Anybody else's pressure go DOWN when their filter needs to be cleaned?

[Deb04]

This seems so counter-intuitive and contrary to everything on TPF. When my cartridge filter gets dirty, the pressure goes down. This has been happening since the pool was built in 2008. The first dozen or so seasons I argued with the filter, trying to fix a leak that didn't exist, lubing o-rings, etc. I just started lucking in to cleaning the filter because I'd open the filter to lube the big o-ring around it and see the filter needed cleaning and do it. Now I know. But, really, why?

 

[markayash]

Interesting, mine doesn’t drop but never goes up. It’s around 4psi after a cleaning and still 4 psi when they are covered on pollen.
Once the heater said low flow and they were dirty but the PSI was still the same.

 

[AK-]

Bad pressure gauge perhaps?

 

[Deb04]

Bad pressure gauge perhaps?

Perhaps. I replaced it last week because the old one was getting difficult to read. I guess I'll see next time it gets dirty.

 

[Deb04]

Just happened again.

I cleaned the filter 2 weeks ago. Pressure was 17 after cleaning and new gauge. Over the last week pressure has been dropping and today was down to 10. I didnt think it was possible that the filter could be dirty that quickly since we usually only have to clean twice a year. But, we opened it up and it was caked with pine pollen.

All clean now and pressure is back up. Why do I have a psychotic pool? Now that I know, I can live with this. It’s just strange.