Cleaning your Cartridge Filter without Damaging It!

[PoolDoc]

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Cleaning your Cartridge Filter without Damaging It!

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How NOT to *use* a cartridge filter

1. Do NOT use DE filter powder to boost performance -- it can damage the filter fabric.
2. If you use DE filter powder to TEST a cartridge filter, clean the cartridge immediately after.
3. NEVER operate the filter when the pressure increase is more than 10 psi. See pleat collapse picture below*

How-to *use* a cartridge filter

1. Note the filter pressure when the pump is off -- it should be ZERO. If not, replace the gauge.
2. Clean the filter. Note the pressure 5 minutes after the filter is first turned on.
3. Monitor the filter pressure; clean the filter when the pressure is 6-8 lbs MORE than the pressure recorded in #2
4. If possible, add bleach or cal hypo via the skimmer regularly, or keep a trichlor tab in the skimmer, in order to keep slime from forming on the filter.

How NOT to *clean* a cartridge filter

1. NEVER acid wash a filter, until it's been degreased.
2. NEVER use a pressure washer to clean a filter.
3. Do NOT use a tool that will break the cartridge bands or puncture the material

How-to clean a filter cartridge - 2 cartridge method.

1. Get TWO cartridge sets for your filter.
2. Find a plastic container large enough to completely submerge the cartridge, when 3/4 full.
3. Fill 3/4 full with clean water.
4. Add TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) at the rate of 2lbs per 5 gallons; mix till dissolved.
5. Remove dirty cartridge #1 from filter.
6. Install clean cartrige #2 into filter, and restore filter operation.
7. Spray off dirty cartridge #1; spray carefully BETWEEN the pleats.
8. Add 1/2 cup of bleach per 5 gallons, to the cleaning solution, and mix.
9. Place cartridge #1 in cleaning solution, and cover.
10. Leave cartridge #1 in cleaning solution for 24 hrs (alternately: till ready to swap!).
11. Remove cartridge #1 from cleaning solution; rinse carefully and thorougly with water; allow to drain; rinse again.
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12. (OPTIONAL) If cartridge needs to be acid cleaned, take 2nd container and fill 1/2 with water.
    (Do NOT acid clean because it *might* help!)
13. (OPTIONAL) Add 1/4 gallon of muriatic acid per 5 gallons of water. If removing metals, also add 1/2 pound of ascorbic acid. Mix.
14. (OPTIONAL) Place double rinsed cartridge in acid solution & cover.
15. (OPTIONAL) Wait at least 1 hour. Remove cartridge after no more than 4 hours.
16. (OPTIONAL) Rinse carefully and thorougly with water; allow to drain; rinse again.
17. (OPTIONAL) Store solution covered for re-use; renew with 1/8 gallon of muriatic and 1/4 lb of ascorbic acid.
18. (OPTIONAL) Before disposing of solution, neutralize with soda ash -- added SLOWLY! Add soda ash repeatedly till fizzing stops.
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19. Store cartridge in a secure location till ready to use. (Or leave in TSP soak)

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Supplies needed:

• Spray nozzle for hose
• Plastic bucket or garbage can with lid -- must be sturdy enough to hold 3/4 full water securely.
  
• Trisodium phosphate from Amazon or Home Depot
  (Not 'safe', eco-friendly, or non-phosphate TSP)
  
• Plain household bleach @ Walmart

Optional supplies:

• Muriatic acid @ Lowes
• Cartridge spray nozzle tool
  Mikise FFT Filter Flosser Tool Cartridge Cleaning Tool @ Amazon
  Mi-Way Aquacomb Pool Filter Cartridge Spray Cleaner Tool @ Amazon

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Resources

Sources of high quality cartridges:
1. OEM (Hayward, Pentair, Jandy/Zodiac -- NOT Intex!)
2. http://www.unicelfilters.com/
3. http://www.filburmfg.com/

Avoid other sources!

Unicel replacement Intex cartridges

• The OEM cartridges in Intex filters are not high quality. The Intex manuals recommend replacing them completely every 2 weeks. A BETTER option is to replace them permanently with 2 - 3 Unicel cartridges, and rotating them through a cleaning solution. Properly maintained, the Unicel cartridges will last all season AND will filter better. So even though they cost more per cartridge, they cost less per season!
  
• It would be nice if you could just buy them elsewhere, but many of the online pool stores are listing Pleatco or other Asian made low quality filters, as "Unicel C-4607 type" or "fits Unicel C-4607". So shop carefully!
  
• Here are the Amazon links:

  Unicel C-4607 Replacement Filter Cartridge (Easy Set Size A or C) @ Amazon
  Unicel C-5315 Replacement Filter Cartridge for 15 Square Foot Intex B Filter @ Amazon

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Pleat collapse picture:

[ This happens when you allow a cartridge to go too long before cleaning. If your pump is ALSO too big, this can happen very quickly. At the point shown in the picture, the cartridge is permanently damaged! ]



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Videos

Cartridge Cleaning Instructions (from Unicel)
How to Clean Your Pool Cartridges (from Unicel)
The Impact of Mishandling and Improperly Cleaning Filter Cartridges (from Unicel)
What Happens When You Plumbed Backwards (from Unicel)
Filter Flosser Swimming Pool Cartridge Filter Cleaner

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[jtran69]

You guys are wonderful, I should have this before upgrading to a sand filter type.
Thanks much.

[RedwingT]

Quick question,. I have the granular TSP and need to know what 2lbs would be in cups. I watched the first video listed and it showed one cup to 5 gal of water and didn't say if that cup was liquid or granular. At this point I am just going to add half of the box but would like to know for further reference. Thank you.

The net weight of the box is 4.5 lbs.-2.04 kg