How To Deep Clean Your Pleated Pool Cartridge Filter

[@mayorb3366]

Late to post! The bands are not damaged by chems, they just get weak and break. Even if bands are broken, the filters work well enough. For getting rid of oils, you can use TSP, or Cascade dishwashing crystals, They work just as well as any specialty cleanser at the pool store. Dust masks don't help at all for chemical fumes, but nice to take into consideration. It's good to check wind direction, be upwind when adding acid to pool. It's also good to do cleanser first, then acid wash. Acid can solidify oils into the filter pleats. Nice video, look forward to seeing other of yours. Been in the biz since '95, new subscriber here!

[@fixitjohn]

Thanks, I did not think of washing the oils out with Cascade or even Dawn although Dawn may be too soapy. You are right in that you don't need the high-priced magic cleanser. Thank you for reaching out.

[@dac7046]

I have a feeling that dumping the residue back in the pool isn’t the best idea as I expect that while some of the filter contaminants off-gass the rest of it has to be in the solution dumped back in the pool. Also, likely not a big deal but after cleaning some of the acid is consumed already and not available now to the pool water. Anyway, just a thought. Tried your technique and it worked wonderfully on my filters. They came out like new!

[@fixitjohn]

I am glad that it worked.

[@Jeep4Wrk]

Good video! Just cleaned my 4 filters yesterday using a Home Depot bucket, so could only soak 1/2 a filter at a time. Never thought of using a trash can, which I have. Thanks!

[@fixitjohn]

Hi Rich, I am glad you like it. Thanks for watching.

[@johnf5601]

I took 2 of those buckets, cut the bottom off of one and used some construction adhesive to secure both of them together at their openings. Then just used a bunch of Flex Seal around the rim where they bind (both inside and outside), sealed with Flex Tape and boom... my filter fits in there perfectly and I don't have to fill a giant Rubbermaid trash can

[@AereForst]

Costco sells a large black storage container with a yellow lid for $7. Works perfectly for my spa filters

[@jeffmiddaugh]

Tried dumping the leftover acid into the pool and it released a lot of fine dirt and was cloudy for a day. Ill just use baking soda to neutralize the acid and dump into my yard next time. Good idea to reuse acid, but it did add more dirt back into my pool for sure. Thx for the video. Filters came out real clean.

[@fixitjohn]

@@jeffmiddaugh wow your filters must have been really dirty.

[@Microarmor007]

I don't have experience doing this yet, but I think you'll get better mask results using something like a respirator with chemical filter cartridges. As far as I know, that N95 looking mask does nothing for chemicals. It's designed to block dust like particles. Interesting video BTW.

[@fixitjohn]

Thanks for the tip.

[@DoDgeSwaG]

Most ppl should be able to hold their breath for a minute. So, just hold your breath? It should take no more than 30 seconds to pour the acid in, then just hurry up and get to a different area before breathing.

[@909busa]

It’s just for the safety nazzis on KZbin 😂🤣 good enough for them.

[@NickA760]

What do you mean it worked for Corona virus 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@victorforman1346]

Wouldn't dumping it in the pool just recirculate the particles that clogged the filters in the first place?

[@fixitjohn]

Ok

[@douglasmarch6601]

Yea so this doesn't really work.

[@korok6314]

Sorry about being so late to the video, is the filter cleaner required or can I just throw the filters in the beuratic acid and leave it for a day?

[@fixitjohn]

It depends on what you are going to clean oil or calcium from the filter.

[@integralpix]

Thanks for the video. My pool filter is 5.75" x 10", so it would fit in the gallon bucket. To adjust proportionally, would you recommend 1 gallon of water in a gallon paint bucket with .025 gallons (3.2 oz) of the muriatic acid?

[@fixitjohn]

I would use a 5 gallon plastic bucket. I think you will have a hard time covering the top of the filter with water in a gallon paint bucket. Make sure that your bucket is plastic and clean!

[@integralpix]

@@fixitjohn Ooof. Yeah, don't know what I was thinking. I meant a 5-gallon paint bucket filled with water. So that would add 2 cups of muriatic acid instead of the full gallon?

[@fixitjohn]

@@integralpix yes 2 cups of acid should be plenty. Thanks for watching.

[@jfaithweiss]

your pool and cartridges are spotless. I have never seen someone wash the filters, throw them in the spa to rinse, and kick the acid bath into the pool. Did you test the pH to see if you needed acid? Obviously you are doing something right, your pool is impeccable. Where does one get a pool enclosure?

[@fixitjohn]

Hi Jolene Weiss, first of all, thank you for subscribing. To answer your question, yes, I did have the water tested and, it needed one gallon. It probably needed a gallon of acid because I am bad about getting the water tested. As far as the pool enclosure, it was here when we bought the house. Thanks for watching.

[@KNESBEY]

Hello Jolene ... Pool enclosures are common in gulf states due to alligators helping themselves to a swim when it gets hot. They may even be required if you have an inground pool installed.

[@brantk81]

Never considered throwing the water back in the pool...donyou vacuum afterwards? Thx for the tips

[@fixitjohn]

I just did not want to pour it on the ground.

[@himanshukhivasara8302]

Hey @fix it John, How much Murat if acid did you use? I have some questions - related to Muratic acid and getting rid of algae faster

[@fixitjohn]

One gallon. I used one gallon because that is what the pool needed at the time.

[@frediventure3]

I will do just that. Thank you John 👍👍

[@fixitjohn]

You are welcome. Be careful with the acid. Thanks for watching.

[@pauljay2305]

How long after you dump the bucket in the van people swim?

[@fixitjohn]

I would wait at least 24 hrs.

[@CTINF]

@@fixitjohnand if in doubt test the water for alkalinity and pH before swimming.

[@michaelwrenn_05]

You sound just like Mike Leach 😁.

[@fixitjohn]

K

[@jonneville]

A gallon of acid seems like a LOT for that small pool. Curious if you test pH after doing that? I have a salt pool which drives pH up and even still about 1 liter of acid a week is enough to keep the pH neutral, when the chlorine generator is running 40% of the time in the summer… and it’s a 26,000 gallon pool.

[@fixitjohn]

Hi Jonneville, no, I did not test it after putting the acid in the pool. I went by what pinch a penny told me to add. It would have been a good idea to have the water tested again after the acid. Thanks for your comment.

[@DoDgeSwaG]

@@fixitjohn why do u get it tested? Why not use test strips? They’re just as accurate as taking your water to a testing facility

[@siuolsretlaw8166]

Cause test stips suck! Sometimes they are easy to read and sometimes they are hard to decipher. Im a pool boy myself and I use them everyday and Im getting tired of wasting my time with them. Im actually thinking about upgrading to a spin tester myself

[@rlmaher3496]

This is what has probably eaten away at the bands

[@Hi-Tech-Ray]

then I would only do this if you wish to lower your PH.

[@RubikFan]

How long do you have to wait before getting in to swim?

[@fixitjohn]

I would wait 24 hours. I hope this helps.

[@logarin]

Thanks for the info John! Very useful.

[@fixitjohn]

Thanks a bunch.

[@badpewterz]

this is great and they are clean BUT isnt this counter-productive as you just put the dirt back in the pool?

[@fixitjohn]

No! They were not that dirty.

[@fixitjohn]

Thanks

[@cup2354]

Thanks for the video! How can the pool pump still running when the filters are out :-)

[@fixitjohn]

By putting the filter lid back on the housing.

[@AereForst]

Save yourself some money and just buy phosphate-free dishwashing detergent. It can be either liquid or granular. There is nothing else you need. Been doing it for years. Soak it overnight and rinse it really well with a spray hose. Your filters will look pristine white. You don’t need to spend money on any proprietary products. That’s just biological waste on the filter. Dishwashing detergent is meant to remove exactly that. Just make sure, again, that it is PHOSPHATE-FREE.

[@fixitjohn]

Thanks for the tip. Someone else mentioned that too but he did not mention phosphate-free. That helps me and my other viewers.

[@AereForst]

@@fixitjohn The primary food source for algae is phosphates so that’s why.

[@AereForst]

@@fixitjohn Speaking of pools, I struggled with yellow algae for years. Wasted tons of money on shock. All that shock screwed up my pool chemistry, including out of control, cyanuric acid and calcium levels. Eventually, you end up draining the pool because there’s no way to correct it other than through draining. Ever since I began adding PoolRx to my pump basket I’ve never had an algae problem. Best $100/year I’ve ever spent. It releases chelated copper which kills algae. I have a pebbletec pool and have never had a problem with staining. The PoolRx also requires way less pool chemicals to maintain chemistry. So you end up saving a ton of money on shock. One unit lasts 6 months then add a booster but keep the unit in there. That lasts another six months. Then replace unit. I only use Dichlor if I need cyanuric acid otherwise I use straight liquid chlorine at night because sunlight will destroy it. The liquid chlorine will not mess with your chemistry, but Dichlor will it will raise your stabilizer or cyanuric acid level. I also avoid calcium based shock because even though it’s the most powerful, it will raise your calcium level, which is a huge problem.

[@fixitjohn]

@@AereForst ok, thank you

[@airrunnr]

How much do I use?

[@abe1567]

I am glad to know I can clean it and reuse it. Thanks

[@fixitjohn]

You're welcome.

[@archiehenderson2744]

How often do you clean your filter?

[@fixitjohn]

I have not been good at it lately. It probably should be done once a year. Thanks for watching.

[@braddonachie9567]

Sorry what type of acid?

[@fixitjohn]

muriatic acid

[@braddonachie9567]

@@fixitjohn thank you John.

[@braddonachie9567]

Hydrochloric acid seems to be whay it is known as in the UK.

[@landen99]

You could just install a valve at the bottom of the trash can. Much safer and easier to drain the can into the pool.

[@fixitjohn]

Yes that acid is scary! Thanks for watching.

[@Mofiac]

I take mine out and hose them off with a garden hose. Filters like new now.

[@fixitjohn]

I do to at least every two weeks.

[@lynnnguyen7968]

Why dump the dirty residue back in the pool 🤔

[@fixitjohn]

@@lynnnguyen7968 It really did not have much yuk on them. I did put a whole gallon of acid in there. Thank you for watching.

[@opticyclic]

You didn't show the cartridges after rinsing them

[@fixitjohn]

I will try to remember next time. Thanks for watching.

[@alexmastroberti9855]

So, is it smart dumping all that poison into your pool?

[@fixitjohn]

Thanks for asking, the pool needed a gallon of acid so I really would not call it poison unless you drank it. Thank you for watching.

[@markwoods7237]

Just add baking soda to neutralize the acid.

[@fixitjohn]

Good to know

[@tomrushmore8683]

Any idea how much baking soda to use to neutralize a water/acid solution?

[@riverbottomband]

I would have thought the acid would destroy the pleats!

[@fixitjohn]

No they were in one peace when I pulled them out. Thanks for watching.

[@hoss1258]

2:13 I could just use a scumball and prolong the life of my filter by a lot

[@fixitjohn]

Thanks for the info. I will try it. Thanks for watching.

[@gutterball09]

The oil cleaner four at twenty dollars? You could buy a new filter😂

[@fixitjohn]

Thank you for your comment. It is a little more than $20.00 dollars for our filters. But one of my viewers suggested using a dishwasher pod to clean the oils.

[@kidvision564]

That mask does not filter gas - just particles

[@fixitjohn]

It will stop covid 19 though.

[@coleygwin2034]

re dumping the contaminated acid/water back in the pool is counter intuitive; Not a good idea (keep that part to yourself - since the other stuff was acceptable information )

[@fixitjohn]

@@coleygwin2034 Ok thanks for sharing

[@foxyredsheri]

Light weight easy to remove and dump

[@fixitjohn]

Ok

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

All pools filters have oil on them.You secrete oil from your hair and skin.

[@joeyllamador1821]

bio

[@fixitjohn]

K