You can purchase pool filter cleaner, but some pool owners choose to make their own. One method is to fill a bucket with warm water so that it's deep enough for the cartridge to be completely submerged. Then, add one cup of liquid dish soap or dishwasher detergent for every five gallons of water.
In order to do this, you'll need to soak the elements in a Filter Cleaner, Natural Chemistry's Filter Perfect, or dishwasher detergent (one cup per five gallons of water). For the best results, be sure to soak the filter cartridge up-to 10 hours.
If the cartridge is really dirty, use a filter cleaner. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. If the cartridge is really, really dirty, soak it in filter cleaner overnight. Use a five-gallon bucket or clean plastic trash can, and make sure the cartridges are completely submerged in the water and cleaner mixture.
It's important to pour in at least 1/2 gallon of vinegar. You might have to pour in more than a half gallon of vinegar if you want a 50% concentration. The filter needs to be soaked for 3 hours.
Typically, cartridge filters need to be cleaned every two to six weeks. One of the most important factors that affect a cartridge filter operating effectively is that there not be too much flow through the filter. Too much flow significantly decreases the cartridge life and lowers the efficiency of the filter.
Step 3: Add Borax to Your Pool
Switch on your pool's water pump and filter and let them run. Add borax to the skimmer and leave the pump to run for 24 hours.
You can use it, but it won't help anything other than the appearance very much. The best way to clean a cartridge filter is to soak overnight in a mixture of one cup of automatic disk washer detergent for every five gallons of water, then rinse throughly and replace in the filter.
Remove the drip tray and clean with warm soapy water or place on the top shelf of the dishwasher. If there is a build-up of minerals, soak the drip tray in a solution of 1 part distilled white vinegar and 2 parts water. Wipe the entire unit with a dry cloth to remove the dust. Wipe the coils on the back of the unit.
Rinse the filter for about 1 to 2 minutes or until the water in the sight glass is clear. NOTE: Any electric heater must be off. Stop the pump. Turn the lever to RINSE, start the pump and rinse for about 15-30 seconds.
Put your hand over the inlet (where the basket is located on the side of the pool, not the pump) to feel if there's enough suction. Your hand should be sucked up against the inlet fairly quickly if the pump is set to its highest mode. If it's barely pulling, you likely have a clogged filter or a leak in the line.
Baking soda can work wonders in a pool. Baking soda can: Help to clear cloudy water and restore the sparkle. Spot-treat algae.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Most pool experts recommend a pool pH between 7.2 and 7.8. To raise or lower pH, a pool custodian simply adds acids or alkalis into the water. For example, adding sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) will generally raise the pH, and adding muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate will lower the pH.
If the pool is affected by algae, the pool filters can get clogged very quickly. Algae are tiny aquatic plants (or organisms) that grow in pools and in large groups. These plants can clog up the filter easily during pool water circulation.
It's best to run your pool pump during the day
Not only does sunlight give fuel for algae to grow, it also destroys your pool chlorine and this is why you should always run your pool during the day!
Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day. But here's the thing: you don't have to run your pool pump consecutively. You can choose to run it for three hours in the morning before you leave for work and another 5 hours in the evening.
Sometimes your pool water can turn green because you have an undersized pump and filter. Or, maybe you're not running your pump long enough for your filter to clean properly.
How To Guides - Pools. A commonly asked question amongst our customers is, “when should we clean our pool's filter cartridge?” Typically, we recommend that your cartridges inside your filter be cleaned every 3 months for longevity of your cartridges, as well as for better pool filtration and water flow.
You want to fill a bucket (or trash can, in this case) with water, and use approximately 1 cup of TSP per 5 gallons of water. I used roughly 2 pounds worth. Submerge the filters completely, and leave overnight if possible (3 hours minimum).
Rinse: This cleans the water filled inside the filter tank. Circulate/Bypass/Recirculate: This setting is used when you need to return the water back into the pool without making it go through the filter. Drain/Waste: Opting the drain or waste setting will remove pool water without forcing it through the filter.