polyvue said:
PoolGuyNJ said:
Please remember that skin oils and lotions get into the cartridges. The should be soaked at least annually in TSP to degrease them.
Scott
PoolGuyNJ
Not needed if you threaten prospective pool guests with death and torture should they enter the pool without a shower first -- and proactively forbid the use of lotions, suntan oils and face creams. No exceptions.
YIKES
My pool would never get used by me if I forbade the use of "lotions, suntan oils and face creams". DH rarely uses the pool. But, in summer, I'm in and out all day, especially when the temps are above 90 F and approaching 100 F (or above) and I'm working outside (I'm outside most of the day in summer), I stay covered with sunscreen on face, neck, shoulders, and non-Deet (Cutter Advanced is the absolute best) bug spray, from head to toes, and (Deep Woods Off-Deet, on legs, hands and arms, when working much away from pool decking or decks) . I get in and out of the pool frequently, to cool off, and then have to respray the bug spray. I'm the mosquito and chigger magnet for the this whole area.
I'm very blond and fair and put on lots more suntan lotion when I'm going to spend much time in the pool or have to be in the sun for any length of time. When working, in the sun, I spend as much time following shadows as possible so don't need full body coverage for sun screening (always hat with back of neck protection). I use light sunscreen 24/7 year round on face and neck but in summer when we need extra protection we use a baby sun lotion that is similar to a sport lotion that is pretty resistant to water and sweat so doesn't seem to leave much residue in pool AND it doesn't sting eyes.
What I do here is keep some non-scented sun protection, of different types, for anyone to use, if they need sun protection. That way I can choose the products that are least likely to come off in water and foul the filter.
With the dogs in and out of the pool all day, our dusty/silty environment, and extreme heat, I have to backwash very often (DE) and in summer the pump runs at least 12 hrs a day, with cleaners running almost that long. The DE filter is probably the only way to go for us. Cartridge would require cleaning too often and sand wouldn't filter out the extremely fine silt.
Our spa does use a cartridge filter. It is used heavily year round and we don't shower before using. In winter it is our main way to exfoliate and daily "shower". (BTW.... we keep personal, moist wipes (unscented Costco Brand, baby wipes) in all bathrooms and go through a case a month so bottoms are relatively clean all the time. Also use them for quick all over bath when in a hurry.) BUT... when heavily used I may change the spa cartridge out daily (have four to exchange out). I can see here where oils would be a problem for any cartridge filter whether pool or spa. If my pool was as heavily used as my spa (human hours) I would probably be cleaning the cartridge every couple of weeks. Backwashing is so much less hassle and, in the case of DE filter (we use cellulose instead of DE) most of the oils and dirt are captured by the filter media and washed out during a backwash.
gg=alice