Who wants to swim in a pool with murky water? The answer is no one. It’s unhygienic and rather unappealing.
This is where the beauty of the swimming pool filter comes in. A pool filter ensures that the water in the pool is clean and safe to swim in. The pool’s pump distributes the chemicals evenly and keeps the pool free of residues, such as bugs, leaves, and pollen, by pumping water through the pool.
You must replace the filter media regularly if you want it to continue working correctly. Diaphanous earth (DE) is the most common option. However, there are other cartridge systems. But, if you’re unfamiliar with how to replace and maintain your pool’s filters, no worries.
Keep on reading for our full breakdown of everything you need to know on pool filter replacement.
Table of Contents
Why Even Bother Replacing Your Pool Filter?
Your pool’s filter sand will degrade over time. Sharp edges are lost, and the sand grains become spherical in filter sand. Grains aren’t flat against one other, and it’s like attempting to filter through a whole container full of ping-pong balls.
You may trap grease and oils in the filter sand, and the filter’s backwash can’t always wash it all away. Filter sand may calcify or become hard like sandstone in areas of the nation with high calcium hardness levels.
There are tiny gaps between the virtually microscopic threads that make up pool filter cartridges. These threads capture the dirt and pollutants. In cleaning your filter cartridge, fibers stretch and split, allowing debris to pass through unfiltered while reducing water flow and necessitating more frequent cleanings of the filter cartridge.
The more often your cartridge wears out, the less effective it becomes at removing impurities.
DE filter grid is a fabric stretched across the plastic frame that may develop holes, and the stitching unravels as time goes by. Allowing DE powder to enter the pool will reduce the filter’s efficiency. Another problem arises when oils and minerals block the fabric’s pores, increasing the filter pressure and limiting flow rate, and diminishing filter efficiency.
If you want to prolong the life of your filter media and save money in the long run, consider using a filter cleaner solution to remove oils and minerals from the filter media. However, you can’t use it indefinitely; eventually, the substance (your filter media) will degrade to the point where employing a filter cleaner will no longer be effective.
To keep your water clear, you will need to run the pump longer and apply additional sanitizer if your filter media gets “weary,” to say nothing of the potential for costly water-related issues. Poor pool filtration is costing you more money than you realize.
Therefore, you can save yourself a lot of money and headaches by heading to www.discountfilters.com and getting your pool a new filter.
When Is It Time to Replace the Filter Media?
How long you should keep your filter media in place is debatable. This is because not all pool filters come in the perfect sizes. The pool filter may need to be replaced every year if it is excessively inadequate.
Assuming firms use the adequate size, “they claim” filter sand should last 7-8 years, filter cartridges 3-4 years, and DE grids ten years.
If you find yourself running the pump harder or adding more chemicals to keep the water clear, it’s a good indication that it’s time to replace your pool filter media. You may also be experiencing more algae or murky pool water than you have in the past.
Backwashing or cartridge cleaning intervals might also serve as an indicator. It’s safe to conclude that your filter media has half the dirt-holding capacity it formerly had if you have to backwash twice as often as before.
How to Replace Your Filter Cartridge?
To ensure that your pool remains bacteria and algae-free throughout the year, ensure that it has the necessary chemicals and that the pool’s filtration is operating correctly. Start by confirming that you’ve turned off all power sources.
It’ll help prevent any accidents. Avoid electric shock by ensuring that the area surrounding the power panel is dry at all times.
Open the Release Valve
Release the pressure by releasing the vast plastic circular valve. This stabilizes the pump’s pressure, which aids the filter’s performance and keeps your pool clean.
When you open the valve, you will hear a hissing sound: the pump releasing air. Before moving on, make sure the noise is entirely silenced.
Discard the Band and Lid
Remove the pump’s restricting band and set it aside.
When you open the pump’s lid, look for a long, cylindrical device with ridges. The filter has ridges around it, giving it the appearance of a coffee filter. In this case, we’re dealing with the filter.
Find and Remove the Filter
Lift the filter out of the pump once you discover it.
You should always check the box of your new filter to see if there are any precautions you need to take to securely destroy your old filter, even if there are no specific instructions on how to do so.
Install Your New Filter
Replace the old pool filter in the pump and insert the new one. Place the pump’s cover back down and secure the band around it. Retighten the release valve once it’s been closed.
The pool’s pump will not function correctly if the valve is not closed correctly.
Maintaining Your Pool Filter System: Explained
There’s something magical about hopping into a swimming pool on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, this beauty comes with a price that maintains your pool filter system, starting with your pool filters. We hope that our guide has shed some light on how to replace your pool filter and how to help it function as well as it can be.
And, if you’re looking for other home projects, you should check out our home improvement section for our additional guides and tips on maintaining a stunning home.