Failing c400 filter cartridges

[gdubs]

I have 2 c400 cartridges that are only a year old. After opening pool and rinsing them off, the psi was 8. Now they are at 20 even after I rinse them off. What can I do or do I need new ones already? I can't believe they could be shot already. That would be the quickest yet...

[PoolDoc]

Hey Gdubps,

I moved this to your own thread, to avoid getting it tangled with the other thread. And, yes, your cartridges could die in just a year. Possible reasons:

1. Failure to clean them fully.
2. Cleaning them the WRONG way (acid washing grease will do it!)
3. Asian made cartridges -- I'm sure someone in Asia *could* make high quality cartridges, but to the best of my knowledge, no one there is doing so yet.

Try this, first -- get a basic cleaning set-up:
(You can get all these locally. TSP is usually in the paint section. Any clean plastic 5 - 10 gallon bucket with a lid will work for soaking:

Rubbermaid BRUTE Gray 10 Gal Container w/o Lid @ Amazon
Round Brute Lid For 10-Gallon Waste Containers, 16" Diameter, Gray
1lb Savogran 10621 Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) @ Amazon

Order that stuff -- or buy it locally -- and clean your filters properly. See if that helps.

ALSO . . . verify that your pressure gauge is working properly. If it doesn't return to 0 when the pump is off -- replace it.

If the gauge is OK, and cleaning doesn't help, it's time for new cartridges. Unicel makes many of the Hayward cartridges -- by either a Unicel or a Hayward OEM. I think this is the correct cartridge:

Unicel C-7442 Replacement Filter Cartridge for 40 Square Foot Hayward CX410RE

But here are the dimensions of that cartridge:

Easy Clear C400 40sft 7" diameter 14-3/16" long open w/ molded gasket CX410RE C-7442 4 oz

Measure your existing cartridge, and make sure that's correct; then order (2).

Clean them by

• Spraying them off -- NO pressure washer; no scrubbing.
• Soak them in 4 gal water + 1lb TSP + 1/8 cup of bleach each time you change cartridges.
• When swapping, remove from tank; drain, rinse, drain again, rinse, drain again, rinse a 3rd time; install

.

Rotate them regularly, with one cartridge always soaking. NEVER acid clean a cartridge unnecessarily; NEVER acid clean without using detergent (TSP) first.