Cartridge, DE and sand clog in different ways
All three filter types do the same job, trapping debris so the water stays clear, but they fill up differently. Cartridge filters load up with fine dirt, oils and sunscreen in the pleats. DE filters coat their grids with a powder that traps very small particles. Sand filters hold debris in the bed and, over time, the sand can clump and channel. Each needs its own approach.
In the West Valley, dust storms, monsoon runoff and blowing landscaping debris send a lot of fine material into pools, so filters here work hard. A filter that is overdue does not just clean poorly. Pressure climbs, flow drops, and the pump labours to push water through. Algae gets an easier run, and the chemicals you are paying for get used up faster.
Opened up, cleaned between the pleats, resealed right
Hosing a cartridge off on the deck is not cleaning it. Done properly, the filter is shut down and relieved of pressure, opened up, and the element pulled out for a thorough wash between the pleats. Oils and scale that a quick rinse leaves behind get dealt with, and worn or flattened pleats get noticed before they cause trouble.
Then it goes back together with attention to the seals. A dry or pinched o-ring is a common reason a filter leaks air and the pump loses prime after a cleaning. Seals are checked and lubricated, the tank is closed, the system is restarted and bled of air, and the pressure gauge is read so we know where it settles.
Let the pressure gauge set the schedule
How often a filter needs this depends on the pool, the trees nearby and the season. The gauge tells the story. A reading well above the clean starting number means the filter is loading up. That is why filter pressure is checked on every weekly visit: the number tells us when a cleaning is due, rather than leaving it to a calendar guess.
If you are not on weekly service, a one-time cleaning still makes sense, especially before summer. And if a filter is cracked, leaking or past saving, filter installation is on our list of smaller jobs. Call or text (623) 695-9199 from Buckeye, Goodyear, Avondale or anywhere on our West Valley routes, and we will look at it before quoting.
