How To Clean A Sand Filter Pool

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How To Make clean Any Pool Filter

Has your pool water turned cloudy, or are you worried information technology'south about to? And so it's time to clean out that pool filter! Though the job may seem daunting at first, with care and attending, your pool filter tin can last for years; all it requires is a few minutes every few weeks and a little flake of know-how.

3 of a Kind

There are three types of puddle filters usually in utilize, and it's important to know which kind your pool is using; cleaning these three different filters can be markedly unlike. The three types of filters are:

Sand Filters

Cartridge Filters

Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) Filters

Sand Filters
- The well-nigh affordable style.
- Your pump pushes pool h2o through a tank approximately one-half-total of silica sand, which traps the particles and debris earlier passing the clean water dorsum into your pool.
- Sand filters are easy to maintain and long-lasting.
- The primary drawback of sand filters is their effectiveness because they aren't capable of trapping the smallest particles without the assistance of a filter help.

Cartridge Filters
- Effective and like shooting fish in a barrel to maintain, cartridge filters are mid-tier puddle filters.
- Cartridge filters utilize a cylindrical fan-folded polyester cartridge as the filtering medium. Water flows through the cloth and traps droppings.
- Cartridge filters are considered "dark-green" filters because they can't be backwashed and, every bit a consequence, employ less h2o when existence cleaned.
- These filters tin can trap smaller particles.

Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) Filters
- Although the most expensive, D.E. filters are as well the well-nigh effective, able to screen out all merely the most microscopic particles.
- D.E. filters make clean your water past passing it through a fine, white pulverisation that's actually made from the fossils of diatoms, a single-celled aquatic plant.
- Just like a sand filter, D.E. filters can be backwashed.

DIY TIP: For whatever work on your pool filter, always wear recommended/required safe equipment, and always follow the manufacturer'due south recommendations for cleaning, maintenance, and proper operation. Never movement the backwash valve handle while the pump is operating, and — since the tank is pressurized — never open the tank without opening the air relief valve and making certain the pump is off.

Cleaning a Sand Filter

TOOLS/SUPPLIES NEEDED

Backwash hose
Sand filter cleaner (Leslie'due south Sand Filter Revitalizer)
Owner'due south manual

Process FOR HOW-TO

Cleaning a sand pool filter is relatively easy. You can backwash it, which you should do whenever it reaches 8-10 PSI over the normal operating level. Or you lot'll need to do it when the pool water gets cloudy.

At least twice a twelvemonth, you should chemically clean your sand
filter — with a cleaner that works — while backwashing the filter. Here'southward how:

Start backwashing the filter to remove clay and droppings.
Slowly add the sand filter cleaner into the skimmer.
Backwash the filter for 3 to 5 minutes again to remove dirt and debris that has been dislodged past the filter cleaner.
When consummate, turn off the filter pump. Movement the aftermath valve handle to the "Filter" position and turn the filter pump back on.
If y'all feel h2o-quality issues later chemically cleaning your filter or backwashing doesn't lower the psi because it may be fourth dimension to change the sand.

See? Quick and easy! With sand filters, you can spend less time cleaning and more than time enjoying your pool.

DIY TIP: If you'd prefer to do a deeper cleaning, add a sand filter cleaner, such as Leslie'southward Sand Filter Revitalizer . Follow the directions on the label and brand sure the water level in the pool is right prior to backwashing.

Cleaning a Cartridge Filter

TOOLS/SUPPLIES NEEDED

Garden hose
Spray nozzle
Wrench set up (or equivalent)
Filter cleaner
Large saucepan (if needed)
Non-petroleum-based lubricant
Replacement O-ring (if needed)
Replacement filter cartridges (if needed)
Safe mallet (for multi-element filters)
Owner's manual

PROCESS FOR HOW-TO

A cartridge filter is also like shooting fish in a barrel to clean; you simply pull out the cartridges, clean them, and supercede them. Merely at that place are a few steps to follow to make certain it's washed right.

Turn off your pool pump at the breaker.
When the pump is off, remove air from the system past slowly opening the air-relief valve (ordinarily located on top of the filter) to remove whatever excess air from the system.
Remove the clamp or associates holding the filter together. Your owner's transmission might come in handy here.
Remove the top of the filter.
Slowly and advisedly remove the cartridges and set them aside. Audit everything for damage and clothing. If you discover any cracks or tears, or if a cartridge is mushy, it's time to supervene upon the cartridge considering it is no longer effective.
Clean the cartridge using a spray nozzle on your garden hose. To do so, spray at an angle to get between the pleats. Never use a force per unit area washer; it will damage the cartridges.
If the cartridge is really dirty, use a filter cleaner. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
If the cartridge isactually, actually muddy, soak it in filter cleaner overnight. To practice and so, use a 5-gallon bucket or clean plastic trash tin can, and make sure the cartridges are completely submerged in the h2o and cleaner mixture.
Return the cartridges to the filter and secure them in place.
Supercede the filter top and tighten the clamp or assembly.
Next, bank check the O-ring on the filter tank. If information technology's in good shape, lightly apply some lubricant to go on it that way. If it's dry-rotted, deformed, stretched, or appears worn out, supersede it. Because wear and tear are common, information technology's always a good idea to supervene upon the tank O-band at each cleaning.
Turn the arrangement back on and open up the air-relief valve to release any backlog air in the system. Continue the valve open until a steady stream of h2o sprays from it, and then shut.
Check the organisation pressure to ensure information technology'south in normal range. If the pounds per square inch (PSI) is off, you may accept put the filter dorsum together incorrectly, or something else may exist incorrect with the system. Troubleshoot the pool filter to identify and correct the problem.

DIY TIP: You should clean your cartridge filters when the filter pressure estimate reading goes upward 8-x PSI above the make clean starting pressure level, or every 3-6 months, depending upon the manufacturer's recommendations. Cartridges tin last three-four years earlier needing to be replaced, based upon pool usage, water chemistry, and maintenance practices.

Manually Cleaning a D.E. Filter

TOOLS/SUPPLIES NEEDED

Backwash hose
Garden hose
Diatomaceous earth (D.E.) filter cleaner
Lubricant
five-gallon bucket
Big, plastic spoon for mixing D.E.
D.E. powder
D.E. Filter Cleaner
Safety goggles
Dust mask
Acid-resistant gloves
Owner'south transmission

PROCESS FOR HOW-TO

Diatomaceous world filters should be manually cleaned at to the lowest degree
twice a year. The quickest, easiest method is to use D.Eastward. filter cleaner.
Hither'south how to get started:

Backwash the filter for three to five minutes to remove dirt, debris and the onetime DE.
Turn the pump off and place the backwash valve back in "Filter" mode.
Open the air relief valve.
Remove the drain plug, and let the water drain out of the filter tank.
Remove the clamp or assembly belongings the filter together. If you're unsure how to open information technology, check the owner'south manual.
Open the filter tank by removing the meridian half.
Rinse out the tank with the garden hose and reinstall the drain plug.
Clean the manifold and grids.
Use a spray nozzle on your garden hose to spray down the manifold, and make sure to thoroughly flush the grids of all debris and used D.E.
If the grids are actually dirty, employ a D.Due east. filter cleaner. Follow the manufacturer'due south instructions and article of clothing safe equipment.
Inspect the grids for tears or damage, and check the manifold for cracks.
Place the make clean grids dorsum into the filter tank, line up and install the manifold, and tighten the nuts. Practise not overtighten. If there is a standpipe O-ring, replace it.
Lubricate the filter tank O-band within the tank and reinstall the acme half of filter tank.
Add together D.E. powder to the filter.
Refer to your filter owner'due south transmission to make up one's mind how much D.E. powder you lot'll need to add.
First, in a clean bucket, mix the appropriate amount of D.Eastward pulverisation with plenty h2o to make slurry, which is a thin, creamy solution with the consistency of milk. Use the large plastic spoon to mix.
Prime the filter pump by removing the strainer housing lid and filling the strainer housing with water; permit some h2o to run through the incoming line. As a outcome of use, you lot may need to lubricate the pump lid O-ring. Close the lid.
Open up the filter air-relief valve to release backlog air from the filter tank.
Turn on the pump and let information technology run for 1-2 minutes to make sure you lot accept total circulation.
Close the air-relief valve when water starts coming out.
While the pump is running, slowly pour the slurry directly into the pool skimmer.
Run the puddle pump for at least thirty minutes to allow the D.E. to distribute evenly over the filter grids. Check for any D.Due east. returning to the pool from the return line, and if y'all meet any you may have a torn grid, cracked manifold, or torn stem O-ring.

DIY TIP: Some cities have banned disposing of diatomaceous earth (D.Eastward.) into the sanitary sewer system. Contact your local water department for guidance.

And at that place y'all have it! Follow the steps for your respective filter
blazon to go along both your filter and your pool clean and clear.

Be sure to go along all necessary supplies on hand and so you lot're e'er set up to clean your sand, cartridge, or diatomaceous earth filter as soon as you notice it's not working properly.

It's important for us to acknowledge that certain aspects of pool intendance are subjective, based on personal preference. There are many variations of successful approaches, but we take devoted decades to honing our products and solutions. If you have any questions, or if you think it might exist time to replace your pool filter or filter media, stop byyour nearest Leslie's store. We're here to help!