General Maintenance for Swimming Pool Filter Systems

Your swimming pool filter plays a vital role in keeping your pool clean and healthy. So long as you have the right one for your pool and it’s correctly installed, you should be able to enjoy many years of filtering without the need to replace the system.

However, to ensure your filter keeps performing at its best for as long as possible, you need a regular maintenance routine. Just as with your pool chemicals, taking time to care for your filter will make your life much more comfortable in the long run!

 

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How Does A Swimming Pool Filter Work?

 

Filters come in different shapes and sizes. Most spas and hot tubs will use a paper-based cartridge filter, but here, we’re covering the sand and glass media filters that work with pool pumps.

As mentioned above, pool pumps can come with either sand or glass media as the filtering ‘ingredient’, but both work in the same way. Generally, your pool’s pump system will push dirty water through the filter, when the media inside will catch debris while letting clean water through and back into the pool.

Both sand and glass media filters have similar filtration qualities, with glass being around 15% less. For glass filters, there are three different larger grades designed to cover the laterals in the filter to help protect and stop dead spots at the bottom of the filter.

Due to the nature of pool filters, their ability to clean water gradually worsens over time as more dirt gets clogged inside. However, they can perform better for longer if you take the right steps.

Below, we look at the some of the essential maintenance tasks you can do yourself to keep your filter performing at its best.

Backwashing

 

One of the most important things you can do for any sand or glass media filter is backwashing. Simply put, backwashing reverses the flow of water through the filter system, dislodging dirt that has built up over time.

Backwashing is the most effective way of removing dirt from your filter. It’s also essential for relieving any pressure that’s building in your pump system, making it a hugely important aspect of general pool maintenance.

Check out our guide on how to backwash your pool.

When it comes to backwash, glass removes particles easier than sand. However, this is an effective method of maintaining both types of filter.

A woman sitting on the edge of a clean swimming pool

The Multiport Valve

This valve controls all water movement through the filter and plays a significant role in the backwashing process. As the name suggests, there are various different controls available on these valves.

  1. 1) Filter: Water comes from the pool into the top pipe and down through the filter, out from the lower pipe on the filter and back to the pool.
  2. 2) Waste: The water comes from the pool and goes straight to the drain, bypassing the filter.
  3. 3) Closed: Water will not pass through the valve.
  4. 4) Backwash: The water comes from the pool into the lower pipe, up through the filter and off to waste.
  5. 5) Re‐circulate: The water comes from the pool, bypasses the filter and returns to the pool.
  6. 6) Rinse: The water comes from the pool into the top pipe, down through the filter and off to waste. This washes the last of the dirt out of the sand after a backwash.

Note: Always switch off the pump when moving the multiport valve.

As a general rule, you should look to backwash your pool every week and more frequently during heavy use. If the pressure in your pump and filter system is increasing, this can sometimes be a sign that you need to backwash the filter.

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Other Ways You Can Support Your Pool Filter

 

Your filter, ultimately, is a relatively simple piece of kit. It can only filter so much, so keeping on top of general pool cleanliness will also help your filter to last longer.

  • - Make sure you strain big debris, such as leaves, to avoid them getting into the filter.
  • - Keep on top of the pool’s chemical balance, as this can lead to increased bacteria in the filter.
  • - Reduce the number of natural oils and sunscreens that end up in the pool, as these will go through the filter system.
  • - Properly close your pool for the winter to ensure no excess strain is placed on filter systems.

A dry leaf on the floor of a blue swimming pool

When to Replace Your Pool Filter

 

While proper maintenance can extend the lifespan of your filter, there will always come a time when the media or filter itself needs replacing.

If you notice that cloudy or dirty water is coming out of your filter system, this could be a sign that the media inside needs replacing. Sand media usually needs to be replaced every five years. For more information, check out our detailed post on how often you should replace your swimming pool filter.

If you notice more severe problems with your filter, such as a huge swing in pressure or sudden water loss, this could point to a more critical issue with your pump system.

If you’re unsure about anything related to your pool’s filter system, feel free to give our team a call – we would be happy to help diagnose your issue. If you need a swimming pool filter, be sure to explore our range where we stock some of the most trusted names at great prices – the Lacron sand filter is one of our best sellers.