Is my pool filter still okay?

[FloridaPoolGal]

This is my pool filter. It's starting to look a little worn out but it seems to still be doing its job. I have an approximately 20,000 gallon gunite pool that is in a screened enclosure. I put this filter in about this time in 2016 when I switched over to the Trouble Free Pool method. We get some dirt and debris (neighbor's oak trees drop lots of stuff) that washes through the screen and some stuff from the plants that are inside the screened enclosure that ends up in the filter but not a heavy load. I clean it about once a month, more often when the pollen is heavy. After cleaning the filter, the pressure is about 12 pounds. It used to run about 10 pounds right after cleaning but has increased a bit which isn't surprising to me. Should I just stick with this one for now? Or is it time to buy a new one? I bought this one (Hayward brand) for about $80, I think, and my neighborhood (not a chain) pool store is now selling them for $149.

 

[mknauss]

If 9 years old I say you got a good run.
Here is a place I have purchased filters from.

Cartridge Replacement Fits StarClear® Plus C-1200; 120 SQ.FT. by Optimum Pool Technologies

Keep your pool sparkling clean by replacing your filter cartridge. Optimum Pool Technologies offers a pool filter cartridge to replace the StarClear® Plus C-1200, which contains 120 square feet of pleat material. We guarantee compatibility with your filtration system! Made to replace the...

poolguysupply.com

 

[Jimrahbe]

FPG,

It looks perfectly fine to me.. I replaced mine after about 8 years and saw no operational difference at all..

What is not working??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Newdude]

+1. If the pleats are staying seperated, I'd let it ride until they dont, or flow was noticably affected.

If at any point you doubt the flow or the integrity of the media, you definitely got your money's worth.

Out of curiosity, how long did they last before TFP ?

 

[TinFoilHat]

There is a vertical crack on the inside so some separation might occur. Two pounds on your gauge is probably wear of the gauge. If this is the only cartridge you are running then I would invest in a new one that will also last you the same length of time and then you'll know if your gauge will go back to 10 lbs or if it's just an old, used gauge.

 

[FloridaPoolGal]

FPG,

It looks perfectly fine to me.. I replaced mine after about 8 years and saw no operational difference at all..

What is not working??

Thanks,

Jim R.

Well, as far as I can tell, it seems like everything is working fine but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. My starting pressure, post cleaning, has gone up a bit from 10 to 12 but 12 still seems pretty reasonable for the long term health of my pump...which is about the same age as my filter.

 

[FloridaPoolGal]

+1. If the pleats are staying seperated, I'd let it ride until they dont, or flow was noticably affected.

If at any point you doubt the flow or the integrity of the media, you definitely got your money's worth.

Out of curiosity, how long did they last before TFP ?

We bought the house in May 2015 and I made the switch to TFP in January 2016 because I couldn't get control of my pool. I was fighting constant algae outbreaks and spending way too much money at the pool store on chemicals. My pool was a black box that I didn't understand. Throw some things in, see what came out. Somehow, I found out about TFP and knew I was on to something that made a ton of sense. I did my initial SLAM in early 2016 and never looked back. No algae outbreaks since the first SLAM, even when we lost power for 9 days during hurricane IRMA in 2017. My next door neighbor was fighting the same issues but it took me a couple of years to convince her to follow TFP. She can't do numbers so I told her I would do her numbers if she brought me water and I would advise her what she needed to add to her pool. She finally agreed, we did her SLAM. I think it's been almost 4 years since she converted and she has not had another algae outbreak since she converted. She kicks in half for the testing chemicals we need for the year so all is good. The short answer is that I don't know how long filters lasted before switching to TFP.

 

[FloridaPoolGal]

If 9 years old I say you got a good run.
Here is a place I have purchased filters from.

Cartridge Replacement Fits StarClear® Plus C-1200; 120 SQ.FT. by Optimum Pool Technologies

Keep your pool sparkling clean by replacing your filter cartridge. Optimum Pool Technologies offers a pool filter cartridge to replace the StarClear® Plus C-1200, which contains 120 square feet of pleat material. We guarantee compatibility with your filtration system! Made to replace the...

poolguysupply.com

I have wondered whether there is a significant difference between the OEM filters and those of other manufactures. Making a filter doesn't look like rocket science. Does anyone have any experience with filter longevity between OEM and aftermarket manufacturers?

 

[TinFoilHat]

Not really, just check the reviews closely for recent ratings.

 

[ajw22]

I have wondered whether there is a significant difference between the OEM filters and those of other manufactures.

We have sent differences in the quality of the filter material and plastic caps as well as the fit dimensions.

Pleatco used to be a good third party filter and Pentair acquired them. I don’t know how their prices have changed.

 

[FloridaPoolGal]

This is the filter I bought to replace my old one. It was $39.99 on Amazon ($49.99 now). I decided to replace my 9-year old filter to see if I could reduce the starting pressure after cleaning which had risen over the years. After cleaning my old filter, my pressure quickly rose to 12 lbs. With my new filter, the starting pressure is down to 6 lbs and stays there.

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com