BEAR FACTS Vol 1 Cleaning A Hot Cartridge

Cartridge Cleaning Instructions for Bromine & Chlorine Users

QUESTION: When should a cartridge element be cleaned?

ANSWER:For spas, establish a routine cartridge cleaning schedule based on the amount of spa usage.  We recommend a rotation pattern, moving the cartridges clockwise every week or two. Start by setting your routine. My hot tub has 3 cartridges, I have labeled the positions 1-3 and every week I rotate clockwise, adding a clean cartridge to the #1 location and removing the #3 cartridge for cleaning. If Baquaspa® is used as a sanitizer, the filter element must be cleaned with Baqua Clean® before any cartridge cleaner is used. Please refer to “Cartridge Cleaning Supplement for Baquaspa® Users.” QUESTION:What is the procedure to clean my cartridge?ANSWER:

1. Remove the cartridge from the housing following the manufacture’s instructions.
2. Use a garden hose with a straight flow nozzle to wash down the filter element. Work from the top down, holding the nozzle at a 45 degree angle, and wash all the pleats with emphasis between pleats.
3. Rinse until all dirt and debris is gone.
4. Where perspiration and other oils are present, soak the element for at least one hour (over night is more effective) in a commercial filter cleaner, like Bear Strip.
5. Rinse the cartridge again to remove oils and cleaning solution.
6. If the filter has a coating of algae, calcium carbonate (residue from calcium hypochlorite), iron, or other minerals, soak the cartridge in a solution of one part muriatic acid to twenty parts water until all bubbling stops. WARNING: Failure to remove all oils and cleaning solution before acid soaking will result in a permanent restriction of water flow and cause premature cartridge failure.
7. Rinse the cartridge clean and store or reassemble into the housing.

WARNING: Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when using acid and chorine. Do not add water to acid, always add acid to water. Do not mix chlorine and acid.  If  you feel an acid bath is warranted, we recommend this be done by one of our trained professionals.             

Cartridge Cleaning Supplement for Biguanide® Users 

QUESTION: What should I know about cleaning my cartridge element if I use a biguanide system such as Baqua Spa®?

ANSWER: Unlike chlorine, which oxidizes the bacteria in the water, the active ingredient in biguanide systems, polyhexamethylene biqunaide (PHMB), destroys the bacterial cells. PHMB locates and binds to the bacterial surfaces, and then attacks the outer bacterial wall. Once this wall has been compromised, the inner cell membrane (the cytoplasmic membrane) is destroyed. This destruction allows the cell contents to disperse into their surroundings where they are further broken down into their elemental parts by a non-chlorine oxidizer such as Leisure Time BoostTM or Baqua Shock®.

In addition, Baqua Spa Shock® is a coagulant which combines bacterial cells and other small particles in the environment into particles large enough to be trapped by the filter. The resulting deposit is a gray sticky film on the media which can only be removed with Baqua Spa Filter Cleaner®. If trisodium phosphate (TSP) or any TSP type cleaner is used prior to stripping the film, the cleaner and the gray film will combine to form a gum-like substance. Once this occurs, the substance cannot be removed from the media and the filter cartridge must be replaced.

WARNING: Follow all manufacturer’s instructions, warnings and cautions when using Baqua Spa® products. If you have any further questions about how to clean you Spa Cartridge Please call or email one of our Teddy Bear Pools & Spa Trained Professionals, We would be happy to assist you.

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