Having a pool is great for both fun and exercise. You can have a nice swim in the morning as a refreshing way to start the day or chill out in it with friends on the weekend. There are many benefits to having a pool, in fact the only downside is keeping it clean. However, this doesn’t have to be a long and difficult process.

Here are four simple steps to cleaning your pool cartridge filter:

#1 Recognise a Dirty Cartridge Filter

pool cartridge filterThe biggest difficulty you’ll face with cleaning the pool equipment is recognising when it needs to be done. Luckily for you, most cartridge filters comes with a pressure gauge on them which will show an increase in pressure. When the pressure raises above 10 psi it is time to clean it, as the cartridge has become blacked with debris. This will cause the back pressure on the filer system to rise and force the flow rate of the swimming pool circulation drops.

#2 Turn Off and Remove

Before you attempt to remove the cartridge filter make sure that the pump and all the mechanics are turned off. This is just a safety precaution, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Failing to turn it off can lead to damage to the pool equipment or even harm to yourself or others nearby. Then you want to relieve the pressure and drain the water from the cartridge filter before removing it.

#3 Clean the Filter

This is a pretty simple process, all you need to do is hose down the filter using a garden hose – don’t use a pressure washer as this can ruin the filter. Ensure that you spray off all the debris, dirt and hair that has accumulated on the cartridge filter. If the filter is very dirty or if you are in a hard water area then you may need to soak your filter in special chemicals to give it a thorough clean.

#4 Replacing the Filter

Once the filter is fully clean then you can return the filter to its housing in the side of the pool. Make sure that it is fully locked into place, otherwise it may come off when everything is turn back on. After securely putting the filter back in place, turn the pump and other mechanics back on. As soon as the air is out of the pump, check that the filter is re-pressurised – you can expect gargling noises at this point, but it should soon recede.

That’s all there is to it. A clean pool cartridge filter in four simple steps, no hassle, no hidden tasks, just a straightforward process from start to finish. For more pool cleaning advice check out some of our other posts.