Pool filter cartridges get seriously filthy. All the oil, dirt, and debris from the pool pass through and stick to the filter, which creates a large build-up of residue over time.
How do you clean a pool filter cartridge, though? Compared to other pool filters, such as sand and diatomaceous earth filters, which can be left untouched for longer, pool filter cartridges require the utmost cleaning attention. That may be in the form of a light hosing once in a while or a thorough muriatic acid cleansing.
Read on to find out how to clean your pool filter cartridge and learn how to keep the build-up of debris to a minimum.
What You Will Need
- A hose with a spray nozzle – one with multiple settings
- Silicone paste – particularly if you use chlorine in your pool
- Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) Powder – 4.5 pounds required
- Muriatic acid/hydrochloric acid – 1 to 2 gallons required
- 45-gallon bucket – or smaller, depending on the size of your filter cartridge. The bucket must be big enough to submerge the filters.
- Paper towels
- Measuring cup
- Drive ratchet
- 19mm or ¾” socket
- Latex gloves
- Safety glasses
- Drive torque wrench
- Rubber mallet
With regards to the tools listed above, double-check with your filter cartridge user manual for specifications and other information. Filter cartridges come in all shapes and sizes, so yours may also require different sized tools.
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When to Clean Your Pool Filter Cartridge
There are many ways to tell when you should clean your pool filter cartridge. By the book, pool filter cartridges require at least one hose-down every month to minimize debris build-up, and they also need at least one thorough clean every 2-3 months.
However, there are tell-tale signs that let pool owners know if the pool filter cartridge requires a premature clean. These signs include whenever the filter’s pressure has increased 8 PSI over the pressure it was at when last cleaned.
In the case of some more advanced pool filters, the arrow in the gauge states that the filter needs to be cleaned.
How to Clean a Pool Filter Cartridge: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1
Before starting, make sure everything related to the filter is turned off, especially the pump and the timer.
Next, loosen the clamp using a combination of a ratchet, a rubber mallet, and a socket wrench. It would be a good idea to drain out the entire filter housing prior to removing the clamp, as water will leak out if not.
After removing the clamp, remove the manifold and the filters. This process can be made easier by gently rocking the components side-to-side while removing.
Hose down everything you’ve removed from the filter housing. Be careful to not damage them while hosing them down. We’d recommend hosing at a 45-degree angle while applying a mid-level amount of pressure. Using a high level of pressure on the filters could prove detrimental to their performance level in the future. Make sure all visible debris is removed from the pleats.
Step 2
Fill the bucket with water and dilute the TSP in it – 1 cup for every 5 gallons of water. The amount of TSB for this step depends on how many gallons of water it takes to submerge your filters.
Place your filters gently into the bucket, and make sure they are each totally submerged in the water. It would be ideal to leave them to soak overnight; however, if this is not possible, make sure they remain in the bucket for at least 3 hours.
Step 3
While the filters are soaking in the TSP, it would be a good idea to take care of the filter housing, as a considerable amount of debris will have likely gathered at the bottom.
Hose down the inside using TSP, and drain out the water until there is no water or residue left.
Next, build the filter housing back up, fill it up to the top with hot water, and let it steep for the time being.
Step 4
This step isn’t a requirement, but we do recommend it, especially for filter cartridges that have not been cleaned for a while.
After taking the filters out of the TSP solution water, hose them down again, and make sure they are totally free of TSP or any other cleaning solutions. Similarly, rinse out the bucket, hose it down, and ensure that it is also free of any cleaning solution residue.
Refill the bucket with clean water up to the point required to submerge all the filters. Place the filters in and, wearing latex gloves and safety glasses, fill the bucket with muriatic acid, leaving a reasonable gap between the fluid and the brim of the bucket.
For this stage, you could either just wait until the liquid stops bubbling to remove the filters, or if you’ve got the time, you could leave them to soak overnight.
Either way, be sure to hose down and clean anywhere where acid may have dripped, and when removing the filters, use ammonia or baking soda to neutralize the acid.
Thoroughly hose the filters down one last time. Of course, your filters should appear to be spotless by this stage.
Step 5
Rebuild the rest of the filter housing by placing the filters back in their place. Before refitting the clamp, be sure to check the quality of seals around the perimeter of the lid. If they have deteriorated or are in otherwise bad shape, be sure to replace or repair them. This is where the silicon paste comes in handy, as it can repair the seals as good as new.
After that, all that’s left to do is refit the clamp and screw in the bolts using the torque wrench. It is also recommended to do a quick manual clean of the pool for any obvious debris so that the new, clean filter is starting its cycle with a clean pool.
Conclusion
After you restart the pump, in no time at all you’ll surely be able to see the rewards of your hard work in the form of pristine pool water for you to swim in. The whole process gets easier after the first time you’ve done it, and it’ll eventually become a force of habit to maintain your pool.