Why Your Filter Needs Regular Cleaning

Pool filters catch everything — leaves, bugs, sunscreen, dirt, and algae spores. Over time that debris builds up and restricts flow. When water can't move freely through the filter, your pump has to work against the restriction. That extra strain shortens pump life and raises your electric bill.

In the Central Valley, where summers push 100 degrees and pools get heavy use from June through September, filters clog faster than in milder climates. A filter that might last three months elsewhere may need attention every six weeks here.

Signs Your Filter Needs Cleaning

  • Your pressure gauge reads 8–10 PSI above the normal clean operating pressure
  • Water looks cloudy even after adding chemicals
  • Weak return jets — water isn't circulating well
  • Pump running hotter than usual

Pro Tip: Write your filter's clean operating pressure on a piece of tape stuck to the pump housing. That way anyone — including a houseguest or caretaker — knows exactly when it needs attention.

Cartridge Filter: Step-by-Step Cleaning

Cartridge filters are the most common type in residential pools. Cleaning takes about 20 minutes.

  1. Turn off the pump and relieve pressure by opening the air relief valve
  2. Remove the filter housing lid and lift out the cartridge
  3. Rinse the pleats top to bottom with a garden hose — work from the inside out
  4. For heavy buildup, soak the cartridge overnight in a filter cleaning solution
  5. Let it dry fully before reinstalling if you have a spare cartridge to swap in
  6. Reinstall, close the housing, and restart the pump

Sand and DE Filters

Sand filters are cleaned by backwashing — reversing the flow of water through the sand to flush debris out to waste. DE (diatomaceous earth) filters require backwashing plus adding fresh DE powder after each cleaning.

Both types should also be chemically cleaned once per season to remove oils and scale that backwashing doesn't reach.

Most pool equipment problems Robert sees could have been avoided with a clean filter. It's the cheapest maintenance task and the one most people skip.

If you would rather have someone handle it, our filter cleaning service covers the full process. Homeowners in Fresno and the surrounding Central Valley can also check our Fresno pool service page to see the full range of what we do.

Ready to get your pool handled? Call Robert directly or fill out the contact form.

Call (559) 393-7981Get a Free Estimate