Cleaning your pool filter restores flow and clears cloudy water, and the method depends on the type. Cartridge filters get pulled and hosed off; DE filters get backwashed and recharged with fresh DE powder; sand filters get backwashed until the sight glass runs clear. The universal first step is always the same: shut the pump off and relieve the pressure before you open anything. In pollen-heavy, dusty Houston, plan on cleaning a few times a season and a deep clean once or twice a year.
What you'll need
- A garden hose with a spray nozzle
- A filter cleaning wand or brush
- A bucket
- Chemical-safe gloves
- A wrench for the filter clamp or band
Recommended parts & supplies
- Filter cleaner / degreaser — soaks out oils and buildup a hose cannot
- Replacement filter cartridge — match your model number; cartridges wear out
- DE filter powder — to recharge a DE filter after backwashing
- Filter cleaning comb / wand — spreads the pleats to rinse deep
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Step by step
- 1
Turn the pump off and release the pressure
Before touching the filter, shut the pump off at the switch and open the air-relief valve on top of the filter tank until the hissing stops. A filter under pressure can blow the lid off and injure you, so never skip this. Wait for the pressure gauge to read zero.
- 2
Note the type of filter you have
Look at your tank. A cartridge filter opens up to reveal one or more pleated cartridges. A DE or sand filter has a multiport valve on top or side with settings like FILTER, BACKWASH, and RINSE. The type decides your method, so confirm it before you go further.
- 3
For a cartridge filter, pull and hose the cartridges
Open the clamp band, lift the lid, and remove the cartridges. Hose them from the top down, spreading each pleat with the spray so you rinse the trapped grit out. For a deep clean, soak them in a filter cleaner overnight to cut through sunscreen oils and fine buildup a hose cannot reach, then rinse and reinstall.
- 4
For a DE or sand filter, backwash it
With the pump off, turn the multiport valve to BACKWASH, then run the pump. Water flows backward and flushes the dirt out the waste line — watch the sight glass until it runs clear, usually two to three minutes. Turn the pump off, switch to RINSE for about 30 seconds, then back to FILTER. Never move the valve with the pump running.
- 5
Recharge a DE filter with fresh powder
A DE filter needs new diatomaceous earth after every backwash. Mix the correct amount for your filter size into a bucket of water to make a slurry, then pour it slowly into the skimmer with the pump running. It coats the grids and restores filtration. Skipping this leaves your grids bare and the water cloudy.
- 6
Reassemble, restart, and check the pressure
Put everything back together, close the clamp or band snugly, and open the air-relief valve. Start the pump and let the air bleed out until water sprays from the valve, then close it. Note the clean starting pressure on the gauge — when it climbs 8–10 psi above that number, it is time to clean again.
When to call a pro
Call a pro if the pressure stays high right after a thorough cleaning, if you see sand or DE blowing back into the pool, or if water leaks from the tank body or the multiport valve. Those point to a cracked cartridge, torn DE grids, broken sand laterals, or a failed valve spider gasket — internal parts that need the filter opened up and serviced. If the tank is cracked or the clamp band is corroded, stop using it and have it replaced; a filter tank that fails under pressure is dangerous.
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How to Clean Your Pool Filter (Cartridge, DE, and Sand) — FAQ
How often should I clean my pool filter?
Can I just hose off my pool cartridge or do I need to soak it?
Why is my pool filter pressure high right after cleaning?
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