Can You Go In The Hot Tub During The Filter Cycle?

Can You Go In The Hot Tub During The Filter Cycle?

The filter cycle is the process of filtering and disinfecting heated water used in a hot tub.

A hot tub (or Spa) uses large volumes of water (often chlorine-based) bath to heat water to temperatures considered therapeutic for those looking for relaxation.

Water enters and leaves the tub through pipes called jets, which create streams of bubbles against your body as you lay back on a soft surface.

Hot tub filters are typically delivered up to air out before service begins. When your filter runs, the water changes from murky brown to clear and sparkling blue.

It’s normal for the water to boast cloudiness for about five minutes after turning the filter on.

And in my experience, it never takes longer than 10-15 minutes to get your filter up to snuff after being delivered by the delivery company.

Chlorine gas is used during filtration to kill bacteria and other microorganisms that might grow in the water while your tub sits unused.

No! If you go into the hot tub before the chlorine is fully released, you might get small amounts of chlorine-related skin and eye irritation.The chemical reaction is only complete when it reaches high enough temperatures (over 200 degrees Fahrenheit), so it takes time to complete. 

When a filter comes in, it’s almost always at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) — too high to enter without burning skin and eyes.

For example, if you were to jump in after a filter was delivered, the hot temperature would fuse your hair follicles shut. When the water returns to normal, it could come out of your eyes as tears.

The problem isn’t so much chlorine. Mostly, it’s the ammonia that accompanies it. The reason why hot tubs have a filter is to remove these chemicals before you get in.

Ammonia is highly irritating to the skin and can cause eye irritation and even some lung irritation if inhaled in large amounts (which has been the case with some of my friends)

How Long Should You Run A Filter Cycle On A Hot Tub?

The time required for a filter cycle depends mainly on the number of bathers. A typical process will usually take around 70 minutes, but it may be as short as 20 minutes and as long as 120 minutes.

To get the most out of your hot tub experience, try to run a clean filter cycle each time you use it. For most people, this means running one to four cycles per day.

To run a clean filter cycle, fill the hot tub with the proper water and enter. When you finish, drain the water from the tub, refill it with fresh water and enter again to run another clean cycle.

Depending on the hot tub size, each clean cycle may use between two to 20 gallons of water. For example, if you have a 15-gallon hot tub, you can run about four pure cycles a day and still have enough water in the tub for another cycle.

If you have a 30-gallon hot tub, you can run about six clean cycles daily with the usual precautions of proper water circulation and keeping the filter clean.

Keeping the hot tub’s water level regulated is essential so you can only use the water needed for the cycle.

The number of total cycles you run depends on how long of a filter cycle time your filter has. If your filter has a 250-minute timer, it will use approximately 8 gallons for each minute that passes, or four gallons per hour.

If your filter has a 400-minute timer, it will use about 16 gallons for each minute that passes, or 8 gallons per hour.

If you have a filter with a 500-minute timer, it will employ approximately 24 gallons for each minute that passes, or 12 gallons per hour.

These are rough calculations based on the amount of water in the tub, even if you do not run a filter cycle. The water used by the hot tub is usually only about 32 percent of what is in the tub from start to finish during one process.

Do You Have To Turn Off The Hot Tub To Clean The Filter?

Yes! First, a filter traps dirt and debris from your water. Most filters have sticky pads on the back that you clean by rinsing them underwater. A collection of dirt will then adhere to the sticky pads and can be removed by cleaning them off.

Many people think that once they clean their pads, they should turn off the filter so that it can dry out and be ready for their next use

Hot tub filters work by having small electric motor magnets attached to the back of a sticky pad, sucking in water and filtration media.

There are motors inside a filter that spin; Since these motors are running, they will keep spinning as long as the water flows through the filter. The only way to dry out a filter is to turn it off.

No matter how often you clean your pads, you cannot dry out a filter without turning them off. An important reason is that the motors require an electrical charge to operate, and they can only get the charge from running water.

A fast way to turn off a filter is by using an inline shut-off sensor, which shuts itself off once pressure has been reached on the suction hose.

As long as your hot tub filter is running, there will be no issues with dirt getting into your hot tub.

What Should I Set My Hot Tub Filter Cycle To?

You may sometimes want to run your filter at a higher level (such as if your water has more debris). This provides more hit of oxygen and can help a little against bacteria.

But if you do this, ensure you follow the directions for how to clean the filter. Some filters recommend that you do this frequently every other day or week, and some will recommend it every three days.

If you’re starting, I’d recommend running your filter at total capacity with the sand filters that use a few heaping scoops of filter media (usually three to four).

With fiberglass filters, run it twice as long. If you’re using cartridge filters, run it at half the time recommended by your manufacturer.

This will help keep your water quality and sanitary for anyone using your hot tub. If you run it more often, you can degrade the water quality and make people sick.

As a general rule (and I know many of you will disagree with this), I recommend leaving the hot tub filter on for 24 hours.

Some filters say that you should turn them off overnight, but by running them at night, many don’t get the chance to run for long enough to clean the water thoroughly.

During the day, more people are in and out of the hot tub, which will help clean the water a little better.

If you set your hot tub to have a longer run cycle, like an hour or more, you’ll also find that your pump will run more often. Use a higher run cycle, like two hours, for optimal operation.

The longer the run cycle, the less often your filter will need to be cleaned.

You should also change the pad of media in your hot tub from time to time. You can do this by shaking up the media and dumping it out, taking out three-fourths of it, or just dumping out all of it.

This will make sure you’re getting a good cleaning between cleanings.

How Long Can A Spa Pump Run Per Day?

A Spa pump can run for hours daily to ensure the filter functions correctly. Running the pump for 8-12 hours will keep your water tasting clean and refreshing. The more you use your Spa, the longer it will run.

The length of time each day will depend on how often you use it, how hot the water is, and how often you clean it.

A good rule is that the pump should run for at least 6 hours per day if the water is not very hot. If the water was hotter than 122 degrees F, the pump should run for 8 hours a day or more.

The more hot water you use in your Spa, the more the filter will work to keep your water fresh and clean.

You should check your temperatures with a Spa thermometer to get an accurate reading. Also, try not to use a lot of chemicals while running the pump so it can work better on clearing out the filter.

Let’s say you used your hot tub for an hour last week and then again for 6 hours each weekend. Here are the results:

-Friday, 82 degrees F.

-Saturday, 102 degrees F.

And now, let’s look at how long the pump would run each day if it ran for 8 hours instead of 6 hours.

8 hours every day or 6 hours every day, The numbers are different, but the same thing happened.

What Is The Best Way To Cool A Hot Tub?

If you want to cool a hot tub quickly, the most efficient way is by using ice blocks or buckets with water and applying them to the tub’s surface. The ice will cause some cool water to trickle out of it once it melts.

If you don’t have any ice blocks or buckets on hand, one easy solution is to turn off the power that regulates your hot tub’s temperature. This will cause the water in your hot tub to cool until it reaches an acceptable temperature range.

Install a fan for air circulation, but this will help reduce the surface temperature of your hot tub. An effective way of cooling a hot tub is by pouring water or ice on top of it.

This will induce some evaporation from the water and cool it down faster. You can also use salt blocks in your hot tub to cool it down quickly. If you use ice cubes and salt blocks, they will cause the water to boil.

The hot water will create evaporation and cool your hot tub more quickly. This can make your entire hot tub cooler, but it won’t chill the water down to a level that’s considered “cold.”

Wait for a while until all of the heat contained in your hot tub has been dissipated before you can add some more cold water into it.

What Are Hot Tub Filtration Cycles?

Filtration cycles are periods when hot tub pumps are scheduled to run automatically, circulating water and chemicals through the filter system and pipes, regardless of whether the Spa is in use.

The filtration cycle is an essential process in maintaining Spa water quality.

A heater and filter system work together to remove dirt, chemicals, oils, and other impurities that can cause irritation and create odors. Without a properly functioning filter system, the only result is unhealthy water.

To prevent the buildup of impurities or the loss of beneficial ingredients from your Spa water, you must regularly clean your filter system.

Your filter system consists of a filter, a filter housing (also called surrounds), a drain tube, and a pump. You should clean the filter periodically by circulating water through it.

While the pump circulates water through the filter, you must also clean it out regularly. If you leave a residue buildup on the inside of your pump, this may damage the motor.

Hot tub filters are designed with cycles that involve periods of filters pulling in dirty water, followed by the filtration of clean water. Your filter type determines how often these cycles happen; typically, they are every hour to 6 hours.

What Happens If You Fail To Run Your Filter Enough?

When you don’t run your hot tub filter enough, you will likely pile up a bit of sludge at the bottom. Sludge is usually made up of dirt, hair, and other bits of rubbish that have sunk to the bottom.

If you don’t run your filter often enough, you will notice that the water starts to start looking grey in color and cloud. This is because all the sludge and dirt aren’t removed from your water.

What happens is that the sludge at the bottom of your hot tub starts to rot. This is bad because it will cause your hot tub water to smell bad.

Not only does it get smelly it can cause algae blooms which look terrible into your pool or hot tub.

It’s also likely that your water will get cloudy or cause a brown tinge to appear in the water. This means that your filter is not working well enough.

If you see any of these problems, you must vacuum your hot tub or pool more often. So, you can avoid this problem, make sure you run your filter for a few hours every day.

You can also use a cleaner once a week to keep the filters working and running at their best. Also, running your hot tub filter at least once daily is good to keep it working properly and free from problems.

So the first remedy for this problem is to clean the sludge and dirt from your filter. Price off the lid of your filter and remove any bits of sludge and dirt by hand. Hose down the lid of your filter to remove all the loose bits left behind by hand.

Why Did My Hot Tub Suddenly Stop?

You clogged the jets on your hot tub with hair, preventing the water from circulating through the device. If you can’t find anything in there, and it’s stopped working for no apparent reason, one of two possible problems has occurred: A fuse was blown, or a circuit breaker went out.

This can occur due to various problems, including power surges and a malfunctioning control panel.

If you’re able to find that the fuse or circuit breaker has simply gone out, then you should flip it back on again. Generally speaking, you should not replace fuses unless they have been specifically marked for that purpose.

If there is damage to the fuse, you may need to replace it with one that uses the same amperage for it to work. Check your owner’s manual for instructions on this step.

If the same fuse you used is not available in a replacement size, then you’ll need to replace the entire relay board, which will probably be marked on your owner’s manual.

This step should only be undertaken by people familiar with relays; otherwise, you risk breaking something.

If all of this fails to do the trick, then the electrical system in your hot tub hasn’t been adequately maintained.

Hot Tub Circulation Not Working- How To Fix

If your hot tub circulation is not working, it may be a problem with the temperature. So here’s how to fix that.

Step 1. Set the temperature of your pump to “cool” and wait one hour before turning it back on again. If that doesn’t work, try resetting your circuit breaker and turning off power to the pump for 30 seconds. After that, you can turn it back on again.

Step 2. Next, check the circulation pump located in your hot tub. Is it moving? This is a common place for pumps to stop working and start causing problems with circulation. If your hot tub pump is not working, you may need to replace it.

Step 3. You could have broken pipes or a malfunctioning air blower in your Spa side walls. Check pipes for any potential damage or leaks that may hinder water flow through your pipes and cause circulation problems.

If the air blower is broken or damaged, you will need to replace it.

How Do I Turn My Hot Tub Back On?

Here are some of the things you should do:

• Check for a filter cover or lid. If it’s missing, make sure it’s replaced.
• Remove debris from the jets and solenoids with a vacuum cleaner before turning your hot tub back on.
• Get the drain line free of debris.
• Turn the gas valve to the hot position.
• Turn the primary tub control to “ON.” If you have a remote control, turn that ON as well.
• Ensure your hot tub is approximately half full of water, and the temperature is approximately 104 degrees F. This helps protect against getting scalded (burned) in the hot tub. (see “dangers” below)
• Turn on the power to your hot tub.

It’s also a good idea to check both the “gauge” on your hot tub and the conversion chart that came with it for more specific temperature information. But 104 degrees Fahrenheit is a good starting point.

If your hot tub energy source is in another building, make sure it’s turned on too. Turn on the water to your hot tub. If your hot tub has a rain valve, open it and wait until the hot tub is full of water.

Turn on the jets and solenoids to their highest settings. After that, turn up the hot tub temperature with an adjustable thermostat or remote control. Wait until you feel like you’re ready to go in now.

The Hot Tub Circulation Pump Clicks But Won’t Start

In the event of a hot tub circulation pump clicking but not being able to start, there are a few different causes that you can find.

The most common is that the temperature sensor has failed, preventing the pump from turning on. Check for a broken or damaged temperature sensor and replace it if necessary.

If the water starts up with no problems but stops again within about 30 minutes, the circulation pump’s thermostat has failed.

These thermostats are replaceable (usually in pairs) and are located within an aluminum box directly behind the pump.

Suppose the water is not circulating after a hot tub circulation pump starts but continues to have power or will not start pushing water even though it’s powered up. In that case, the problem could be with the motor’s capacitor.

The capacitor allows the pump to run at high speeds without wearing out. You can usually replace it by removing its cover where it’s attached to the motor.

Another possible cause is a sticking or faulty valve. A common problem with circulation pumps is that the check valve on the hot tub itself might have become stuck, preventing water from circulating effectively.

You can usually fix it by gently sliding the rubber stopper to the side and then letting it go, allowing it to fall freely.

Light use of a wire to “flick” or tap on this valve will sometimes fix it without replacing it. Over time they can also become less able to affect a seal in the housing and need replacing.

One common reason for the pump not running is that the thermostat needs replacing.

This is a very common error – usually, one of about 30% of all hot tub circulation pumps shipped with Hot Spring brand hot tubs and can be found in other brands.

Tightening the screws above and below the thermostat/heat switch housing on the pump housing will often fix this issue by allowing it to continue to work after being powered up.

Hot Tub Overheating Troubleshooting

If you have a hot tub overheating, there are specific steps you should take to troubleshoot the issue. Keep in mind that the problems associated with hot tub overheaters fall into three categories:

1) The water temperature is too high for the tub’s heating capabilities.

2) The pump can’t handle all of the cold water.

3) There are mechanical issues with the heater or pump itself.

Most of the time, this is a simple fix. The hot water temperature is too high. If you have low flow in the hot tub, it’s probably your fault. Heat rises, so basically, you’re trying to cool something that is already cold and causing an issue.

So what you have to do to fix the problem is either add more cold water or reduce the warm water flow. You can add much harder water by adding a small amount of ice or turning off the circulation pump for a short period.

If you want to reduce some water flow, use your favorite mixing method, such as putting your hand in the tub or a bucket and mixing it around. Don’t forget to add it to the system when you feel like it.

The Hot Tub Is Not Heating Up

When your hot tub is malfunctioning, it can be challenging to determine the cause when you aren’t familiar with how they work.

If your hot tub isn’t heating, your first step is to check the temperature settings. If you have set the temperature to be much higher than usual, this may cause the problem.

You might have forgotten that you had changed the temperature settings or have been distracted while adjusting it. Either way, adjust it as low as possible and see if that doesn’t fix the problem.

In many cases, the temperature control will simply malfunction due to wear and tear or maybe broken because of this constant use. Sometimes, your hot tub may switch to warm instead of hot when you turn it on.

You can fix these problems if your heater is not working. There could be a problem inside the unit or with the connections or wires. In this case, the most likely problem is a blown fuse.

If you are unsure where to find the fuse, you will have to look up the owner’s manual for your hot tub.

Sometimes, there may be a issues with the thermostat or wiring. You will have to remove some of the walls of your hot tub to check these cables and thermostats for issues.

How to fix the dry heater in the hot tub

If you have a dry heater in your hot tub, you can use some of these methods to fix it.

• If your heater does not have any water, you must use a tool called the ‘Dry Heater Relief Valve.’ This is available at most stores that sell hot tubs. It’s also available online.

This tool will make it so that the pump will push water through the filter and ensure there is always some water in your hot tub. It’s much safer than firing up the heater with no water.

• You can also use another tool that will make the pump work to push a little bit of water through the filter and across the heating element.

You can do this by turning your breaker off, which controls your Spa, and then pushing a button on your Spa’s main housing.

This will allow the pump to run for about five minutes, providing enough time to add water to your hot tub and turn it back on.

• Put a cup of water in your hot tub and run the pump for about five minutes. This will ensure that there is always some water in the Spa system.
• Add a little water to your hot tub, turn on the pump, and let it sit for about an hour or so.
• The last method you can use to fix this problem is running your Spa as you typically would without adding any water. This method usually works best if you do it when you are not using the hot tub.

Hot Spring Spa Troubleshooting

Here are some ways to figure out the problem and how to fix it.

The first step is to locate the problem. If unsure where it is, start from the top (the filtration system) and work your way down until you find the problem.

A scummy surface indicates that there is too much chlorine in the water. This could be because the filter isn’t working or your chemicals need changing.

Try backtracking and starting your test again. If the surface isn’t scummy, and the water still smells like chlorine, then it could be something rotting inside.

This is a health hazard, so if you can’t locate the source immediately, you might want to drain the pool for a few hours to keep people from using it until you find out what’s happening.

If the pool is still clean and smells like chlorine, then the problem is most likely in the pump. One filter might boast a clog, or a part of the swim-up bar’s filter might restrict how fast water flows into the pool.

Check out your pumps (the ones on either side of your swim-up bar) and tests them to see if they’re working correctly. If they aren’t, then you should find a new one.

If they are working, you’ll want to find out if the pump or motor is working. Try turning it on while someone watches the pump and pool water to see if there are any bubbles or the water level changes. If not, then it’s time for a new one.

Conclusion

A hot tub can be an excellent investment in getting a good relaxing time, but without proper maintenance and use, the hot tub will barely work.

Always ensure you are using the right chemicals and keeping the hot tub at an adequate cleaning level.

If your hot tub is having problems heating up or being used continuously, then it could need some attention.

If your hot tub is still not working after trying all these methods, it might be time to call a professional.