Pool pump showing a high psi

[Wakkoguy]

If your pool is clear, and your cartridge filter is going from 20 psi to 30 psi in 1 day, you DO need a new cartridge, unless you've put something weird into your pool water. If you will tell me your EXACT filter model and make, I'll try to find the correct Unicel or Filbur cartridge for you -- you only want an OEM cartridge (possibly MADE by Unicel) or one of those two brands. The worst that will happen is that you end up with an extra cartridge, which is not a bad thing.

But, I'm betting you'll end up needing 2 cartridges, 1 to replace your existing cartridge, and 1 to soak -- so you CAN clean properly in the future.

How do you properly clean the filter?
The water is clear (I shock it every other week). Do you think I need to purchase a new one? how much are they? Best place to get them? How often do you have to replace them?

Is the pool cleaner a pressure side or suction side cleaner?

Not sure - has a cleaner that sucks water to the system and runs it through a filter

[Watermom]

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.

(I think it was Waterbear who wrote the above. I copied it and pasted it from some notes.)

Also --- sounds like you have a suction side cleaner. Does it attach to the skimmer in some way?

[Wakkoguy]

I just got the new filter put in and the pressure is down from 30 to 10! Works great, thanks for the advice.

[PoolDoc]

New cartridge sticky (not yet checked by mods & team for errors):
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?18044