How to Clean a Cartridge Filter

Cartridge filter maintenance is fairly simple and straightforward. You remove the cartridges and clean them and put them back and restart the filter. In this article, we present step by step instructions regarding how this is to be done.As always, be very careful when doing this and refer to your manufacturer’s instruction manual and read and heed any instructions and warnings found therein. If you are not certain of what you are doing, stop and call in a professional.

Steps in cleaning your cartridge filter:

1. Turn the pump off at the master switch (so it does not accidentally turn on by itself). Make sure the pressure gauge returns to zero pressure.
2. Open the air relief valve to allow the water to drain from the filter
3. Loosen and remove the center band (or clamps) that hold the filter together. Remove the top half of the filter. Remove the top cartridge
4. Retainer piece (the piece that holds the tops of the four cartridges).
5. Pull out the cartridges. Clean them with a good stiff stream of water. Clean any residue out of the bottom of the tank.
6. Remove the center o-ring and clean all the residue off of it. If black residue from the o-ring rubs off on your fingers, then the o-ring probably needs to be replaced. Before putting the o-ring back on the filter, put a light coat of Magic Lube Red silicone lubricant on it.
7. Put the cartridges back in the filter and put other pieces in place.
8. Put the top half of the filter tank back in place and make sure that the pressure gauge is positioned where you can see it while turning the pump on.
9. Put the band (or clamps) around the center of the filter and tighten until it is finger tight. Then use a socket to tighten it further. While tightening the band, use a mallet to tap lightly on the clamp around the tank so that it gets tight without having to put excess torque on the clamp nut.
10. Start up the pump and check for leaks. If the filter pressure shoots up above 30 psi, then turn the pump off and check for the source of blockage.