You should chemically clean your filter at least once a season. Filtration is a MAJOR component in keeping your pool water clear – if your filter isn’t working efficiently, you will not have clear water. Rinsing cartridges or back washing your sand filter will get rid of large debris, but we need to use a chemical to eliminate grease, oil, skin cells, pollen, etc. Doing this will ensure crystal clear water, and also prolong the life of your filter. Typically, people will chemically clean their filter at the end of the season so they can start the new one fresh. If you ever have an algae problem, it is important to chemically clean the filters when the algae is gone, to ensure it doesn’t come back!
Signs It’s Time To Chemically Clean Your Filter
- Cloudy water
- Green water
- Dirt/debris is being cycled back into the pool
- The PSI is 10 lbs above the normal operating level
How to Chemically Clean Sand Filters
For best results, follow the steps below:
- Backwash filter for 3-5 minutes, rinse for 20-30 seconds.
- Turn pump off and return dial valve to ‘filter’ position.
- Remove strainer lid on pump.
- Dissolve one pouch of Filter Brite in a clean pail.
- Add the Filter Brite solution through the strainer basket and replace the lid.
- Turn the pump on for 5-15 seconds (just enough time for the solution to go through the pump and into the filter).
- Shut off the pump and leave off for at least 8 hours (or overnight).
- Backwash filter for 3-5 minutes, rinse for 20-30 seconds.
- Resume normal operation.
How to Chemically Clean Cartridge Filters
For best results, follow the steps below:
- Turn the pump off.
- Remove lid, and then remove both filter cartridges.
- Hose off debris on filters using normal garden hose pressure.
- DO NOT clean at the car wash
- DO NOT use a pressure washer
- Fill container with very HOT water.
- Add 4 bags of Filter Brite to the water.
- Soak filters for 18 hours.
- Remove filters and rinse thoroughly with a garden hose.
- Return filters to System 3 and resume normal operation.
Pro Tips
- Use a skimmer sock in your skimmer basket and you will improve your filter cycles up to 50%!
- If you don’t want to chemically clean your filters yourself, bring them into Aqua-Tech’s service department and we will clean them for you!
