The Best Hot Tub Filter Companies + WORST Filter Problems (Solved)

This article will outline the best hot tub filter companies. I’ve decided to provide this resource because this is a very niche area and there is not a lot of information on the most reputable companies servicing this niche.

New hot tub owners are generally overwhelmed with how many hot tub filter brands there are on the market today. And it’s even more confusing with so many Jacuzzi filter stores online.

Another scary thing is the number of off-brand cheap Chinese knock offs that are extremely poor quality.

It is important to know the difference between the real and a fake as fake filters can be very dangerous. Not just to your hot tub device but to you and your family.

This article will provide you with a list of the most established hot tub filter companies. These are the companies that have been around for a long time and built up a strong reputation over many years in business.

I will also go further by providing you with helpful information on how to maintain and care for your hot tub filter. Follow the information in this comprehensive guide to ensure that your hot tub filters work effectively.

Healthy filters = a healthy hot tub, so let’s get started.

The Best Hot Tub Filter Companies Around

This list of hot tub filter companies only include reputable companies that have been around for a long time.

• Aqua Kleen.
• Filbur.
• Jacuzzi.
• Hayward.
• Pleatco.
• Sundance Spas.
• Tork.
• Unicel.

The brief company descriptions below is the best place to start if you are looking for brands that can replace any part of your hot tub filter.

I have only included companies that either specialise in hot tub filter parts or simply have this as a big part of their business.

Aqua Kleen

In business since: 1994

What are they good for? Replacing filter cartridges and specialist cleaning products.

Aqua Kleen specialises in replacement filter cartridges. This company produces different sizes and types of paper filter cartridges that can fit in different brands of hot tubs.

This means that you can find filters in most sizes from the Aqua Kleen range. And in most cases their offers are much cheaper than those from comparable brands.

Aqua Kleen filters are designed to be easy to install and remove. Most of them have handles to make working with them even easier.

History

Aqua Kleen started as a company that installs swimming pools and soon added hot tubs to its services. Although the company began in California it later went into different countries across the globe.

Over time, the company diversified its offerings and started providing replacement filter cartridges alongside its pools and hot tubs services.

Now Aqua Kleen focuses almost exclusively on the sale of cartridge replacement filters that are compatible with the different major hot tub brands.

These cartridges are often made of paper instead of polyester or ceramic. But this change in the material of the filters makes it easier to keep costs down and they pass on these savings to their customers.

Today, the vast majority of Aqua Kleen’s sales come from online. And this company services a large customer base through Amazon and other online e-commerce platforms.

However, you can also find Aqua Kleen products at large retail stores.

Filbur

In business since: 1996

What are they good for? Filter cartridge replacements and filter cleaners. solution.

Filbur is very similar to Unicel but it offers slightly different products. This means they are good to consider if you are looking for something that you can not find through Unicel.

As a company, Filbur mainly focuses on replacement filter cartridges. Especially the traditional paper and polyester versions. They also provide microfilters and specialized filter cleaning solutions.

History

Filbur began like many other hot tub and pool manufacturers in California. This is because California is where the customer base for this type of product is very large.

The company began by specializing in almost all types of pool and hot tub parts and equipment. But soon limited its focus to pleated filters.

Filbur then began manufacturing tailor-made custom hot tub filters and the company hasn’t looked back. The company now offers more than seven hundred different types of filters to make it easier than ever to find exactly what you need for your hot tub or your pool.

Jacuzzi

In business since: 1915

What are they good for? Branded hot tubs, hot tub products and specialized detergents.

The Jacuzzi brand is the best known and most established brand in the hot tub industry.

It is so well known that many people simply call hot tubs a “Jacuzzi” as the brand is now interchangeable with the product.

The fact that it has been around for so long and is such a recognizable brand is a testament to the quality products they produce.

Jacuzzi is a good place to look if you want a hot tub or hot tub parts that you can trust in terms of quality. This company also offers traditional cartridge filters, some microfilters and tablet cleaners for your hot tub.

History

Unlike the other companies on this list, the Jacuzzi company did not really start out by working on hot tubs.

The company was originally founded by a group of seven brothers who appropriately named their company Jacuzzi and Brothers.

They produced propellers of wooden military aircraft and settled outside of California. There was a time when they even built their own aircraft. Although this was a short lived project that never got very far.

The company looked like it would only ever produce propellers. But in the 1950s, a member of the Jacuzzi family had the idea of ​​using these propellers to move water and build a hydrotherapy pump. The product was moderately successful. Especially in hospitals that wanted to treat patients with painful and stiff joints.

In the 1970s, the family had developed this product for use in their domestic toilets.

Many more years of iteration and innovation has lead them to become the most famous hot tub brand in the world.

Hayward

In business since: 1915

What are they good for? Replacement filters and hot tub parts.

The Hayward company specializes in replacement hot tub parts and filters. This company is good for you if you are looking for spare parts for your hot tub filter like replacement pumps, pipes, nozzles etc.

Many of the pieces they sell are interchangeable with some of the most popular hot tub brands on the market today.

So you should be able to easily find the right fit for your needs among the products they have for sale.

History

This company is over 80 years old.

Hayward began with the hope of making it easier for people and businesses (such as motels) to safely and effectively operate their pools and hot tubs. They are known for making advances in swimming pool and hot tub technologies.

They also provide a wide range of products from simple pipes to advanced filters and more.

Today, Hayward hopes to be the name that everyone thinks of when it comes to replacing those vital parts of the hot tub.

Pleatco

In business since: 2006

What are they good for? Filter replacement cartridges.

Pleatco is known for making extremely affordable replacement filter cartridges. This is achievable because many of Pleatco’s products are available to buy in bulk. Buying them in bulk saves a lot of money in the long run.

They also provide lots of different filters that fit almost any type of hot tub and work with most of the well known brands.

This is not just for swimming pools but hot tubs too. So check Pleatco if you’re looking for a company that provides you with large volumes at discounted prices.

History

Pleatco has not been in business for a long time compared to many other companies on this list. However, it is already very well established and popular with hot tub and pool owners.

Pleatco was established with the hope of providing suppliers in the United States with affordable pool and hot tub parts. They started off as wholesalers but quickly moved to selling these products to retailers around the world.

This company prides itself on offering affordable alternatives to many of the key replacement parts of your hot tub without sacrificing quality.

The company itself does not sell directly to the public.

But Pleatco products can be easily found on Amazon or in most accessory stores for swimming pools and hot tubs. Going online is a great place to find quality Pleatco products from its extensive catalog.

Although this is not one of the best known brands in the world of hot tubs, it is still a great option for those who want to save money.

Sundance Spas

In business since: 1979

What are they good for? Replacement filter cartridges, ceramic filters, disinfectants, jet replacements and other hot tub parts

Sundance offers a large selection of all the different hot tub parts that are necessary for the device to function properly. This is whether you prefer traditional paper, polyester or ceramic filters. And they also provide replacements for things like replacement jets, O-rings, washers, nozzles etc.

History

Like most of the other hot tub filter companies on this list, Sundance started in California.

The company started in the 70’s and then soon acquired the largest manufacturer of acrylic hot tub pools in the US. This meant that they surpassed other well-known brands of hot tub companies.

Their products are now sold in 60 countries around the world and remain a popular choice for people in the United States.

The many hot tub spare parts they provide are compatible with different brands of hot tubs. So although these parts are specifically designed for Sundance tubs, they are often interchangeable with other brands.

Tork

In business since: 1922

What are they good for? Replacement filters, nozzles, temperature indicators, plugs, tubes and other filter accessories

Tork focuses more on smaller work pieces that make up most of the hot tub’s core functionality.

This is a great company from which you can buy the smaller hot tub related materials and accessories. Such as timers, plugs and meters to measure temperature, pressure and other hot tub adjusters.

History

Tork is a subsidiary of a much larger company called NSi Industries. However, the Tork company is part of the brand that focuses largely on hot tub products. They don’t just supply retail customers they also deliver products to maintenance engineers, hot tub suppliers and pool stores around the world.

If you are looking for something electrical to replace a broken or missing part in your hot tub Then you’re probably going to end up with a Tork product. This is a well known company that has been the top choice for electricians and hot tub repair technicians for years.

Unicel

In business since: 1956

What are they good for? Traditional filter cartridges and replacement filter covers.

Unicel has been supplying affordable traditional filter cartridges for a long time. It continues to deliver good quality products at a very low price.

This company focuses mainly on filter cartridges and doesn’t offer too many other products. But when it comes to filters, they do everything. This includes different types of cartridges in a variety of sizes and shapes that will work with whatever type of hot tub you have. They also provide covers and protectors for the Unicel filter housing.

History

This company was founded in the 1950s and initially focused on swimming pool filters. It took less than ten years for their customer base to double.

However, the filter market also increased drastically. As cartridge filters became more popular, Unicel needed to change its format to keep up with the times.

They did this with great success by producing the first polyester version of the cartridge filter.

Which was much stronger than the paper filters that had dominated the market up to that point.

Unicel has continued to develop and introduce new products and filtration methods for modern hot tubs. They currently deliver replacement cartridges to the public as well as wholesalers, retailers and suppliers around the world.

Unicel is also responsible for supplying products to repair and maintenance technicians.

Hot Tub Filter Parts, Maintenance & Lifespan

This section will help you understand what to expect when working with hot tubs. I’ll start by describing each part of the hot tub and how to maintain it.

And you will be presented with some useful tips and tricks to help you keep these parts last longer.

This will include information that will help you know when your filter pieces are nearing the end of their life cycle. Which can help you prevent potential problems.

Hot Tub Pipeline

Lifespan: at least five years and possibly up to ten years.

Maintenance tips: If you’re lucky, you may not have to worry about damaged pipes in your hot tub. But sometimes accidents happen and problems can occur.

For example, if air enters your filter, it can cause significant damage to your pipes over time. Large amounts of debris can pass through a damaged filter and accumulate in the pipes and cause malfunctions.

Listen to the water in your pipes regularly to see if something is out of place. Open the door to the inside of your hot tub and listen to the sounds and also check for strange smells. Do this every few weeks.

Hot Tub Filter Cartridge

Lifespan: At least one year, but not more than three years.

Maintenance tips: Keep maintenance of your filter by cleaning it regularly.

Check your filter cartridge every two weeks to make sure nothing big gets stuck in it.

If so, remove it by hand. Remove your filter cartridge every month and rinse thoroughly with the hose from your garden.

This is a good time to see if the cartridge contains too much dirt or limescale. And also gives you the opportunity to check for cracks or other problem areas.

Every three months, remove the cartridge and immerse it in a filter cleaning solution for at least one hour.

If you have a ceramic filter, you can clean it in the dishwasher at this time. Keeping your filters clean will help ensure that your filter remains functional for as long as possible.

Hot Tub Screws, Washers and Bolts

Lifespan: at least five years and possibly up to ten years

Maintenance suggestions: Like O-rings and valves, you probably do not have to worry about these parts frequently.

But you should check them every year to make sure everything is still in place.

If the screws are loose, tighten them immediately. If they are oxidized by exposure to water, replace them with more functional screws. The same applies for screws and washers.

These parts are important to keep your filter attached and, in most cases, to keep it in your hot tub.

As with O-rings and valves, if you think you can not perform these repairs successfully, you should take your filter to a technician or get a professional.

Hot Tub Valves and O-rings

Lifespan: at least five years and possibly up to ten years.

Maintenance tips: O-rings and valves wear out during prolonged use. Check to see if your valves do not work properly if you find air or dirt entering your pipes. If yes, it might unfortunately be too late to solve this problem.

You may need to replace it with something larger and more expensive. Each year, when you replace your filter cartridge, it is time to completely remove the filter and inspect the O-rings and valves for possible damage:

Do they look weak or fragile? You should replace them.
Looking very dirty or viscous? Clean them thoroughly before replacing the filter.

If you are not sure about working with these small parts of the hot tub, call a technician.

Internal Hot Tub Disinfectant

Lifespan: From six months to a year.

Maintenance tips: If you use a disinfectant as part of your filter, you should monitor it to make sure it continues to work as well as possible. In most cases, the disinfectants do not last as long as the media of the filter cartridge.

Therefore, you should check the disinfectant every two weeks to check for possible damage or problems.

Many modern sanitizers will let you know when it’s time to replace them, but if they do not, replacing them in most cases after six months of use is a good idea.

Of course, if you visibly break the disinfectant, it means it’s time for a new one.

Never use a disinfectant that has visible damage, as it can damage and potentially alter the balance of chemicals in your hot tub.

Hot Tub Filter Housing Lid & Housing Unit

Lifespan: at least five years and possibly up to ten years

Maintenance tips: You may not think much about the cover of the filter housing unit. But it really is a very important part of your overall filter functionality. Without this cover, very large debris can easily get into your filter.

Even if your filter cartridge captures these large pieces of debris, they can still cause damage to the cartridge over time.

Which in turn can quickly damage the pump and the interior of the hot tub.

• Periodically check your cover for signs of looseness or rust.
• Check the screws to make sure they are tight.
• Replace any cracked or weakened cover immediately.

Best Hot Tub Filter Companies? My Thoughts.

There are so many different companies in the hot tub industry. This makes it easy to find exactly what you need from a quality manufacturer that you can trust.

And best of all, many of these hot tub filter companies provide warranty of up to ten years.

Note that Jacuzzi is not the only supplier of hot tub parts. And because it’s a well known brand name, it will probably cost you more.

However, this higher cost can be offset by the fact they provide high quality parts that may significantly increase the life of your hot tub.

But you still have a lot of choice if you don’t have a Jacuzzi brand.

Most hot tub parts are inter-changeable so you can save money by buying products from a lesser known company. Just make sure that it’s from a reputable company that has a good customer track record.

This is where you can refer back to my list of well established hot tub filter companies presented in this article.

However, regardless of the company or companies you buy your parts from, remember to keep up with your regular hot tub maintenance.

The combination of good quality parts from a reputable company + regular maintenance = a well running hot tub that will bring lots of joy to you and your family.

Always use a professional technician if you feel unsure about performing a hot tub repair yourself.