COMMON POOL FILTER MALFUNCTIONS

  • Waterfront Swimming Pool Construction

At Aqua Pool, we specialize in keeping your pool clean, beautiful, and running smoothly. That being said, there is a host of common pool filter malfunctions that even responsible pool owners face. Here’s a round up of the most frequent issues we see according to filter type. When it comes to sand, cartridge, and D.E. filters, we see a variety of smaller issues leading up to catastrophic problems:

Sand

  • Bad Sand
    After much use, the edges of sand can dull which results in less effective filtering and can lead to cloudy water.
  • Broken Laterals
    If you notice sand in your pool, you could have a cracked or broken lateral (small pipe in bottom of tank that water is pushed through).
  • Leaking or Failing Valves
    Inside a sand filter, an internal gasket channels your water return through the correct port. After much use, the inside valve can start to leak or rupture even causing malfunction and the need of professional attention.

Cartridge

  • Oily Cartridges or Short Filter Cycles
    These two symptoms are attributed to the need for either more frequent cleanings or replacement of your current cartridges.
  • Popped Tops
    A filter tank when put under pressure that has a misaligned clamp can pop the top resulting in a massive exiting water flow.
  • Dirt in Water
    If you notice that dirt seems to make its way around your filter cartridge, make sure that your cartridge is securely in position without allowing a gap at the bottom. This is an easy fix but one we see frequently.

D.E

  • Calcium Clogging
    E. filters can accumulate a mineral clog that slowly pushes filter pressure upwards. Address your filter grid fabric with a mild acidic solution to dissolve this build-up and reintroduce a healthy flow rate.
  • Leaking Drain Valve
    Most D.E. filters use a threaded cap and o-ring. It is important not to over tighten this connection to prevent cracking and possible leaking.
  • Pinholes
    Oftentimes stainless steel tanks can develop tiny holes over time. These small pinhole leaks require professional attention to prevent further issues and leakage.