Identifying Spa Model/accessing Filter Casing!

[tendriana]

I just purchased a house that has an above-ground spa. By the jets/air buttons, it says "Charisma Spas," however I can find no model number. The pump and heater assembly (A Hydro-Quip model) are located on one side of the spa with an access door in the wood housing. The filter is located on the other side of the spa, under a strainer basket. When I first moved in, there was an old, dirty "Type A" filter cartridge sitting outside of the spa. It is the exact type you can buy at Walmart, nothing special. I went to Leslie's Pool Supply to buy a new one, and the employee there told me this was too small for a hot tub. I returned home, and tried to access the filter casing. There is NO top access. If I remove the basket, I can put the A cartridge in sideways into the square that leads to the basket, then turn the cartridge 90 degrees to fall into the cylinder-shaped casing. However I felt around with my hands, and there is indeed plenty of room around the A cartridge - I have no clue how "snug" it should be in there. I went to Walmart, bought a larger "B" cartridge, as it seemed like the right diameter and height. However, it was impossible to get into the casing, as it was too large to turn 90 degrees. I gave up and went back to the A style, which I am not sure is going to filter correctly.

I have spent HOURS trying to find out info about Charisma Spas - their website is no longer running, and I can't find any manuals or anything. I'm hoping someone has a good idea on how to a)find out what model I have b)know where I can get a manual c)replace the filter cartridges with no top access. Everything I read online about replacing cartridges just says "Refer to your owner's manual if you are unsure how to remove the cartridge." Sigh.

[wuice]

I just purchased a house that has an above-ground spa. By the jets/air buttons, it says "Charisma Spas," however I can find no model number. The pump and heater assembly (A Hydro-Quip model) are located on one side of the spa with an access door in the wood housing. The filter is located on the other side of the spa, under a strainer basket. When I first moved in, there was an old, dirty "Type A" filter cartridge sitting outside of the spa. It is the exact type you can buy at Walmart, nothing special. I went to Leslie's Pool Supply to buy a new one, and the employee there told me this was too small for a hot tub. I returned home, and tried to access the filter casing. There is NO top access. If I remove the basket, I can put the A cartridge in sideways into the square that leads to the basket, then turn the cartridge 90 degrees to fall into the cylinder-shaped casing. However I felt around with my hands, and there is indeed plenty of room around the A cartridge - I have no clue how "snug" it should be in there. I went to Walmart, bought a larger "B" cartridge, as it seemed like the right diameter and height. However, it was impossible to get into the casing, as it was too large to turn 90 degrees. I gave up and went back to the A style, which I am not sure is going to filter correctly.

I have spent HOURS trying to find out info about Charisma Spas - their website is no longer running, and I can't find any manuals or anything. I'm hoping someone has a good idea on how to a)find out what model I have b)know where I can get a manual c)replace the filter cartridges with no top access. Everything I read online about replacing cartridges just says "Refer to your owner's manual if you are unsure how to remove the cartridge." Sigh.

We sold a couple of charisma spas long ago, when I searched our database our records show most charisma spas used the unicel 4401.

(just a quick google image search found me this example of one)

[tendriana]

We sold a couple of charisma spas long ago, when I searched our database our records show most charisma spas used the unicel 4401.

(just a quick google image search found me this example of one)

Sorry for the delayed response. Thank you thank you! Those look about the right size indeed, so I'll order some and find out. Lol hopefully someday I can figure out my model number and get a manual... But for now, having the appropriate cartridge will ROCK!

Thanks again!

[wuice]

We sold a couple of charisma spas long ago, when I searched our database our records show most charisma spas used the unicel 4401.

(just a quick google image search found me this example of one)

Sorry for the delayed response. Thank you thank you! Those look about the right size indeed, so I'll order some and find out. Lol hopefully someday I can figure out my model number and get a manual... But for now, having the appropriate cartridge will ROCK!

Thanks again!

Thanks for the reply. If those filters look right, I would be pretty certain they are right, that filter fits all the charisma spas our store sold. Also at this point I wouldn't worry about finding a manual, it won't really have much useful information. They tended to have one manual that was generic to cover almost all the tubs they made. (didn't even have filter info as i remember) But one positive thing is the tubs were manufactured using mostly all 3rd party equipment, so if something breaks just look very very carefully on the part for any names or part numbers and I would bet you will have ok luck finding replacement parts.

[Hillbilly Hot Tub]

I also have a listing for charisma for their skim filter which is a pleatco pww10 (fc3077) which is 4 1/4 OD 4 long with a 1 15/16 hole. Not much square footage of filtration in it, much like the walmart filters though.