Caldera 74148 | 35 sq ft Aventine Spa Filter

By Caldera
SKU: 74148
$39.00

Let's Ensure This Fits Your Model

Check out the Filter Guide to see if this filter fits your hot tub model.

If you have questions, call us at (208) 973-1384 or send us an email to hello@leisuretimeinc.com

If possible, please have your hot tub’s serial number ready when you contact our team.

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Description

The Caldera 74148 filter cartridge is a factory-original replacement for select Caldera Aventine® spas. With 35 square feet of filtration across 185 pleats of heavy-duty polyester, it delivers more efficient filtration and better water clarity — so you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your hot tub.

Filtration is what keeps spa water clear and comfortable. Every soak leaves behind body oils, lotions, hair, and fine debris, and the cartridge is what removes all of it before it clouds the water, feeds bacteria, or coats your plumbing. When a filter is worn or clogged, the effects spread everywhere: dull water, higher chemical use, softer jets, and a pump and heater straining against restricted flow.

This is Caldera's compact cartridge, sized for the smaller water volumes of Aventine and Adoration models — and it earns its filtration area through pleat density rather than bulk. Caldera specifies a heavy-duty polyester media built to outlast cheaper alternatives, so the filter holds its performance rather than matting down after a season. Like all Caldera filters, it's made in the USA.

Pro Tip: On a smaller spa, filter upkeep matters more, not less. A compact cartridge is serving a smaller body of water, so the ratio of bather waste to water volume is often higher than in a large spa — which means oils and debris concentrate faster. Sticking to a consistent rinse and deep-clean routine is what keeps a smaller spa's water as clear as a big one's.

Brand

Caldera®

Key Features
  • 35 sq ft of filtration — full factory-spec filtration area for Aventine models
  • 185 pleats — dense filtering surface packed into a compact cartridge
  • Better water clarity — captures more oils, debris, and fine particles
  • Heavy-duty polyester — built to last far longer than cheaper alternatives
  • Compact size — designed for the Aventine and Adoration filter compartment
  • Factory original, made in the USA — genuine Caldera part built to spec
How It Works

Water is drawn through the cartridge's pleated polyester media as your spa circulates. The pleats create the capacity: folding the fabric into 185 pleats packs 35 square feet of filtering surface into a cartridge roughly 5 inches across and 9 inches tall. That surface area means water passes through more slowly and thoroughly — capturing finer particles — and it means the filter holds far more debris before flow starts to drop off.

Media quality matters just as much as surface area. The heavy-duty polyester Caldera specifies resists the matting and pleat collapse that shorten the life of cheaper fabrics, so the cartridge holds both its filtering performance and its flow rate over time. That balance — capturing effectively without choking flow — is exactly what your spa's circulation and jet systems were engineered around.

Pro Tip: A clean filter protects your equipment, not just your water. As the pleats load up with body oils, your pump has to work harder against the restriction, and reduced flow across the heater can trigger flow-related errors. Regular rinsing and periodic deep cleaning is the cheapest protection there is for the expensive parts of your spa.

Directions for Use

Installation

  1. Turn off power to the spa at the breaker before servicing the filter compartment.
  2. Open the filter lid and clear any debris from the compartment.
  3. Remove the old cartridge, noting its orientation.
  4. Seat the new cartridge squarely in the filter well, fully seated top and bottom.
  5. If your spa uses more than one cartridge, replace them at the same time so they wear evenly.
  6. Close the lid, restore power, and run the circulation to confirm normal flow.

Routine Cleaning

  1. Every two to four weeks: remove the cartridge and spray it thoroughly with a garden hose, working between the pleats from top to bottom.
  2. Periodically: soak or treat the cartridge with a dedicated filter cleaner to dissolve the body oils and buildup a rinse can't remove, then rinse it off.
  3. Let it dry fully before returning it to service whenever possible.

Replace the cartridge when the pleats are torn, flattened, or permanently discolored, or when cleaning no longer restores flow and clarity.

Pro Tip: Keep a spare cartridge in rotation. A proper chemical soak takes hours, and the filter cleans best when it can dry completely afterward — awkward when your spa needs it back right away. With a second cartridge you can drop in a clean one immediately and service the other on your own schedule, so your spa never runs on a dirty filter and both last longer.

Specifications
  • Brand: Caldera Spas (Watkins Wellness)
  • Part Number: 74148
  • Alternate Number: 77817 (listed by some dealers)
  • Cross-Reference: Unicel C-4335
  • Product Type: Replacement spa filter cartridge
  • Filtration Area: 35 sq ft
  • Pleat Count: 185
  • Media: Heavy-duty polyester
  • Outer Diameter: Approx. 5 in
  • Length: Approx. 9-1/4 in
  • Top: Open, approx. 2 in
  • Bottom: Open, approx. 2 in
  • Media Weight: Approx. 3 oz
  • Fits: Select Caldera Aventine (Vacanza Series) and Adoration models
  • Cleaning: Rinse with a hose every two to four weeks; deep clean periodically with filter cleaner
  • Replace When: Pleats are torn, flattened, or permanently discolored, or cleaning no longer restores flow
  • Origin: Factory-original OEM part; made in the USA
  • Shipping: Standard ground; not classified as a hazardous material

  • Filtration Sq Ft: 35
  • Outer Diameter: 5"
  • Length: 9-4/16"
  • Top: Open 2"
  • Bottom: Open 2"
  • Pleat Count: 185
  • Media Weight: 3 oz
Compatibility

The 74148 fits select Caldera Aventine® spas in the Vacanza® Series, and also serves Adoration models. Some dealers list it under the alternate number 77817, and it's cross-referenced as Unicel C-4335.

Because Caldera offers cartridges in several sizes across its lineup — and this is the most compact of them — confirm your model and year before ordering, or simply read the part number off your current filter. Also check how many cartridges your spa takes. For upkeep, pair it with a dedicated filter cleaner for periodic deep cleaning.

  • Vacanza Aventine 2010-Current
  • Highland Aventine AVH 2006-2009

An aftermarket alternative to this filter is Unicel C-4335 Filter Cartridge

Most products purchased from our online shop within the last 30 days are eligible for return. Please review our return policy to see the list of items that cannot be returned.

Some major items that are non-returnable:

  • Gift cards
  • Electronics
  • Pumps / Motors
  • Hot Tubs
  • Closeouts
  • Fireplaces
  • Electric Fireplaces
  • Massage Chairs
  • See return policy below for full list of non-returnables.

Caldera® Brand FAQs

Who makes Caldera Spas?

Caldera Spas was founded in1976and is manufactured by Watkins Wellness, a global industry leader that has built more than one million hot tubs. Caldera is recognized throughout the industry for performance, quality, and customer satisfaction — including thirteen consecutive certifications for excellence in customer satisfaction from the consumer group SpaSearch.

What are the Caldera Spas series?

Caldera offers three primary series. The Utopia®Series is the flagship line — a hydrotherapy powerhouse with architecturally inspired cabinetry, touchscreen controls, and premium features. The Paradise®Series blends practical and premium for mid-range luxury. The Vacanza®Series delivers signature Caldera comfort and quality at an exceptional value. Caldera also offers a cold plunge.

Which filter does my Caldera spa use?

It depends on your series, model, and year. Caldera uses several different cartridges across its lineup, and even within the same model line the filter can change by year. The most reliable method is to pull your current filter and read the part number printed on it, or check your owner's manual. Also confirm how many cartridgesyour spa takes, since some models use more than one.

How often should I clean and replace my Caldera filter?

As a general rule,rinse with a garden hose every two to four weeks, working between the pleats, and deep clean periodically with a dedicated filter cleaner to dissolve the body oils a rinse can't remove. Replace the cartridge when the pleats are torn, flattened, or permanently discolored, or when cleaning no longer restores flow and water clarity.

Are genuine Caldera filters worth it compared to aftermarket?

Factory-original filters are built to the exact dimensions, filtration area, and flow characteristics your spa's circulation and jet systems were engineered around. An aftermarket filter that fits the opening may still restrict flow or filter less effectively, making your pump work harder and leaving your water less clear. Caldera filters use heavy-duty polyester designed to last far longer than cheaper alternatives, and they're made in the USA.

What water care system do Caldera spas use?

It varies by series. Utopia® and Paradise® Series spas are designed for the FreshWater® Salt System, which produces longer-lasting, natural-feeling water with less maintenance — and FreshWater® IQ adds in-line self-monitoring that tells you what the water needs. Vacanza® Series spas typically use FROG® water care systems. Whichever system you run, clean filters and a consistent routine are what keep the water clear.

About Caldera®

Founded in 1976Caldera® Spas is one of the most heralded and trusted spa brands in the world. Caldera is manufactured by Watkins Wellness — the global industry leader that has built more than one million hot tubs — and is recognized throughout the industry for performance, quality, and customer satisfaction.

What sets a Caldera apart is a relentless focus on how it actually feels to use. Comfort is the essential element: deep, cradling seats and a textured Foot Ridge® keep you relaxed and seated even under powerful jets, perfectly positioned hydrotherapy melts tension away, and a whisper-quiet sound-dampening design lets you actually unwind. Every detail is crafted to awaken the senses, from rich colors and contemporary cabinet styles to the organic contours of the sculpted seats. It's the signature blend Caldera owners know as Pure Comfort®, Pure Performance®, and Pure Style®.

The lineup spans three series — the flagship Utopia® hydrotherapy powerhouse, the premium-yet-practical Paradise®, and the exceptional-value Vacanza® — all engineered for comfort, efficient energy use, and simple maintenance. Genuine Caldera parts and filters are built to the same standard as the spas themselves, so your equipment keeps performing exactly as designed. Come to Caldera. Come to life.