Cartridge Filters Normal maintenance for a cartridge filter includes the following: 1.) Draining(Completely), refilling, and restabilizing your pool every single year 2.) Pulling apart and thoroughly hosing off every inch of every pleat in each cartridge element whenever the pressure rises 5-7 lbs. from the start pressure of your filter, or every 2 months WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. (Note: Write down the starting pressure on the side of the filter right after installing your new cartridge elements. 3.) When the pressure after thoroughly cleaning your elements is 7 lbs. greater than the starting pressure you wrote down on the side of the filter, replace the elements. * (Click HERE for more details on Cartridge Filters) D.E. Filters Normal maintenance on D.E. Filters includes the following: 1.) Making sure that the filter is never run longer than 8 hrs. consecutively, without at least a 2 hr. break. (Preferably 4 hrs. on, 2 hrs. off, 4 hrs. on, 2 hrs. off, ...) 2.) Backwashing every 2 months or when the pressure rises 5-7 lbs. over starting (Freshly cleaned and recharged) pressure. Yes, right after cleaning you should write this down. * 3.) Every year the filter should be completely pulled apart and cleaned, reassembled and recharged completely. 4.) Your pool "should" be drained and refilled, "completely" every year. If you don't, after two years you will probably cost yourself double in wear and tear, calcification, pools turning green and cloudy, dumping tons of extra chemicals in to solve problems, ... and, me, if I am your pool man, as I am going to charge you 25% more for having to put up with your complaints on how my service has deteriorated, the water quality is poorer, you have algae on occasion, your water has gotten cloudy, and I will get some call backs as well, because YOU chose not to maintain your pool, making me fight when there shouldn't even be a battle. Sand Filters Normal maintenance on Sand filters includes: 1.) Backwashing whenever the pressure rises 5-7 lbs. * or every 2 weeks, whichever comes first. 2.) Whenever dirt and debris regularly blows back into the pool when vacuuming, or after backwashing, ... and/or even when all of the solutions under cloudy green water are followed, you still cannot get pool water clear (Check HERE for more on this topic) then have a sand change done. (Click HERE for more) 3.) (Yes, this is a repeat of #4 above, but it's important.) Your pool "should" be drained and refilled, "completely" every year. If you don't, after two years you will probably cost yourself double in wear and tear, calcification, pools turning green and cloudy, dumping tons of extra chemicals in to solve problems, ... and, me, if I am your pool man, as I am going to charge you 25% more for having to put up with your complaints on how my service has deteriorated, the water quality is poorer, you have algae on occasion, your water has gotten cloudy, and I will get some call backs as well, because YOU chose not to maintain your pool, making me fight when there shouldn't even be a battle. * Note: If you have a floor head system, and no way to open up all valves for returns, aerators, ... you will need to stick to the every 2 months cleaning schedule, and you will need to replace your elements every 2 years minimum. Every year, if you aren't draining your pool completely every single year. ($300 - $400 for elements every year or $250 for drain, restabilize, ... note: It's cheaper to do the maintenance than to pay for filter replacement. Go 2 years without a drain, and you might need new elements every 8 months... |
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