How do I know when to replace my cartridge filter?

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Using cartridge pool filters are a great option for swimming pools because they are easy to maintain and simple to clean. Properly maintaining your cartridge filter often comes down to whether to clean the cartridge or replace it.

Check out these expert tips to help you know when each option is appropriate.

When To Clean Your Filter Cartridges

The simple answer? When the pressure on your gauge reaches 8-10 psi above the standard starting pressure, you should clean the filter.

For example, if you bought brand new filter cartridges, and the first time you started the system the psi was 10, then you would need to clean that filter when the pressure reached around 18 psi. Other times you should clean your filter include:

• During an algae bloom treatment
• After major storms
• As part of opening or closing your pool

We have more information in this step-by-step guide on how to clean a cartridge pool filter.

When To Replace Your Filter Cartridges

Pool filter cartridges have no expiration date, so it&#;s important to know signs of a cartridge that needs replacement.

Let&#;s start with the bands. Contrary to what you may have heard, those bands are not wear bands. This means that the cartridge does not need to be replaced at the first sign of a broken band. However, the bands will break down over time. If you see a significant amount of breakage on the bands, look closely at the cartridge to ensure it is still in good condition. Those bands are specifically designed to ensure proper spacing between the pleats of the filter, so if the bands do break, your filtering ability will be diminished.

Next, look at the coloration of the cartridge. It will never be as white as when you first installed it, but it should not have permanent dark brown or oily stains. If it does, that means it is saturated with oils. You need to soak it in a cartridge cleaner to help pull those oils out. If you can't remove the oils with a cartridge cleaner solution, you may need to replace the cartridge.

PRO TIP: It is not a good idea to use any sort of acid dilution on a filter cartridge.

Now, look between the pleats. You don&#;t need to check them all, but check enough of them to get a good understanding of whether or not the material is starting to fray or come apart. If the material is visibly degrading, you should replace the cartridge immediately because you are no longer getting proper filtration.

The final sign that you need to replace the filter cartridge - the end caps are broken. Small stress cracks may not be a problem, but any actual breaks in the cap are a strong indicator that the pool filter cartridge needs to be replaced.

For more information on pool filter cartridges or any other aspect of pool care, call or visit your local Leslie's.

Proper cleaning of your filter cartridges will not only help keep your pool as clean as possible, but also increase its useful life. You will eventually need to replace the cartridges. Dirt, oils, and minerals build up which cleaning won't remove. Here are some tips for how to clean a pool filter cartridge, and when to replace your pool filter cartridge.

When to Clean a Pool Filter Cartridge

Filter cartridges should be cleaned whenever the filter pressure gauge increases by about 8 PSI (pounds per square inch) or more above the normal operating pressure, or at least every 6 months assuming your filter is properly sized and you haven&#;t had any unusually large burden placed on the filter (such as a bad algae bloom or very heavy bather loads). If you notice a change in your water quality, inspect the filter for damage or tears, and consider cleaning it.

How to Clean a Pool Filter Cartridge

To properly clean a cartridge, you&#;ll want to first remove any large dirt and debris, and then soak it in a pool filter cartridge cleaning solution to remove built up oils and scum.

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Use a garden hose to remove the larger debris, cleaning between the pleats from top to bottom. The more deeply you clean your pool filter cartridge, the longer it will last. It is not recommended to quickly hose off the cartridge and put it back in the tank. When you clean your cartridges, give it the full treatment each time.

The pool filter wand is a brush that you connect to your garden hose to increase water pressure. This allows you to easily brush the cartridge and have water flow through at the same time.

The Filter Flosser is a high pressure cleaning head that you attach to a garden hose to blast dirt and debris out of the pleats in your filter cartridge.

Once you&#;ve removed all of the loose debris, soaking the filter in a filter cleaning solution to remove oils and minerals is the next step. Natural Chemistry&#;s Filter Perfect or In The Swim&#;s granular filter cleaner are great options.

Natural Chemistry&#;s Filter Perfect is a highly concentrated, natural enzyme cleaning solution. Add 1 liter of Filter Perfect to a bucket of 5 to 10 gallons of water and soak the cartridge for a minimum of 6 hours, or let it soak overnight. Remove the cartridge from the solution and rinse thoroughly.

In The Swim's granular filter cleaner has similar dosing instructions, add 1 lb. of the granular filter cleaner to 5 gallons of water; soak for 24 hours, then rinse thoroughly.

They both work well on oils and minerals, but - if your cartridge is clogged with oily residues, use the Filter Perfect, and if you have more of a hard water minerals or metal deposits clogging your cartridge, use our Filter Cleaner product.

Helpful Tips

1. For best results, allow your cartridge to dry fully after soaking before placing it back in the filter tank.
2. You can use a tall kitchen trashcan if it's tall enough; if it's not, flip it over after 6 hours to soak both ends of the filter cartridge.
3. Having replacement cartridges allows you to switch cartridges at cleaning time, so you aren't without filtering during the cleaning and drying process.

When to Replace a Filter Cartridge

Generally, most people replace their filter cartridges about every 3-5 years, but don't use the amount of time that has passed as the only determining factor. Monitor the performance of your filter. Your timeframe may be longer or shorter depending on the demand placed on the cartridge.

You can determine when to replace your filter cartridge in three ways.

Cleaning Frequency

Pool filter cartridges need to be cleaned when the pressure gauge rises 8 PSI above normal operating pressure. When the time frame between the significant shortening of this increase in pressure begins, it probably indicates the need to replace the filter cartridge.

Keep track of the filter pressure and the date you clean your filter cartridge. When the length of time between cleanings is half of what it used to be, your filter cartridge has reached it's "half-life", and it's time to replace.

Water Quality

Another way to determine if your filter cartridge needs replacing is if the water stays cloudy or green despite proper chemical balance. In addition, if you have to run your filter longer or use more sanitizer to achieve clean and clear pool water, then that's a clear sign that your cartridge isn't optimally working.

Clean the cartridge first, but if the problem doesn&#;t clear up in a few days, the cartridge is probably unable to filter the water as effectively as it once did. Each time you clean a cartridge, the fibers separate more, allowing fine dirt and algae to pass through unfiltered. Unicel recommends a new filter cartridge after 12-15 cleanings.

Filter Damage

The third way of determining the need for a new filter cartridge is to inspect it thoroughly every time you clean it, looking for rips or tears in the fabric. Damage to the filter will reduce the potential for sufficient filtering. Replace the cartridge if there are tears or rips in the fabric or if cracks appear in the rubber end cap.

Bigger cartridge filters have longer filter cycles and fewer cleanings per year, and in many cases, requiring only a single cleaning at closing time. Simply put, larger filters will last longer than undersized filters, so go big!

If you have a typically sized cartridge pool filter with 100 square feet of filter surface area per gallons, your filters should last 2-3 years. If you have double the filter size, you can get nearly double the cartridge lifespan.

In The Swim carries hundreds of replacement pool cartridges. Our filter cartridge search tool allows you to quickly find your cartridge by part number, size or filter manufacturer. All you need to find a replacement cartridge on our site is the part number and/or the dimensions (length and width).

For more information, please visit stainless steel filter cartridges.