Help with cleaning cartridge filter

[ehorn]

Okay well it's been a month now and my pressure on the filter has gotten to the "clean" mark. Well I took it out and hosed it off for a good while. When I took it out it was a brown color. Well it looks white now but when I put everything back together the pressure hasn't gone down.

Does this mean the filter isn't clean and I need to spend more time rinsing it off? Is there anything I can do better to make sure the filter is clean?

Thanks for the input.

Oh and I forgot to mention I have a Pentair Clean and Clear cartridge filter, 200sq ft.

Eric

[CliffTex]

Are you by chance running Baquacil or chlorine? If Baquacil, you'll prolly never get it cleared. If you are running a chlorine system, get some filter cleaner from the pool store and soak it for 24 hours and re-rinse.

[ehorn]

Thanks for the input, I am running clorine, just got the salt system installed so it will be using that from now on. What do you use to soak a filter in? Can you do that in the filter itselt or like get a big tub?

Eric

[CarlD]

Amazingly enough, automatic dishwasher detergent is supposed to be the best thing to soak cartridges in. Really. There's no specific product that's better. Those here who use it SWEAR by it. You'll need a container or tub big enough to hold it.

I can't tell you how much to use, but I believe the powdered stuff is best. Somebody out there even sells a cylinder that seals that is sized for your system--they suggest you rinse off the cart and seal it in there with water and the detergent--and have two carts. When one gets dirty, you pull out the one in the cylinder, rinse it off, pop it in, and soak the other one...It's supposed to be the easiest way to maintain carts.

I don't promise that this is correct: I have a sand system and the only carts I used were in an EasySet years ago--and they were cheap enough that I could replace them every 2 weeks.

If any cart owner could chime in and either confirm or correct me, it would be appreciated, but the automatic dishwasher detergent has been confirmed from time to time.

[mas985]

Haven't heard about the dishwasher detergent but I use simple green. It cuts through the suntan oils pretty well and does not produce a lot of suds. Plus, I think it is much cheaper then dishwasher detergent and I can use the leftovers to wash the deck and patio.

First I spray down the cartridges to remove most of the dirt and then I soak them overnight in a large garbage can with simple green. A quick spray down again and reinstall.

[dawndenise]

Your filter owner's manual may have some cleaning suggestions. My Sta-Rite lists Filter Cleanse (Great Lakes Biochemical Co.), Filter Kleen (by GFC Chemical Co. and also by Haviland Products Co.), Spa Cartridge Filter Clean (Leisure Time Chemical Corp.) and KLEEN-IT or Kwik-Strip (both by Biolab, Inc.) as acceptable for degreasing and scale removal when the hosing technique isn't enough. I don't know if they'd be appropriate for the material that your Pentair filter is made of.

I've also heard of the automatic dishwasher detergent solution. I haven't had a need to use anything other than a hose as yet, so I can't personally vouch for it.

Mas985's idea of a garbage can is right on. If you get the right size and the one with a lid, it can function as your storage device for your second set of filters, if you opt to go that way. I'd like to have a 2nd set, but my replacement filters are too pricey for me right now. :(