DE & Cartridge Filter Cleaning
Most pools today have either a diatomaceous earth (DE) filter or a cartridge filter. A diatomaceous earth filter filters water through diatomaceous earth powder which adheres to the filter grids. Diatomaceous earth is made from the porous skeletons of tiny sea creatures called diatoms. This powder can trap particles of debris far too small to be seen with the naked eye. Without the powder, the filter cannot clean the water. If you find that your pool filter is not keeping the water as clean as it should, you either need to clean the filter or replace it. If you have had the same pool filter since you bought the house, you may need a new filter. Many pools installed before the 1990s have filters that are far too small to clean the pool effectively, so it is a good idea to buy a bigger filter. This is true regardless of whether your pool has a diatomaceous earth filter, a cartridge filter, or some other kind of filter. We at Elkhart Pools can help you determine how big the filter needs to be in order to keep your pool water clean. |
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Diatomaceous earth filters need to be cleaned at least once per year, preferably twice, even in climates like ours in Michiana, where you only use the pool for a few months out of the year. To clean a diatomaceous earth filter, you must first remove the filter grids and look closely at them to see if they have holes greater than half an inch. If not, you can just wipe them clean and put them back in the filter. If the grids do have large holes, you must repair or replace them. Then backwash the filter until the water runs clear. Then you must add more diatomaceous earth powder. Do not attempt to use your diatomaceous earth filter without the powder, as it will not be able to filter debris out of the water, and running the filter without the water may damage the filter grids.
Cartridge filters are a popular choice for above ground pools and hot tubs. They can trap microscopic particles, although diatomaceous earth filters can trap even smaller particles. Cartridge filters for swimming pools and hot tubs are similar to the filters in cars, and, in fact, some pool owners clean their cartridge filters at the car wash, although this is not recommended, because the cleaning equipment at a car wash uses too much pressure. The cartridge in a cartridge filter can last up to five years if you clean it every six months. If there are trees close enough to your pool that lots of leaves and twigs fall in, or if your pool is prone to algae growth, you may need to clean and replace the cartridge more frequently. The cartridge itself is made of polyester; some popular brands of cartridges include Reemay, Filbur, Pleatco, and Unicel. No matter what kind of pool or filter you have, Elkhart Pools can help you clean your pool filter and its parts.
Cartridge filters are a popular choice for above ground pools and hot tubs. They can trap microscopic particles, although diatomaceous earth filters can trap even smaller particles. Cartridge filters for swimming pools and hot tubs are similar to the filters in cars, and, in fact, some pool owners clean their cartridge filters at the car wash, although this is not recommended, because the cleaning equipment at a car wash uses too much pressure. The cartridge in a cartridge filter can last up to five years if you clean it every six months. If there are trees close enough to your pool that lots of leaves and twigs fall in, or if your pool is prone to algae growth, you may need to clean and replace the cartridge more frequently. The cartridge itself is made of polyester; some popular brands of cartridges include Reemay, Filbur, Pleatco, and Unicel. No matter what kind of pool or filter you have, Elkhart Pools can help you clean your pool filter and its parts.