Help with Hayward C3025 Pool Filter Cartridge Fitment Issue

[rajthepilot]

Hi everyone,
I’m having a bit of trouble with my pool filter and hoping someone here can help.

I have a Hayward C3025 filter, which uses 4 cartridges. Two years ago, I bought a new set of replacement cartridges and stored them in my pool shed over the winter (unheated, outside). This season, when I went to install them, one of the cartridges didn’t fit properly—it was extremely tight and I had to force the lid down to close it. Now I’m concerned I may have damaged the filter housing or something at the bottom.

Here are the details:

• Filter cartridges that I saw in the filter in 2023: UNICEL C-7477
• Replacement I purchased: SpiroPure SP-PS-6440, which my notes say are compatible with the Hayward C3025

However, I don’t remember this much resistance last year. Even the internal rack that holds the cartridges on top before putting on the lid was harder to install than usual.

I have two main questions:

1. Can filter cartridges shrink slightly from being stored over the winter (cold but dry conditions)?
2. How do I confirm which specific cartridge brand/model I should be using?
   • Are generics like SpiroPure generally reliable, or is it better to stick with name-brand cartridges like Pleatco or Hayward?

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice!

 

[Texas Splash]

Good morning. Still having that same awkward fitting issue? Yes, many of us use generic carts to replace the expensive, name-brand carts. While the advertisement "should" be compatible and state which make/model cart it was designed to replace, there might be some slight variances. They are generic after all and only as good as the company's QC processes. Sometimes it's good to take measurements of your OEM cart to compare to what they show online with the generic model.

Do you still feel like something in the filter housing was damaged? Did you push down so hard that you are concerned you might have cracked a lower manifold or something? Did you try a little pool lube on the mating surfaces to help it slide into place?