Results for "dirty filter"

Filters Easy 30 minutes 238 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Filters Last? Replacement Guide & Signs

After following my pool filter manual religiously for years, I'm baffled why it says replace every 6 months when mine still looks spotless after twelve. Have cartridge now but considering switching. How long do different filter types actually last before they need replacing? What are the signs it's time for a new one?…more

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Filters Easy 10 minutes 218 👍 0

How to Backwash Pool Filter - Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Apparently my pool filter started shooting dirty water back into the pool during what I thought was a normal backwash cycle yesterday.

The pool store told me I need to backwash my filter regularly, but I'm honestly not sure what that means or how to do it properly.

I see there's a multiport valve on my filter system with different settings like BACKWASH, RINSE, and FILTER, but I don't want to mess anything up by doing it wrong. Can someone walk me through the exact steps? Like do I turn the pump off first, and how long am I supposed to run it in each mode?…more

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Filters Easy 30 minutes 218 👍 0

Can You Pressure Wash Pool Filters? Safe Cleaning Guide

Between my pool party this Saturday and getting completely conflicting advice on pressure washing cartridge versus DE filters, I'm running out of time to figure this out.

My current setup includes cartridge filters, but I'm considering switching to either DE or sand filtration depending on cleaning requirements.

What are the specific limitations and recommended procedures for pressure washing each filter type? I want to ensure I'm using appropriate PSI settings and techniques to avoid damaging the filtration media while achieving optimal cleaning results.…more

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4.3 (6,200 reviews)

Filters Medium 45 minutes 207 👍 0

Can a Pool Sand Filter Be Too Big? Sizing Problems Explained

During our weekly pool maintenance routine, my husband casually mentioned that our 15,000 gallon inground pool's water has looked consistently cloudy despite my best filtration efforts, and now I can't stop obsessing over what's wrong. The water isn't cloudy exactly, but it lacks that crystal-clear sparkle and seems to have a slight haze that won't go away. My chemical levels are all in range - chlorine at 2.5 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 110 ppm, and I've shocked multiple times with no improvement.

I recently upgraded to a larger 24-inch sand filter thinking bigger would be better, but I'm starting to wonder if I made a mistake. My pump runs at about 45 GPM, and I've noticed that when I backwash, the water doesn't seem to flow very forcefully compared to my old smaller filter. Could the filter actually be too large for my system? I've heard that oversized filters can cause problems, but I'm not sure how to tell if that's what's happening here.…more

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Filters Medium 15 minutes 207 👍 0

How Pool Sand Filters Work: Complete Diagram & Process

New pool owner trying to understand how my sand filter actually cleans the water. Watched a couple YouTube videos but they all skip over the important details. The pool store just says "backwash when pressure goes up" but I want to actually understand what's happening inside this tank.…more

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Cloudy Water Medium 24-72 hours 203 👍 0

How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water: Complete Fix Guide 2024

Our pool turned into a cloudy mess ever since the kids' party last weekend, and now I'm worried it's not safe for them to swim. They keep asking to get in, but I don't want to risk their health if there's something wrong with the water quality.

What's the proper way to clear up cloudy pool water and make it safe again? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right - testing chemicals, shocking, filtering, whatever it takes. How do I know when the water is actually clear and safe enough for the kids to swim again?…more

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Filters Easy 15 minutes 202 👍 0

How to Tell If Your Pool Cartridge Filter Is Bad - 7 Signs

Nobody can explain why my test strips show perfect chemistry levels but my pool water looks like chocolate milk. Filter cartridge looks grayish and the pleats seem a bit beat up. Tried cleaning it but water quality isn't improving.

How do I know when it's actually time to replace the cartridge versus just needing a better cleaning? What should I be looking for?…more

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Filters Medium 2-4 hours 202 👍 0

How to Clean Pool Filter Sand: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Pool filter pressure keeps climbing back up within days of backwashing and I'm starting to think the sand itself is the problem. It's been in there six years and I've never actually cleaned the sand — just backwashed. Is there a way to deep clean filter sand without replacing it entirely?…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 199 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool on Recirculate? Complete Guide

Pulled a ton of storm debris out of our pool and now I'm trying to decide between normal filtration and recirculate mode for vacuuming.
The pool is so messy that I'm concerned about clogging up our filter system if I vacuum normally, but I also don't want to compromise water quality.

Can I vacuum the pool using the recirculate setting instead? I want to make sure I understand what this does - will it actually clean the water properly or just move things around? My main concern is whether the water will be safe and clean enough for the kids to swim in afterward, or if I need to take additional steps to ensure proper filtration.…more

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Filters Easy 45-90 minutes 198 👍 0

Can I Vacuum Pool on Waste? Complete Filter Setting Guide

Halfway through prepping for our pool party this Saturday, I realized I have no clue which filter setting to use when vacuuming all this debris. I've got some pretty heavy debris that's settled on the bottom of my pool after a storm, and I'm worried about clogging up my filter if I vacuum it all up normally.

The guy at the pool store mentioned something about using the "waste" setting when vacuuming, but I didn't really understand what he meant. Does this actually work, and when should I be using waste instead of the regular filter setting? I don't want to mess anything up since I'm still learning all this stuff.…more

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Cloudy Water Medium 24-48 hours 196 👍 0

How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water Fast - Expert Guide 2024

After shocking my pool yesterday with extra chemicals, something still doesn't seem right — the water is cloudier than ever and I can't even see the bottom anymore. My kids are begging to swim but I don't feel comfortable letting them in when I can't even see clearly through the water.

What's the safest and fastest way to get this cleared up? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right with the chemicals and filtration so the water is completely safe for my family. Should I be testing anything specific first, and how long should I expect this to take?…more

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Filters Medium 45 minutes 195 👍 0

Do DE Pool Filters Need Backwash? Complete Guide + When

Around six months ago I moved into a rental with a DE pool filter that I've never dealt with before and I'm completely lost on whether it needs backwashing. My DE pool filter's pressure gauge has shot up from the normal 12 PSI to about 22 PSI over the past month, and I'm wondering if this means I need to backwash the thing. I've been putting off maintenance because honestly, I'm not even sure how often these DE filters are supposed to be backwashed.

The water clarity has been decent but the high pressure is making me nervous that I'm about to have a bigger problem on my hands. How often should I actually be backwashing this filter, and is there anything special I need to do after backwashing a DE system? I really don't want to mess this up and create an even bigger headache.…more

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Cloudy Water Medium 2-4 days 192 👍 0

How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water: Expert Troubleshooting Guide

Planning a pool party this weekend but my water turned cloudy three days ago and now looks like milk no matter what I add. My pool has been cloudy for over a week now and I've thrown everything at it - multiple bags of shock, algaecide, you name it. The water looks like milk and I can barely see the bottom. I'm pretty sure I've been adding chemicals but maybe not in the right order or amounts?

I have a feeling I might be missing something basic with my water chemistry, but I honestly don't know where to start troubleshooting this mess. How long should it actually take to clear up cloudy water when you do it right? I just want my pool back to crystal clear so we can actually use it this summer.…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 191 👍 0

How to Vacuum Pool Without a Skimmer - 4 Easy Methods

Before the pool season even starts, my skimmer cracks from freeze damage every single year, leaving me staring at a swampy disaster. I've been dumping shock and algaecide for weeks but I know I need to vacuum out all this debris and dead algae to actually win this battle.

The problem is my skimmer is completely shot and won't be replaced for another week. Is there any way to vacuum without using the skimmer? I'm willing to try anything at this point - manual methods, different equipment, whatever it takes. I just need to get this gunk out of my pool before it gets any worse!…more

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Filters Easy 20-30 minutes 191 👍 0

Do Sand Pool Filters Need Cleaning? Complete Maintenance Guide

Apparently the manual says to backwash my sand filter every few weeks, but that doesn't match what the pool store is telling me about maintenance. I have a sand filter system and the pool store told me I'd need to clean it sometimes, but they didn't really explain how often or what that involves.

I've been running the filter daily and the water looks pretty good so far, but I want to make sure I'm not missing something important. Should I be doing something regularly to keep the sand filter working properly? And how long does the sand itself typically last before it needs to be replaced?…more

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