Maintaining your filter cartridge correctly is vital to ensure crystal clear water and to maximise its overall life and usefulness. A well maintained filter operates more efficiently, saving you time and money on your hot tub or swimming pool upkeep.
Why Cartridge Maintenance Matters
The life of a filter cartridge depends heavily on how you treat it. Over time, filter clogging is naturally caused by a buildup of everyday contaminants. These include soaps, pool chemicals, perspiration, body fats, oils, and fine particles of dust or dirt. Without regular attention, these elements restrict water flow and reduce the effectiveness of your entire filtration system.
How to Maximise the Life of Your Filter
There are several specific actions you can take to maximise the life of your filter. First and foremost, you must maintain your pool or spa water chemistry in proper balance. Always clean the cartridge in strict accordance with its specific cleaning instructions. It is crucial that you do not scrub the filter fabric with a stiff brush, and you must absolutely avoid using a high pressure hose. Both of these actions will permanently damage the delicate filtration pleats.
Furthermore, you should never use flocculants in a cartridge filter system. One of the best ways to prolong the life of your filters considerably is to rotate two cartridges. This strategy allows you to deep clean and dry one filter while your spa or pool remains fully operational with the other.
Recommended Cleaning Instructions
All cartridge filters should be thoroughly cleaned at least every one to two months, or more frequently if your pool or spa sees high usage. Following a gentle but effective cleaning procedure will ensure the maximum life of the cartridge.
Begin by safely removing the cartridge from the filter housing or skimmer box. Wash the filter using a standard garden hose or a purpose built cleaning tool, making sure to work from the top down to flush debris out of the pleats.
Once the initial debris is rinsed away, soak the cartridge for at least an hour. Leaving it to soak overnight is highly preferable for a deep clean. You can soak the filter in a specialised cartridge cleaning solution.
After the soaking process is complete, rinse the cartridge once more with a garden hose to completely remove any remaining oils, dissolved debris, or cleaning solution.
Knowing When to Replace Your Cartridge
Even with the most meticulous maintenance routine, your cartridge filter will eventually become permanently blocked and will need to be replaced. This usually occurs within one to two years, heavily depending on the amount of use and the bather load. If you experience any ongoing issues with your water clarity or your cartridges, please contact our experts for help.