Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: txwillie on January 11, 2005, 03:31:39 pm
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Does anyone have a really good method for rinsing out the filters after using the cleaner? I've seen posts that mention using the dishwasher, and while that might work, the idea just does not apeal to me (outdoor stuff stays outdoors).
After my last filter cleaning I rinsed each with the hose for at least 15 minutes and interspersed that with soaking in buckets of clean water, and I still got some foam when they were reinstalled. Then it hit me. My million dollar idea. A cannot fail, simple, fast, easy way to get every bit of soap out with no chance of damage due to high pressure. I think it may even be patentable, but I'd like to hear how ya'll do it to see if I'm really onto something new or if anyone (or everyone) with a little creativity has come up with something similar.
If after a few days, I don't get at least one reply with the same or similar idea, I'll think that I really am onto something new and will begin looking into the possibility of a patent and marketing potential. Anybody willing to help out a dumb ol' engineer like me?
txwillie
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Anybody willing to help out a dumb ol' engineer like me?
txwillie
Well, its public record here now I have no ideas, so if you want to pm me your idea, I can try it out sometime and see its merits if you want additional testing I use to be a QC Manager
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Sorry wmccall, et.al., but I'm not telling unless someone posts something very similar to my idea. If it is new and has not been patented, it could be worth something. Ya ever hear of Post-It's? Ok, maybe I'm just a bit full of myself.....
txwilllie
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no advice on rinsing the filters? is it due to the perception that I am holding back?
txwillie
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how about a hint ;D
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how bout rinsing in the rinse cycle of your washer? :o
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how bout rinsing in the rinse cycle of your washer? :o
Can you say "shredded mess"?
Oh come on guys and gals, play along. There is a hint in another post that deals with another topic. Not sure if that is where my brainstorm came from or not.
txwillie
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Anybody willing to help out a dumb ol' engineer like me?
txwillie
Don't put yourself down like that Willie. I think it would be cool to drive a train and pull the "choo choo" whistle cord. ;)
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I dunno ???...Rinsing with a garden hose has always worked fine for most...
Steve
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Let us not forget the "putting it on a pole/stake and using the hose" thread that gave some real ideas.... :o
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Owning a spa company, the best way that I have found is to bring them into the store and let an employee do it for me! ;D
Actually I've posted this several times that the easiest thing in the world is to drive a piece of pipe into the ground and set the filter over it then spray it while it spins on the pipe!
Several people have come up with inventions over the years that work however they all price themselves out of the market!
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I briefly thought about building a canister out of 8"pvc w/a threaded fitting on top that connects to a narrow "input tube." If you build the thing so the ends seal against the ends of the filter, the water is forced in the center of the filter and sort of "backflows" to the outside. You let the water out by drilling a series of holes around the top of the outer case. A short hose connects it to the kitchen faucet & just let it sit in the sink to rinse. . . :o
But then I decided it was too much work & I went over to WSD's for martinis instead. 8)
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A guy at work said he uses bleach and water to clean his filter instead of a "filter cleaner" and he has no foam. What do you guys think of this idea. I wolud like to try it, but I don't want to mess with water chem. I think I'm rinsing enough but I see foam from my "cleaner" also . ???
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I'm thinking think that some amount of body oil ends up in the filter material. Does bleach disolve oil? Pretty sure the fillter cleaners will. But I could be wrong again!
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But then I decided it was too much work & I went over to WSD's for martinis instead. 8)
Dude! Come on over today and we can drink another to the 14th anniversary of my 38th birthday....and I'll make sure those olives are just like you like'em..... ;)
(This post modified due to an unexplainable attack of "oldtimer's" disease on WSD's part. Apologies have been forwarded to UTS. :-[ Now back to your regularly scheduled posts.....)
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Can you say "shredded mess"?
Oh come on guys and gals, play along. There is a hint in another post that deals with another topic. Not sure if that is where my brainstorm came from or not.
txwillie
Well, I'm stuck in your mode, I use the filter rinse then just rinse the shit out of them, and then rinse it again an hour later.
Maybe you should talk to Steve and Dr. Spa here. Steve came up with "The cover saver" if memory serves and Dr Spa sells it for him on his website. Look under covers and lifters on rhtubs.com
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I haven't tried it yet, but what about this
When you use a paint roller and want to clean it there is a tool that you can use to spin it.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1276935
I tried the idea out on a dry filter and with a medium nap roller cover on the spinner it fit perfectly snuggly into the center of my HotSpring Vanguard filter.
There is another gizmo that you attach to a hose and it is a circle that fits over the roller like a ring and forces water through the roller over the entire 360 degrees, you only need to move it up and down. Now this would have to be enlarged to fit the circumference of the filter.
http://www.cornerhardware.com/item_271488/HomeRight/HomeRight/Roller-Cleaner/item.html
Just a couple of thoughts.
Tim
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Not sure if that squish ring paint roller would work all that well on a pleated filter.
I recently found out that the place I get my spa chems.
offers filter cleaning. I didn't ask what they charged, but next time I may consider that, depending on how much is costs. I think I pay about $7 for a bottle of filter cleaner.
Brewman
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Brewman, be careful about taking filters to the dealer for cleaning. I heard he takes them home & puts them in his dishwasher, and you never know what's been in there!
(hey, I was only kidding)
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Brewman, be careful about taking filters to the dealer for cleaning. I heard he takes them home & puts them in his dishwasher, and you never know what's been in there!
(hey, I was only kidding)
Or, worse yet, maybe he swaps'em with the filters that Chas' brother-in-law brings in......
(Ok....everyone that misses Chas, raise your hand... :'()
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Boy, that's food for thought.
Good thing that I didn't mention that I've been getting my spa chems from the local Arctic dealer for a few months. They are more conveniently located and a bit less expensive than my Sundance dealer.
How does one raise their hand in a bb post?
Consider mine raised.
Brewman
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*HAND RAISED WAVING WILDLY* :'(
(That was for all of you so much taller than me!)
;D
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Well UTS came the closest to my idea. The problem I see with rinsing the filters with a garden hose is, you are only hitting the outer surface. Nothing actually gets the stuff that is in the filter fabric itself. So, when you put your "clean" filers in, the first thing that happens is the pumps draw water thru and deposits what is in the membrane into the water. So you have to replicate that action outside the tub. First thought was to draw suction on the filters as would be in the spa piping system. Every thing I came up with was going to be a pain. I saw a post about garden hose filler filters and thought well hey, why not do that when rinsing the spa filters. So, after I sprayed things off, I put my hose end sprayer up to the suction end of the filter and let 'er go, basically back washing the filter and pushing water thru the filter fabric. My multi-setting sprayer just about fit exactly over the 2" suction fitting. The "invention" is to buy and make-up the fittings to adapt 3/4" garden hose to my 2" MPT filter suction fitting (3 bucks at home depot). This works 'cause my filters have a closed top. I've not paid that much attention to other filter designs, but I think I have seen some that are open on both ends (how the heck does that work?). In that case you would need something to close off the other end (like a test ball).
PM me for the address to send the royalty checks.
txwillie
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This is what we use.
Spin N Free (http://www.spin-n-free.com)
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This is what we use.
Spin N Free (http://www.spin-n-free.com)
looks like an $80 broomstick to me
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The challenge that you may run into is the fact that there are about a bazillion different filter sizes. The ID, OD, height, ends (open or closed) can all vary drastically. So, your kit would have to include a very flexible adapter.
Not trying to rain on your parade... just making an observation. We often have people come in asking for a filter for their spa. When we ask them what type of filter they need, they get a blank look on their face and repeat, "A hottub filter.". A quick look at the number of options in the filter catalog usually helps them realize that they may need to bring in a few dimensions in order to find the right one. ;D
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how about making the adapter a rubber cone with a center waterway. one size fits all.
txwillie
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The challenge that you may run into is the fact that there are about a bazillion different filter sizes.
I agree with Cgar. Here's just one link that will give an indication on the variety of filters utilized in various spas:
Click on "Unicel Replacement Filters" at the top of the list.
Various filters (http://advantageleisure.com/indexa.asp
)
Steve
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looks like an $80 broomstick to me
Reminds me of the R/C car industty, take a household $10 item, give it a specific industy purpose and mark it up 1000 %