Cleaning a Sta Rite Cartridge Filter

In this video I'll show you how to clean a Sta Rite Cartridge Filter.
Hope you’ll subscribe to my channel and also, please check out my website poolschooler.com for exclusive DIY pool maintenance tools and more direct and priority communication with my for your pool maintenance needs.
DIY Pool Care

[@jackdoucette5666]

This is a very useful video. My pool is a few years old and I have never cleaned the filters myself; I've had someone else do it for me. I've been shown a couple of times, but have been reluctant to take care of it myself in fear of messing the unit up. Happy I found this video to help me out!

[@bobzumwalt5606]

I fill the Barrell with water from the hose before I put the dome cover back on - kinda speeds things up for me. Other than that, we're in cinque. Good instructions.

[@johngutierrez2774]

Well done Sir! Tks

[@PoolSchooler]

Thank you.

[@johnrichards843]

Great video!

[@PoolSchooler]

Thank you. Check out my newest DIY Pool Maintenance website. www.poolschooler.com

[@kimberlyabhat5135]

Great video!! It helped me clean my 90yr father’s filters correctly 🙏🏻 I looked for the video you referenced about where to buy new filters on line cheaper, but couldn’t find it?? Would you please reply with link when you have time? Thank you again.

[@PoolSchooler]

Here's the link to the video on how often do you need to change the cartridges in your filter. However there is no link to where you can find them mainly because they are specific to each type of filter and deals are always changing on the internet. So my best suggestion is to do an online search (maybe start with Amazon) for the specific cartridges for your model filter and look for the best deal from a reputable source. I'm glad my video helped. Hope you subscribed and please share my channel with others.

[@saopdish1713]

I love ya brother! Good info BUT ...I take issue with a few things. Don't spray silicone (over spray) into the housing. Spray the O-Ring away from the filter then put it back in. Actually I would say to manually spread 'plumber's grease' (silicone) on it but it is a messy job and better if you wear TSA (grope you) blue gloves. Every rubber seal should be wiped with the silicone grease also. I appreciate your info!

[@-KGOOSE-]

I watched the video to see if there was anything different I needed to do when cleaning the Sta-Rite set up....The only thing I do different is after an initial spray down...I spray the filters down with Vinegar Water and let that sit a bit and then re-spray....I re-purposed an old swivel chair base to make a platform that the filters can sit on elevated off the ground and I can spin the filters....I also designed and 3D printed a tool that fits over the "wrist breaker" knobs...It chucks up in a hand drill....spins them loose in seconds.

[@PoolSchooler]

Very cool. Never heard of spraying down the cartridges with Vinegar/Water. Is that to remove excess mineral deposits on them?

[@Jeffoy67]

Thanks for your video. I subscribed and wondering if you already did a video on when to change your cartridge and how you can get them without spending too much.

[@charlies.5777]

Good video. I've never used a silicone SPRAY to lube the O-ring, I've always used against tube. I think the spray would be faster. In terms of using a pressure washer, I THINK that - as you alluded to - it would obliterate the filter element. Lastly, where was the fiberglass you were wearing gloves to avoid? Was it on the cartridge tank or on the cartridge itself?

[@PoolSchooler]

Charlie S. Hi Charlie. Are used to use magic lube and another product called 454 lube and they were super thick and gooey but they did work great. I heard about using the industrial-strength silicon spray and was a bit skeptical and concerned in the beginning but I’ve been doing it for a while and have had absolutely no problems with it at all. Regarding the fiberglass and using gloves, it was for the actual casing of the filter and not the cartridges them selves.

[@charlies.5777]

@@PoolSchooler Thanks for your reply. I'm new to your channel and I'm learning a lot. I'm used to The "thick and gooey "O-ring lube as well. It's messy and time-consuming to use,so the spray looks good. Lastly, I have an old school Sta-Rite Posi- FLO FILTER, so it's made out of metal. Are you familiar with it?!

[@PoolSchooler]

@@charlies.5777 I'm not familiar with that filter. But I do like Sta-Rites newer Cartridge filters.

[@carolewood7125]

@@PoolSchooler [

[@reneesquivel4008]

In your video you mention where to get chemicals and pool filters at a cheaper price than retail stores. Where can i find these deals?

[@PoolSchooler]

Best place to start is Amazon. Then you can do google searches for what your'e looking for. Just make sure it's a reputable site.

[@michaelriina1]

Thanks for the video. Any recommendations on the best place to purchase new filters? I've been searching online, and they are very pricey. Thanks

[@PoolSchooler]

Not really. But if you’re willing to take some time and keep an eye out you can find some better deals. It’s tough in todays economy right now tho.

[@RudMan69]

thanks for the video. i used it to follow along as is cleaned the filter for my pool. however after i put it together there is a leak. if i open it up to adjust the o ring spray silicone, do i need to add more DE?

[@PoolSchooler]

If it's a cartridge filter you shouldn't add DE.

[@erickrhernandez1451]

Regarding the o ring for the filter…..(the o ring that’s placed between the top and bottom filter tank…) The o ring keeps moving out of place. It won’t stay in place. I’ve checked the o ring and evert looks good. ( no cracks or anything like that) So what gives? I’ve lubed up the o ring. Wiped the area where the o ring is placed. But it doesn’t stay in place. Any suggestions?

[@PoolSchooler]

Try flipping it over and if not you may want to use some more heavy duty lube like BOSS 820 Lube (link:amzn.to/3QQljBW) goop it on and see if that helps hold it in place. Is your filter a Sta-Rite filter? Also make sure (if you haven't already) you clean the rim where the o'ring sits make sure it's free of any built up dirt etc.

[@erickrhernandez1451]

@@PoolSchooler I clean the rim with a dry cloth every time I clean the filter.

[@PoolSchooler]

@@erickrhernandez1451 OK, try those other suggestions and see if those help

[@erickrhernandez1451]

Question: I’ve done filter cleaning for cartridges before but today I notice that when I was done cleaning the cartridges and placed them back inside the filter, the minute I started the motor, dust came out of the pool which resulted the pool looking cloudy. Any idea what happend?

[@PoolSchooler]

It's possible you didn't clean out the base of the filter housing go to the video again and skip to 13:14 in the video where I do that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZPEoWiOYpaHfLc Also you may have a torn cartridge or possibly a broken manifold (which is what the cartridges sit in, but my guess is that you need to clean the bottom of the filter housing to get all the collected dirt and debris out of it. Oh, and it's also possible that some of the dirt in the bottom of that housing got into the return pipes and that blew back into the pool when you fired it back up. In that case it should clear up .

[@henisr.530]

What if i used it to clean concrete dust from pavers? I had to wash it like 5 times, the rubber is not broken.. the color is not white anymore, but it’s not damage, do you recommend changing it?

[@PoolSchooler]

I'm not sure what "it"you're referring to. Can you clarify?

[@henisr.530]

@@PoolSchooler the filter

[@PoolSchooler]

@@henisr.530 Chances are the cartridges are probably just stained. You might wanna try using an organic product like simple green when you clean the cartridges the next time spray a light coating of it on there before you hose them off as describe in the video and see if that helps. In the future though don’t rely on your pool to clean up pavement work. It’s not made for that

[@henisr.530]

@@PoolSchooler should i have vacuum to waste? Or use a separate vacuum altogether? And thank you for your videos and replies! I appreciate it

[@PoolSchooler]

@@henisr.530 If you have the ability to vacuum to waste that would be best just make sure your water level doesn't get too low.

[@mayorb3366]

This filter should have been named the Sta Rite Wrist Breaker. Why close the tank with one clamp (like every other filter ever invented) when you can use 8 clamps! By hand! I hate these filters with a passion. System 3 is the #1 filter I do NOT want to see when I get called for a filter clean. LOL! I'll leave it at that. Again, nice video.

[@PoolSchooler]

I appreciate your comment.

[@hopkins075]

I have this filter system and my pool is now 23 years old. Yes, a pain to disassemble and reassemble. Also, large filter weighs a ton when wet and dirty. Paid about $550 for last filter set. A miserable situation. May finally switch to comparable SF 4 filter Hayward.