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Pros and cons of cartridge filters

December 21st, 2003 · 4 Comments

It’s been suggested that if my sand filter is troublesome, I replace
it with a cartdridge filter. What are the pros and cons of these?
I have a 30k gallon outdoor pool. It gets quite a lot of matter in
it, mainly leaves (which I skim out for the most part). We have
fields next door so it might get more dirt in it than most pools.
Thanks
Nick

Tags: pumps

4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Neva Marjory // Dec 22, 2003 at 9:56 am

    I have a stay-rite cartrige filter and love it, My pool is about 26K
    gallon in ground, I clean the filters about once a year. I spray
    them down with a filter cleaner I get from my hot tub dealer, take
    them to the local car wash, give them a good high pressure cleaning,
    and re-install…that easy..
    Reading about all the people fighting with the sand filters, this is
    much easer, no back washing, no dumping in DE
    I’m designing my pool for our new home we will be building in the
    spring and I’m going with the same filter system agian.
    Does anyone have a suggustion for a good propane heater? My stay-
    rite has been a problem since the day it was installed.
    — In homeswimmingpoolowners@y…, “nick_walczak”

  • 2 janis_40 // Dec 23, 2003 at 11:26 am

    Raypac makes good heaters. What model of Sta-Rite cartridge filter do you
    have?

  • 3 janis_40 // Dec 25, 2003 at 2:23 am

    The biggest con for the cartridge filters is the cost. Maybe as much as
    double the initial cost of a sand filter. The models I am talking about are
    the 300, 400 and 500 sq. ft multicartridge filters these are the only types I
    would use. The pros are many, much better water quality than with a sand
    filter so hopefully you will use fewer chemicals (filtration is 80% of
    keeping your pool clean), less cleaning of the elements (should be able to go
    at least six months between cleanings), simple to maintain (if you break a
    lateral on a sand filter you must dig out several hundred pounds of wet sand
    to get at it), if you purchase an extra set of cartridges you can replace the
    dirty set and get the system back in operation then allow the dirty set to
    dry then just blow the dirt out as you would an airfilter. Manufacturers
    generally do not suggest using a carwash on the filters. The high pressure
    destroys the fabric.

  • 4 Neva Marjory // Dec 25, 2003 at 3:49 pm

    — In homeswimmingpoolowners@y…, “nick_walczak”

    I agree with electejet. Sand filters are 60’s technology. they
    blow. As far as cartrige filters are concerned while the sta- rite
    modular media is a appealing unit, all the knobs required to open the
    thing is a real drag, plus the good lord help you if you have to
    replace the filter cartidges, you might as well just buy another new
    filter.I like the pentair clean & clear plus. I have installed many
    like 50+ of them that I take care of over the years and they are
    great. If you have just normal debris, get the 320 but if there is
    alot of ca-ca splurge and get the 520. but then this only my personal
    opinion.

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