Replacing cartridge with sand

[dansdad]

what I meant was sometimes the filters seem like they don't do enough to keep the pool free from debris. The sweep works fine. Thanks, Dave

[CarlD]

You could either have inferior brand cartridges, you are not cleaning them correctly, or your cart is too small for your pump.
A properly sized cartridge filter, properly maintained, should perform better than a sand filter but not as well as a DE filter.

Most people here don't like them because they are tricking to clean, but those who figure out how to clean them well, and with little effort, swear by them.

[dansdad]

I have decent cartridges but I need to find a better way to clean them. I saw a device where you lay the filter down in a tray and run the spray nozzle over them, plus I may need to get rid of a couple. How long are they supposed to last if cleaned twice a year? Thanks to all Dave

[BigDave]

Have you seen PoolDoc's thread on Cleaning your Cartridge Filter without Damaging It!?

[dansdad]

just as you mentioned it, I looked and ordered cleaner for the cartridges. Will be ready for summer. Thanks Dave

[CarlD]

The usual rule for backwashing a sand filter is when the pressure goes up at least 5 lbs. I'd guess it'd be the same for cleaning carts.

[mas985]

5 PSI is over 11' of extra head which can significantly reduce flow rate in a pump no mater what filter type. For example, with your pump (Carl), if your normal operating point is 54 GPM @ 40' of head, at 50' of head, the flow rate would drop to 40 GPM going from 50' of head to 60' of drops it to 9 GPM! Personally, I would not let the filter pressure rise more than about 25% of the clean pressure to keep flow rates up. But then again, if that meant backwashing every week, I might stretch that.

Dansdad,

My size comment was regarding kelmvor's comments. But is sounds like you have fairly large filters.

[kelemvor]

I have decent cartridges but I need to find a better way to clean them. I saw a device where you lay the filter down in a tray and run the spray nozzle over them, plus I may need to get rid of a couple. How long are they supposed to last if cleaned twice a year? Thanks to all Dave

Twice a year? I clean my cartridge weekly during the summer and fall. Twice a week in the spring. Once a month (roughly) in the winter.

I've never had a cartridge get ruined but after about a year the "clean" filter pressure ends up about 10psi higher than the "clean" pressure was when I bought it. I replace mine roughly every 18-24 months.

[mas985]

Twice a year? I clean my cartridge weekly during the summer and fall. Twice a week in the spring. Once a month (roughly) in the winter.

Your cartridge filter is obviously way too small for your pool. A properly sized cartridge system should only need to be cleaned once per year. Also, frequent cleaning is probably the reason you are replacing them so often. I have had my cartridges for 8+ years, clean them only once per year and the filter pressure never gets more than 1 PSI above the clean filter pressure.

I am also one of those people who would never trade a cartridge for any other filter type. I just think cleaning it once a year is far easier than backwashing many times per year (my parents had a sand filter).

[dansdad]

let me say the filters are the same size that cane with the pool. I have never changed the size. I have 4 cartridges that barely fit in the housing so there is no room for bigger. I only clean about 2-3 times a year. Im going to clean them with cleaner and wash completely. My filters are Unicel, so no cheapies there. I'm hoping by through cleaning each time it will get better