Pentair 520 Cartridge Explosion

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scrumpto

scrumpto

Member
Sep 25, 2018
22
Lincoln, CA
I was out adding chemicals to my pool and turned the pump on and heard an explosion from my equipment area, saw water flying, and knew what had happened. It appears the filter housing sheared off right at the lower contact point of the tension control clamp. Wow. Bummer, tomorrow is a holiday and we had a pool party planned.

Questions:
  1. What could have caused this? I cleaned the filters two weeks ago so pressure was good. Is it possible I overtightened the tension control clamp?
  2. Can I simply buy a new lower housing or should I replace both top and bottom?
  3. Or should I buy an entirely different filter?
 

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scrumpto said:
Questions:
  1. What could have caused this? I cleaned the filters two weeks ago so pressure was good. Is it possible I overtightened the tension control clamp?
Click to expand...
Fatigue, age, sun, overtightening, etc, etc.
scrumpto said:
  1. Can I simply buy a new lower housing and if so, where?
Click to expand...
If the lower went, then it really makes sense to replace both (upper and lower). Upper is $350, lower is $500 plush shipping. Plus the band at $250, so $1100.
scrumpto said:
  1. Or should I buy an entirely different filter?
Click to expand...
Price of a new 520 is about $1850-1900. There are others, like the Waterway cartridge filters you can get a 525 for a bit less. But, then you have to replumb...

I'm glad you were not standing there...filters can be very dangerous as they are pressure vessels.

I can't answer what is better. Don't know the condition of all the other parts in the filter. Twer' it I, I'd replace the filter with the same filter so I wouldn't have to re-plumb. The CCP 520 is a good filter.
 
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PoolStored said:
Fatigue, age, sun, overtightening, etc, etc.

If the lower went, then it really makes sense to replace both (upper and lower). Upper is $350, lower is $500 plush shipping. Plus the band at $250, so $1100.

Price of a new 520 is about $1850-1900. There are others, like the Waterway cartridge filters you can get a 525 for a bit less. But, then you have to replumb...

I'm glad you were not standing there...filters can be very dangerous as they are pressure vessels.

I can't answer what is better. Don't know the condition of all the other parts in the filter. Twer' it I, I'd replace the filter with the same filter so I wouldn't have to re-plumb. The CCP 520 is a good filter.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Ya, the polypropylene looks rotten.
 
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Thanks for all the help everyone. I've ordered new top and bottom just to be safe. Valves were all in the correct positions so no deadhead. I cleaned the filters a few weeks ago and didn't know the correct procedure for tightening the clamp and I worried at the time I overtightened it and I think that's what caused it. Lesson learned.
 
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scrumpto said:
Thanks for all the help everyone. I've ordered new top and bottom just to be safe. Valves were all in the correct positions so no deadhead. I cleaned the filters a few weeks ago and didn't know the correct procedure for tightening the clamp and I worried at the time I overtightened it and I think that's what caused it. Lesson learned.
Click to expand...
I’d verify the condition of your clamp for damage and wear caused by the explosion and previous improper tightening technique. Replace if in doubt.

IMG_0771.jpeg
 
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I just received the upper and lower and there's a part in there that's not on my original. It's a steel band that appears to go inside the lower portion right at the lip. I checked the video from Pentair and theirs has it but I don't see it on the parts diagram. What the heck? My lower has rust stains like one used to be there. Baffled.

I also just realized something. That's EXACTLY where my lower broke. I wonder if that piece is for reinforcement of a weak area and also wonder what pool maintenance guy removed mine!
 

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So, I have a new hypothesis. Tonight when I put everything back together with the new top and bottom I noticed the pump was sucking in a ton of air. I checked all the suction lines and when those were fine I pulled out the pump o-ring, cleaned and lubed it, and replaced it and everything was fine. So, is it possible the filter filled mostly with air and then when I flipped the pump to high-speed it caused the explosion? I'm also guessing that missing metal ring had an effect on things as it was right where the break was.
Thoughts?
 
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