The Complete Guide to Cleaning Pool Filters: Everything to Know

The cold winter months may not have you thinking about a dip in the pool right now.

But did you know that this is the perfect time to carry out pool maintenance? Taking care of your pool’s maintenance during this season is exactly what you need to do to extend your pool’s lifespan and keep it safe for everyone to enjoy.

One of the most important things to take care of during your maintenance routine is cleaning pool filters.

These filters ran tirelessly throughout the summertime collecting grime, algae, and other materials. That said, even the cleaning tools could use a little TLC to keep them running at their best.

So, how do you take care of your pool filters? No need to worry. This article teaches how to carry out pool filter maintenance so your filter can run as well as it did on day one. Read on to learn more!

Know Your Filtration System

If you’ve never changed your filter before, the first thing you’ll want to do is figure out which type of filter your pool uses. There are many water filters for pools on the market, but they can all be narrowed down into 3 main groups:

• Sand Pool Filter: A filtration system that uses a canister of fine sand to sift out debris.

• Cartridge Pool Filter: A filtration system that uses a cartridge (similar to the air filter used in a car) to collect harmful materials.

• Diatomaceous Pool Filter: A filtration system that relies on the porous ability of diatomaceous earth to filter out particles.

You’ll want to make sure you know which filter you’re using to keep you from buying the wrong one for your filtration system.

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Wash Out the Filter

Now that you know which filtration system you own, your next step is to wash the filter itself. If you’re using a cartridge pool filter, this will be easy for you to do.

Make sure to turn off the cartridge filtration system completely before you begin cleaning to keep from damaging the filter.

Afterward, remove the filter and lightly hose it down to remove any of the debris it has collected. For sand and diatomaceous filters, remove the filter and backwash it to push out the collected trash.

Use Filter Cleaning Solution if Needed

For sand and diatomaceous filters, backwashing should be enough for basic cleaning needs. However, if you want to go the extra mile and really clean out your system, you’ll need to use a filter cleaning solution.

The sand and earth can’t be cleaned with just a simple hose, so a special chemical must be added to the filtration system after backwashing.

This chemical cleanses out the sand or diatomaceous earth and restores it to its debris-free state. Make sure you buy the correct cleaning solutions for your respective filter type!

Now You Know About Cleaning Pool Filters

Cleaning pool filters isn’t so difficult when you know what to do, and now you’re one step closer to having a pool ready for the summer. Make sure to check out the rest of our site for more tips to take care of your home!