Proper pool filter maintenance is vital to keeping your pool water in top condition for the swimming season. There are different types of filters that require different cleaning schedules and methods.
Whenever opening your filter housing, valve assemblies, etc. for maintenance you should include cleaning and recoating all O-rings, seals and gaskets. I recommend a Teflon based lubricant as it will help prolong the life of your O-rings, seals and gaskets.
One very important thing to remember with all types of pool filters is baseline pressure. What is baseline pressure? It is the pressure on the filters gauge with a completely clean or new filter. This pressure helps you determine if your filter is in need of cleaning. When the pool filter pressure rises approximately 10 PSI over the baseline pressure (this is the differential pressure) it’s time to clean your filter.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE):
This type of filter uses an internal fine mesh covered grid coated in diatomaceous earth or DE. The water passes through this grid and the particulates are removed. The DE is a very fine white powder that is actually the exoskeletons of marine plankton. DE filters can filter out particles down to .1 micron resulting in super clear water.
Cleaning a DE filter is a little more labor intensive than a sand filter. Although most DE filters have a backwash feature this is not the proper way to clean it, backwashing does not remove all of the old DE or dirt from the grids. A DE filter should be dismantled and all of the old DE and dirt should be rinsed off of the grids. These grids are very fragile; you should use care when handling them to avoid tearing.
You should use caution not to breath in the fine DE powder when you are handling it and you should properly dispose of the used DE.
Here is the basic process of cleaning a DE filter: ·Turn off the pool pump. Make sure that the timer is not going to turn it back on while you are cleaning the filter ·Take the band clamp off of the pool filter and remove the top of the filter housing ·On most DE filters, the entire grid assembly pulls out of the filter housing. Use caution when lifting this out not to damage it ·Using a hose spray the grids to remove the old DE and dirt. Use caution not to damage the DE grid ·Inspect and replace as required the seals and “O” rings where the grid assembly mounts. Lubricate the seals with pool equipment lube ·Reinstall the grid assembly into the filter housing ensuring a good seal at the connections ·Reinstall the cover and tighten down the band clamp – Follow the manufacturer’s directions on properly tightening the clamp ·Turn on the pump and allow the filter to fill with water, open the air release valve if necessary ·Add the new DE slowly to the pool skimmer, don’t go too fast or you can clog it up. Follow the directions on the package to determine the quantity required for your filter, quantity depends on the square inches of the filter grid
Sand Filter:
This type of filter forces the pool water through a large volume of sand to remove debris and particulates from the water. As the water passes through, the dirt gets captured between the grains of sand. Sand filters are the easiest filters to maintain throughout the swimming season but the downside is that they only filter out particles under about 40 microns which can make it difficult to get your pool water crystal clear. It is recommended that the sand in the filter be replaced approximately every 5 years.
Regular maintenance of a sand filter involves backwashing or running water through the filter backwards to release all of the trapped dirt particles from the sand.
Here is the basic process of backwashing a sand filter: ·Turn the pump off ·Extend the backwash hose to a suitable location, this process will release allot of water on the ground so make sure the location can handle a large volume of water ·Set the backwash valve to the “Backwash” position ·Turn on the pool pump and let it run until the water exiting the hose is clear – 5 to 10 minutes depending on the amount of trapped dirt ·Turn off the pump ·Set the backwash valve back to the normal position ·Operate pool as usual
Cartridge Filter:
This type of filter uses a pleated paper filter to remove debris and particulates from the water. Cartridge filters typically remove particles up to 10 microns.
Cleaning a cartridge filter is a fairly straightforward process. The typical lifespan of a cartridge is 12 to 18 months depending on water chemistry.
Here is the basic process of cleaning a cartridge filter: ·Turn off the pool pump. Make sure that the timer is not going to turn it back on while you are cleaning the filter ·Take the band clamp off of the pool filter and remove the top of the filter housing ·Remove the filter cartridge(s) from the filter housing, inspect for tears or damage and replace if required ·Using a garden hose with a spray nozzle, spray the filters from the top down until all of the visible dirt is removed ·Soak the filter a minimum of 1 hour and up to overnight in a solution of filter cleaner and water or 1 cup of Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) and 5 gallons of water. ·Rinse the filter with a garden hose again to remove the solution ·Reinstall the cartridge into the housing ·Reinstall the cover and tighten down the band clamp – Follow the manufacturer’s directions on properly tightening the clamp
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