How To Clean A Sand Filter For A Swimming Pool

How to Clean a Pool Filter (Sand, Cartridge, D.E.)

Past Matt Giovanisci | Updated: March 10, 2022

Your filter is one of the principal components in keeping your pool clean, and then information technology besides needs to exist kept clean. Just perhaps you lot're new to puddle maintenance. Or perchance y'all merely got a new type of filter. Whatever the case, knowing how to make clean a pool filter is an essential part of owning a puddle.

But as long as yous have the right equipment, plenty fourth dimension, and the desire to swim in a clean, clear pool (and who doesn't want that?!), cleaning your puddle filter will be a snap.

How to Clean a Pool Filter Depends on the Filter

Depending on the type of puddle filter y'all have—cartridge, sand, or diatomaceous globe (D.E.)—the proper cleaning method will vary.

Just make certain you lot accept the proper equipment on mitt for your type of filter, and and then set aside some time to brand sure information technology's washed properly. A muddy filter makes for a dirty pool.

How to Clean a Cartridge Pool Filter

This is an easy blazon of filter to clean. That's because with a cartridge filter, you can well-nigh often just pull out the cartridge, clean it, and supplant information technology.

Still, you'll need to follow a few (OK, maybe more than than a few) steps to brand certain it's done right. Yous'll also need some equipment.

What You lot Demand

Garden hose
Spray nozzle
Filter cleaner
5-gallon saucepan, if needed
O-ring Lubricant
Replacement O-Ring, if needed
Replacement filter cartridge, if needed
Owner's manual, but in example

Once you have all the supplies you'll need, set aside some time to make clean the puddle filter. The process may fifty-fifty extend overnight, depending on how dirty the cartridge is.

Plow off the puddle pump and the filter system.
Remove air from the system. Turn the air relief valve (ordinarily located on summit of the filter) slowly to remove whatever excess air from the organization.
Remove the clamps (or other latching mechanisms) holding the filter together. If you're unsure how to open information technology, bank check the owner'south manual.
Remove the superlative of the filter.
Slowly and carefully remove the cartridge and set it aside. Inspect it for damage and wear. If you find any cracks or tears, or information technology's past the point where cleaning will be effective, it'due south time to replace the cartridge.
Clean the cartridge: Use a spray nozzle on your garden hose to spray down the cartridge, making sure to go between the pleats. If the cartridge is really dirty, utilize a filter cleaner. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the cartridge is actually muddied, soak the cartridge in filter cleaner overnight. Use a v-gallon bucket, and make sure the cartridge is completely covered with the water and cleaner mixture.
Check the O-band on the filter tank. If it'south in expert shape, lightly apply some lubricant to go on it that mode. If it's dry-rotted or appears worn out, supercede it.
Rinse the cartridge thoroughly.
Return the cartridge to the filter, and secure it in identify.
Supersede the filter peak and shut the clamps.
Plough the arrangement back on, and open up the air relief valve to release any excess air in the arrangement. Proceed the valve open until a steady stream of water sprays from it.
Check the arrangement pressure to be sure it's in normal range. If the pounds per square inch (PSI) is off, yous may have put the filter dorsum together incorrectly, or something else may be wrong with the organization. Troubleshoot the puddle filter to identify and correct the problem.

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The Pool Care Handbook

How to Clean a Sand Pool Filter

This is a little more involved, but don't let cleaning a sand filter intimidate yous to the indicate where you don't do it as often as you should. It'll simply make the job more difficult when you do get effectually to it.

You have two options hither. You lot can backwash the sand filter, which you lot'll need to practise whenever it reaches 10 psi over the normal operating level. It may as well be time to clean the filter if you outset to notice cloudy pool water.

Merely at least once a year, you need to chemically clean your sand filter. To do this, you'll need a couple of supplies.

What You Demand

Aftermath hose
Sand filter cleaner
Owner'southward transmission, just in case

If you idea cleaning a cartridge filter was easy, just wait until you clean a sand filter!

Backwash the filter for three to 5 minutes to remove droppings.
Turn off the pump, and turn the valve to Filter.
Remove the pump's strainer hat.
Pour sand filter cleaner into the strainer handbasket, and replace the lid.
Turn the pump on for about 15 seconds, only long plenty to transfer the cleaner from the pump to the filter.
Plow off the pump, and exit it off for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Backwash the filter for three to 5 minutes once more to remove dirt and droppings dislodged past the filter cleaner.
Plough the filter organization back on.

If you don't already accept a sand filter, you may want to consider investing in one. The time you'll save in cleaning is time you can spend enjoying your pool.

How to Clean a D.Eastward. Pool Filter

This combines the processes of cleaning a cartridge filter and a sand filter. You tin can chemically clean a D.Due east. filter, virtually like you lot would a cartridge.

Or you can backwash a D.E. filter, and just like the sand filter, it's fourth dimension to do that when the filter's judge reads ten psi above the normal operating level. Cloudy water can also be an indicator that the filter needs a adept cleaning. Aside from those indicators, it'south a expert idea to clean your D.Due east. filter at least once a month.

What You Need

Backwash hose
Garden hose
D.E. filter cleaner
O-ring Lubricant
5-gallon bucket
Diatomaceous earth powder
Hydrochloric acid (optional)
Rubber goggles (if using muriatic acrid)
Acrid-resistant gloves (if using muriatic acid)
Possessor'due south manual, just in instance

Cleaning with D.E. Filter Cleaner

This is the quicker, easier, and less unsafe cleaning method.

Backwash the filter for 3 to 5 minutes to remove debris.
Plough the pump off.
Open up the air relief valve.
Remove the drain plug, and allow the water drain out of the filter tank.
Remove the clamps (or other latching mechanisms) property the filter together. If you're unsure how to open up it, check the owner's transmission.
Open up the filter tank.
Remove the filter manifold, and take out all the grids.
Rinse out the tank with the garden hose.
Clean the manifold: Utilise a spray nozzle on your garden hose to spray downwardly the manifold, making sure to thoroughly affluent the grids of all debris. If the manifold is actually muddy, use a D.East. filter cleaner. Follow the manufacturer'due south instructions. If the manifold is really dirty, you may want to soak it overnight in a muriatic acid solution.
Use a garden hose to rinse the filter grids, flushing out all debris, including the D.E. powder.
Place the grids dorsum into the filter tank.

Cleaning with Muriatic Acid

We recommend using this method if your filter is so filthy that regular filter cleaner isn't enough. And if yous use this method, do so sparingly. In one case a year is plenty.

Of import: The acid in muriatic acid is exactly that. It's caustic, and tin can cause injury if you're non careful. Have all the precautions necessary to protect yourself, and anyone else who may be around while you're cleaning your filter.

Backwash the filter for three to 5 minutes to remove debris.
Turn the pump off.
Open the air relief valve.
Remove the drain plug, and let the water drain out of the filter tank.
Remove the clamps (or other latching mechanisms) holding the filter together. If you're unsure how to open information technology, check the owner'southward manual.
Open the filter tank.
Remove the filter manifold, and take out all the grids.
Rinse out the tank with the garden hose.
Make clean the manifold: Use a spray nozzle on your garden hose to spray downwards the manifold, making sure to thoroughly flush the grids of all debris. Put on the safety goggles and acid-resistant gloves. We likewise recommend yous vesture long sleeves, pants, and closed shoes. Dilute the muriatic acid with water in a five-gallon saucepan. Follow the manufacturer'southward instructions for dilution. Place the manifold in the bucket, ensuring it'south completely covered with the diluted solution. Let it to soak overnight.
Utilize a garden hose to rinse the filter grids, flushing out all debris, including the D.East. pulverisation.
Place the grids back into the filter tank.
Run the pool pump for at least 30 minutes to allow the D.E. to distribute evenly over the filter grids.

How to Add together D.E. Powder to The Filter

Refer to your filter possessor's manual to determine how much D.E. powder y'all'll demand to add.
Prime the pool pump.
Remove the strainer basket lid.
Fill the basket with water, and allow some water to run through the incoming line.
Lubricate the O-band within the tank.
Supersede the filter hat, and tighten the clamps or bolts to secure it.
Open up the air relief valve to release backlog air from the filter tank.
Plough on the puddle pump.
Shut the air relief valve when water starts coming out.
Mix the appropriate amount of D.E powder with plenty water to make a slurry, which is a thin, creamy solution.
Make sure the pump is running.
Pour the slurry directly into the pool skimmer.
Run the pool pump for at least thirty minutes to let the D.Due east. to distribute evenly over the filter grids.

If yous've been wondering how to clean a pool filter, wonder no more! Keep the supplies on hand so y'all're always ready to clean the filter the minute y'all observe it's not working besides as it should.

And more than than having clean puddle h2o, keeping your filter clean volition also help it run longer and more efficiently, saving you coin, energy, and fourth dimension. The longer you continue your filter in good working condition, the longer you can await to supervene upon it, and the more than you lot can focus on enjoying your pool.

Happy Swimming!

Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim Academy® and has been in the pool and spa manufacture since 1995. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub intendance easy for everyone. And each year, he continues to help more than people with h2o chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting.

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