Edit ArticleHow to Clean a Cartridge Type Swimming Pool Filter Two Methods:PreparationCleaning the FilterCommunity Q&A Above ground swimming pools offer a lot of fun and exercise in the summer time, but they can become expensive to maintain. For those who want to save some money, or simply reduce waste, cleaning the filter, rather than buying a new one is an option. Purchase quality cartridge type filters. These will have a pleated fiberglass mat or synthetic filter media, not paper. The cleaning methods described here will cause cheap media to break down, leaving the filter useless. Run the system with your filter as you normally would. When it becomes dirty, remove it from the pump-filter assembly. Rinse any debris from the filter with a garden hose and spray nozzle before the filter dries after you have removed it.set Allow the filters to dry thoroughly, preferably in bright sunshine, which has effective algaecide properties. Shake or use an air compressor to remove loose particles from the filter's fabric.

Save the filters you would normally throw in the trash until you have several to clean. Because cleaning involves using chlorinator and takes time, cleaning individual filters is not efficient. five gallon/18.9 liter plastic paint bucket will hold about five type C filters. Prepare a large bucket with a tight-fitting lid to soak your filters. Allow the filters to soak to kill any microorganisms that are trapped in the filter media, and to break down any organic contaminants. Remove the filters and rinse in a bucket of clean water.cloud Hang or place the filters in bright sunlight and allow them to dry thoroughly. Seal the bucket you soak the filters in when not in use so you won't have to add additional chlorinator each time you clean filters. Mix a solution of muriatic acid and water to dissolve minerals that accumulate in the filter media, reducing the rate water can pass through the filter. Soak the filters in the acid solution until it quits bubbling.

Seal this container when you are finished with it. Rinse the acid cleaned filters with plenty of fresh water, then allow them to dry, shake any remaining collected dirt from the pleats, and they are ready either to proceed to chlorine soaking, or if this step has followed the chlorine soaking, they are ready for reuse in your pool. Reuse your cleaned filters. Show more unanswered questions Remove and clean or replace the filter on a regular basis. You may want to use a new filter instead of dealing with acids, having a sealed bucket of bleach around and using used filters. Pool filter cleaning chemicals are marketed specifically for cleaning cartridge type filters, but the cost is fairly high in consideration of their performance. Using a 5% muriatic acid solution to remove calcium deposited in the filter media will increase the filter's performance if high concentrations of minerals exist in your pool water. Filters may become clogged much more rapidly when using clarifier in the pool water, as this product will cause the particles that cloud the water to be trapped more easily in the filter media.

Remove the collected dirt from the filter in stages, removing as much as possible in each stage. Simply tapping or brushing the filter after it has dried in the sun will reduce the amount of organic contaminants that need to be broken down in the chlorinator soak.above ground pool cleaning robot Maintain your pool water chemistry to minimize the organic contaminants in the water, making the filter's job much easier.swimming pool cleaning leaves For cleaning filters in pools where a large number of people swim, and suntan lotions or other materials may accumulate, using a dish washing liquid solution to pre-soak the filter may yield superior results.top carpet cleaners in atlanta ga Make sure the filter/pump unit is working correctly before using shock or adding chlorine or other chemicals to the pool.

Store filters in a plastic bag or other container when they are cleaned to keep insects from making a home in them. Discard any filters that become damaged or deteriorate to the point they no longer filter efficiently. The organic matter captured by the filter can be irritating, so avoid breathing and exposure to the dust when removing it either with a brush or by blowing out with compressed air. Use caution when pouring either liquid chlorinator or muriatic acid. Add the chemical to the water, never the water to concentrated chemicals, and avoid direct contact with skin. The solution of chlorinator you soak the filter in is very strong. Do not splash on clothes, and keep the bucket sealed tightly and out of reach of children.They look a lot like the pleated air filter in your car, but with a center chamber. Pool filter cartridges trap dirt as the water is forced through the pleated polyester. Whether you have an in-ground or an above-ground pool – filter cartridge elements work the same way, get dirty the same way, and are cleaned the same way.

There are many products that can help make your filter cleanings quick and effective. I’ll show you how they are used in combination to help make your filter last through as many as 15 to 20 cleanings or for as long as 2-4 years. First step is to remove the filter cartridge from your filter tank. After the lid is off, you may need to separate individual cartridges (if you have more than one) from a manifold assembly. After the cartridge is out, take a chair and, through the use of pressurized water, blast the dirt and debris out of the pleats of the filter cartridge. There are several options for how to best spray clean your cartridge filter. You can either do it manually or automatically. To clean a filter cartridge manually, you can use a garden hose – or step it up a notch and check out these pool cartridge cleaning tools. Pool Filter Wand, the Filter Flosser, or the Water Wand Cartridge Cleaner. These all follow the same principle – by attaching to a regular garden hose and forcing the water into small pressurized jets.

This allows for sharp streams of water to get in between the pleats for a faster, more complete cleaning. In addition, the Pool Filter Wand combines a heavy duty brush to ensure that your filter is clean of all debris that may be lodged between the pleats of the cartridge. I have heard stories of pool owners taking their filter cartridges to the car wash or using their own pressure washer to clean the pool cartridge. A little bit of pressure is good – too much pressure, however and the fibers of spun polyester can separate or develop small holes. Most filter cartridge manufacturers recommend that high pressure cleaning not be used with pool filter cartridges. To clean your pool cartridge automatically, you can use the Blaster Automatic Filter Cleaner. This handy contraption automatically spins your cartridge as it is thoroughly sprayed by jets of water. Its horizontal design allows for the dirt and debris to easily fall from the filter – avoiding the lodging that occurs in vertical cleaning.

The Blaster can clean most filter cartridges in just minutes, and is available in three sizes. Whichever route you decide to take, the most important thing to remember is that patience and care are key. The more time you spend carefully cleaning your cartridge, the more dirt and debris you will be able to dislodge from the pleats of the filter.  Remember – if you clean your filter cartridge thoroughly each time, it will be that much easier to clean next time! Sadly, hosing them clean is as far as most people go to clean their filter cartridges. While the loose dirt and debris has been removed from the cartridge, there usually is a good amount of deposits still left on the cartridge that you may not be able to see. What I’m referring to are oils, grease and grime. Oily residues not only inhibit the filtering ability of the cartridge, but also makes it easier for dirt to become deeply embedded within the filter pleats. Two great options you have to dissolve this oil and scum are the Granular Filter Cleaner and Natural Chemistry’s Filter Perfect.

These two options work the exact same way. They mix with water to create a concentrated cleaning solution that will dissolve oil and scale. Simply soak your filter in the solution overnight or for 24 hours after you have washed off all the loose dirt and debris. While these products work the same way, Filter Perfect utilizes enzymes to dissolve the oils on the filter, while our granular product is works more on mineral deposits. Once your filter cartridge is clean, rinse thoroughly with water and let dry completely before reinstalling. For this reason, some pool owners buy an extra set of filter cartridges, to keep the pool filtering while cleaning the other set. If you’ve followed these quick and simple steps you first blasted the loose dirt and debris off of your filter cartridge and then dissolved the hard-to-clean oil and scum. If you keep up with regular cleanings, your filter cartridges should last longer. When the time between necessary cleanings becomes shorter, about half as long as it once was – time to replace the filter cartridges.