tubs (except in commercial areas) is that it requires a lot of external space, a fixed drain for backwashing, and thus also an inflow for compensating water loss. The acquisition and installation costs are high. Therefore, this hot tub filter system is only sensible in commercial areas.
Filterballs Filter: Filterballs hot tub filter systems have only been around for a few years. Fiberball filter balls are placed in a reusable filter container and are vertically flowed through. They have quickly gained significant market shares because the filtration is much better, more precise, and lasts longer than cartridge filters. It is a patented technology in Europe and the USA that is superior to the old cartridge filter in every respect. These filter systems filter from 1 micron, need to be cleaned only every 6-8 weeks, and the cleaning is done in 5-10 minutes. Like the Ego3, there are filter containers made of special chemical-resistant plastic, which are produced using injection molding and those made from 3D printers. The latter do not last as long due to the limited material selection of 3D printing material and are almost always flowed through horizontally from the side, making the filter path much too short to achieve an ideal filtering result and long filter duration. Additionally, these are also significantly more expensive to produce.
Summary about hot tub filter systems
"Kesselfilter systems (sand filters for whirlpools) make sense almost exclusively in the commercial sector and are also required in certain countries."
Cartridge filters are a very old and poor solution, as anyone who has used or is still using them knows.
Filterballs filters made of solid cast plastic like EGo3 filters are a new hot tub filtration technology that is increasingly replacing cartridge filters in the private sector.
