I bought a house with an existing above ground pool a little over a year. Last year I had no problems other than the heater wouldn’t work. This year I am having a ton of problems. I have very limited documentation left by the previous owners. What I have found on the internet as far as manuals is, in my opinion, lacking in detail. Plus, I am not always 100% that I have the correct manual for the model number I have. I also am not very mechanically inclined.
To give some back ground on my present situation, currently the hose to my pump is not connected (taped to my deck so that water doesn’t drain) as I wait for a new gate valve that will hopefully fix the problem I was having with my pump. I was able to get to the root cause of this issue due to me posting in this forum. Thanks!!!
Now however, I need help opening my filter. While I was trying to resolve my pump issue I was wondering if something was wrong with my filter or if the cartridge needed cleaned as we have had a lot more helicopters and cotton weed this year. Keep in mind I have never personally opened this filter so I have no previous experience. I found what I think is the manual. I have included a picture of the filter and the manual I found. As part of my research, I went up to a pool supply company and asked them to show me on a similar filter that obviously was not connected to a pool. They made it look easy. After removing the nut, the top just easily lifts off. When I told them mine doesn’t, they indicated there was a major problem and that pressure would be causing that. Now I am fearful to keep trying in case they are right. Below is what I have done and think I need to do and am wondering if someone can tell me if I am right or wrong.
I am self-taught on how to handle this pool so I definitely could be doing something wrong that is very basic. I also may just need a little more muscle to accomplish this but want to make sure I am not doing something drastically wrong before proceeding. I would love to have a professional come show me but currently the only ones in the area I can find to service an above ground pool have proven to me they are not very good as they have caused most of the problems I have had this year. I have had this company out 4 times (in addition to other help) just to open my pool and have only been able to use my pool 2 days due to multiple issues. I appreciate any help you may have.
To give some back ground on my present situation, currently the hose to my pump is not connected (taped to my deck so that water doesn’t drain) as I wait for a new gate valve that will hopefully fix the problem I was having with my pump. I was able to get to the root cause of this issue due to me posting in this forum. Thanks!!!
Now however, I need help opening my filter. While I was trying to resolve my pump issue I was wondering if something was wrong with my filter or if the cartridge needed cleaned as we have had a lot more helicopters and cotton weed this year. Keep in mind I have never personally opened this filter so I have no previous experience. I found what I think is the manual. I have included a picture of the filter and the manual I found. As part of my research, I went up to a pool supply company and asked them to show me on a similar filter that obviously was not connected to a pool. They made it look easy. After removing the nut, the top just easily lifts off. When I told them mine doesn’t, they indicated there was a major problem and that pressure would be causing that. Now I am fearful to keep trying in case they are right. Below is what I have done and think I need to do and am wondering if someone can tell me if I am right or wrong.
- The pump is off.
- I didn’t plug the skimmer, or close a valve from the skimmer, since currently the hose to the pump and valve isn’t connected I thought this step unnecessary. Normally, I think that I would close the gate valve on the pump.
- I opened the air release valve on the filter. When I did water came out and has since stopped.
- I opened drain cap at bottom of the filter and water came out.
- I pressed the yellow safety latch on the underside of the locking nut and turned the nut
- The instructions say to remove the lid. It doesn’t specify whether this should just lift off by the handle or whether more force or a tool is required. When I look at the diagram provided in the manual there is a picture of a Filter Wrench that makes me wonder if I need a special tool to insert to get the lid off. If it did, I would have thought the directions would state to use the Filter Wrench to remove the lid and they don’t. Again, I am nervous to just try it without consulting someone more knowledgeable than myself.
I am self-taught on how to handle this pool so I definitely could be doing something wrong that is very basic. I also may just need a little more muscle to accomplish this but want to make sure I am not doing something drastically wrong before proceeding. I would love to have a professional come show me but currently the only ones in the area I can find to service an above ground pool have proven to me they are not very good as they have caused most of the problems I have had this year. I have had this company out 4 times (in addition to other help) just to open my pool and have only been able to use my pool 2 days due to multiple issues. I appreciate any help you may have.
