How to Chemically Clean Your Swimming Pool Filter

Home	What's New	RiverPool®	Pools	Spas	Auto Cover	Equipment	Accessories	Maintenance	About Us	Contact Us	Learn To Scuba

Filter Cleaning

HOW TO CHEMICALLY CLEAN YOUR FILTER

For best filter operation, it is important to clean your filter twice a season. As your filter circulates pool water, it collects all types of debris – organic matter, waste, scale, rust, grease and grime that, if left unchecked, will hinder filtration and lead to a cloudy, unattractive pool.

While backwashing or rinsing will remove larger particles, only chemical cleaning will remove the grease and grime that become embedded in the filter element (D.E. filters), stick to the cartridge (cartridge filters), or adhere to the sand (sand filters).

To ensure optimal filtration and good water quality, you should chemically clean your filter twice a season with BAQUACIL FILTER CLEANER or BAQUACIL SAND FILTER CLEANER to dissolve and remove collected debris from sand filters and free-up plugged DE filter grids and cartridge filter elements. Here’s how to use it to chemically clean each filter type.

SOAK METHOD (Cartridge and D.E. Filters):

1) Remove trip on timer (if system is so equipped).

2) For DE: Backwash thoroughly and then disassemble the filter and remove the DE supports (i.e., grids, fingers, etc.). Rinse off any loose debris before soaking.

For Cartridge: Disassemble and remove the cartridge element(s). Rinse off any loose debris before soaking.

3) Fill a clean plastic container with water and add 1 bottle of BAQUACIL FILTER CLEANER per five gallons of water. Completely immerse grids/cartridge.

4) After 10-12 hours, remove and rinse thoroughly with water and reassemble your filter according to manufacturer recommendations.

5) Resume normal operation.

6) It is extremely important that you neutralize the BAQUACIL FILTER CLEANER solution prior to disposal. Very slowly, add baking soda (or BAQUACIL TOTAL ALKALINITY INCREASER) to the solution until foaming subsides. The disposal process should take a minimum of 15 minutes.

BACKWASH METHOD (Sand Filters):

1) Backwash the filter thoroughly.

2) Shut off filter pump and open the air release valve. Remove trip on timer (if system is so equipped).

3) Shut off the pump, remove drain plug and drain water from filter tank; then replace plug.

4) Reinstall drain plug and place control valve in the backwash position.

5) With the pump motor off, remove the pump strainer lid and pour 1 bottle of BAQUACIL FILTER CLEANER or BAQUACIL SAND FILTER CLEANER into the pump strainer basket.

6) Replace the pump strainer lid, put the control valve into the backwash mode and open the air release valve.

7) Turn on pump and allow it to run until water is seen in the backwash sight glass or comes out of the air release valve. Be sure air release is aimed away from you.

8) When water is seen in sight glass or the air relief valve, shut off the pump and close off all valves leading to and from the filter.

9) Allow BAQUACIL FILTER CLEANER or BAQUACIL SAND FILTER CLEANER to remain in the filter for 10-12 hours with the pump off.

10) After 10-12 hours, distribute several pounds of baking soda (or BAQUACIL TOTAL ALKALINITY INCREASER) on the ground in the area of the backwash discharge.

11) Open all valves leading to and from the filter and backwash the filter until the water in the sight glass is clean; then shut off the pump.

12) Rinse, then put filter control valve back in the filtration position and resume normal filter operation.

Caution: Water containing BAQUACIL FILTER CLEANER or BAQUACIL SAND FILTER CLEANER is acidic. Be careful not to get on skin or in eyes. If skin or eye contact occurs, flush affected area with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes.

< Previous Page	Next Page >
General Pool Care	Winterizing Your Pool