Hot tub Filter Systems
There are three different types of how the water is filtered in hot tubs. Some are outdated, some are only suitable for certain hot tubs.
Types of Hot tub Filter Systems
- Cartridge Filter
- Sand Filter for Hot tubs (Tank Filter Systems)
- Filterballs Filter
Cartridge Filter: Cartridge filters are the oldest technology used in hot tubs. A cartridge filter is a vertically folded filter fleece through which the water is filtered horizontally. On top is a blue lid fixed to the fleece, at the bottom a blue base with a connection (thread or hole). Cleaning is laborious and very often necessary. The annual costs are high and there is always a high risk of contamination. The technology of these hot tub filter systems is completely outdated and is losing market share more and more quickly to filterball filters. It is almost only used in the private sector and still at the original delivery of hot tubs, because the hot tub manufacturers make very good money with it, as new ones constantly have to be bought by the hot tub customer.
Tank Filter Systems: Colloquially, this is called the sand filter for hot tubs. However, 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. The reason why this hot tub filter system is rarely used in hot tubs (except in the commercial sector) is that it requires a lot of external space, a fixed drain for backwashing and thus also an inflow for water loss compensation are necessary. The acquisition and installation costs are high. This hot tub filter system is therefore only sensible in the commercial sector.
Filterballs Filter: Filterballs hot tub filter systems have only existed for a few years. Fiber ball filter balls are placed in a reusable filter container and flowed through vertically. These have quickly gained large market shares because the filtration is much better, more precise and lasts longer than with cartridge filters. It is a technology patented in Europe and the USA, which is superior to the old cartridge filter in all respects. These filter systems filter from 1 micron, only need to be cleaned every 6-8 weeks and cleaning takes 5-10 minutes. There are, as with Ego3 filter containers, made of special chemical-resistant plastic, which are manufactured by plastic injection molding and those 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, which makes the filter path much too short to achieve an ideal filter result and long filter duration. In addition, these are naturally also significantly more expensive to produce.
Summary about Hot tub Filter Systems
Tank filter systems (sand filters for hot tubs) make almost only sense in the commercial sector and are also required for this purpose in certain countries.
Cartridge filters are a very old and poor solution as everyone knows who has used or still uses them.
Filterballs filters made of solid cast plastic like EGo3 filters are a new hot tub filter system technology that is replacing the cartridge filter faster and faster in the private sector.