Maintaining Your Cartridge Filter System

STARTING UP YOUR CARTRIDGE FILTER SYSTEM

Proper installation of your cartridge filter system will ensure trouble free operation and maintenance throughout the pool season.

START-UP STEPS:

  1. Inspect filter tank, strainer housing, and o-rings for cracks, damage, and/or wear
  2. Assemble filter base, attach pump and motor assembly, and place filter tank in base
  3. Connect union or diverter valve between tank and pump assembly
  4. Seat the paper cartridge in the filter tank
  5. Lubricate tank body o-ring - be sure to remove old lubricant first (using water based or silicone based lubricant only!)
  6. Fasten tank top on to tank base
  7. Connect hose from bottom of skimmer to pump assembly input fitting on front of strainer housing
  8. Connect hose from output fitting on filter tank to return fitting on pool
  9. Be sure to place the strainer basket into the strainer housing
  10. Lubricate the strainer cover o-ring, be sure to remove old lubricant first (using water based or silicone based lubricant only!)
  11. Open bleeder valve on top of filter tank
  12. Fill strainer housing with water until full allowing air to bleed out of filter tank; once full, close bleeder valve
  13. Seat the strainer cover onto the strainer housing
  14. Open the suction and return valves
  15. Fill the pool until the water level is ¾ of the way up the skimmer opening
  16. Now that there is pressure on the system, open bleeder valve on top of filter tank and allow the air to escape until water squirts out and close the bleeder valve
  17. Check all fittings, hoses, the filter tank, and strainer for leaks; correct any leaks before proceeding
  18. Turn the filter system on
  19. Allow any air to work its way out of the strainer housing, then bleed off the tank one last time
  20. Document the pressure gauge reading

Congratulations! You have successfully started up your cartridge filter system. You may now begin your normal filtering schedule. It is recommended that the filter be run a minimum of 10 hours a day. For 27′ through 33′ pools, the filter should run at least 12 hours per day.

CLEANING YOUR CARTRIDGE FILTER

Cleaning the filter flushes out dirt caught in the filter. Cleaning should be performed when the pressure on the filter increases 5-10 PSI above its normal reading. Normal reading is defined as the beginning pressure when the filter is first started after cleaning or when first hooking the filter up.

CLEANING STEPS:

  1. Turn off the filter system
  2. Close the suction and return valves
  3. Open bleeder valve on top of filter tank
  4. Remove drain plug from bottom of filter tank and allow water to drain completely out
  5. Remove filter tank top and wipe away any old lubricant from o-ring and/or filter tank
  6. Remove paper cartridge and, using a standard garden hose, spray from top to bottom down each pleat to remove any debris (DO NOT USE PRESSURE WASHER AS THIS WILL DAMAGE THE ELEMENT!)
  7. Reseat paper cartridge in filter tank
  8. Reapply new lubricant to filter tank o-ring and secure tank top onto filter tank
  9. Reinstall drain plug into filter tank
  10. Check that bleeder valve is still open and open the suction and return valves, allow air to bleed off filter tank until water squirts out, then close bleeder valve
  11. Open strainer cover and fill strainer housing with water; once full, re-secure strainer cover
  12. Turn the filter system on and allow all remaining air in strainer housing to work itself out
  13. Now, open bleeder valve on filter tank until water squirts out, then close bleeder valve

Congratulations! You have successfully cleaned your cartridge filter system. You may now return to your normal filtering schedule.

WINTERIZING AND STORING YOUR CARTRIDGE FILTER SYSTEM

It is very important that you properly store your filter system for the winter to avoid any damage that could be caused by the freezing temperatures.

AFTER DRAINING YOUR POOL FOR THE WINTER:

  1. Open bleeder valve on top of filter tank
  2. Remove drain plug from bottom of filter tank and allow water to drain completely out
  3. Remove filter tank top and wipe away any old lubricant from o-ring and/or filter tank
  4. Remove paper cartridge and, using a standard garden hose, spray from top to bottom down each pleat to remove any debris (DO NOT USE PRESSURE WASHER AS THIS WILL DAMAGE THE ELEMENT!)
  5. Disconnect the input and output hoses from the system
  6. Disconnect the union or diverter valve located between the filter tank and pump assembly
  7. Remove the strainer cover from pump assembly and clean strainer basket
  8. Using your garden hose, spray out the inside of the filter tank and strainer housing to remove all remaining debris
  9. Be sure to clear any debris and remove all water from the pump and strainer as well as filter tank
  10. Wipe away any existing lubricants from tank body o-ring and strainer cover o-ring
  11. Soak the paper cartridge by submerging it in a 5 gal. bucket filled with Allied Pools Filter Cleaner solution for 12 hours (if cartridge does not fit in bucket completely, you may have to flip the cartridge after the first 12 hour soak and proceed to soak that opposite side for an additional 12 hours)
  12. Remove filter from filter cleaner solution and thoroughly rinse filter to remove any remaining solution; allow paper cartridge to dry completely before storing
  13. Store filter tank and paper cartridge, as well as pump and motor assembly, in climate controlled environment for winter; DO NOT LEAVE FILTER SYSTEM OUTSIDE!