replace paper cartridge frequency?

[Rick P]

Have a STA-RITE system3 model S7M120 filter for pool used 6 months/yr.

Can someone please give me an idea of how often to replace the paper cartridges?

 

[cowboycasey]

I have my original ones from 9 years ago and they are still going strong

 

[Jimrahbe]

Rick,

Mine are over 7 years old and work just fine.. I'll be disappointed if I don't get at least 10 years out of them.

You should only need to replace them when the bands fall apart or they quit working and cleaning does not reduce your filter pressure..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Rick P]

Thank you guys for such quick replies!

Mine are now 15 years old and I’m wondering why it’s taking so much longer to get water clear than last year. . . . I’m probably not cleaning the system as often as last year. Taking apart and hosing out cartridges once a day this year (since opening June 2) and water is still dirty looking. I’ll start 2x daily and see how that works. I’m pretty sure that was my method last year (have increasingly bad memory-getting old)
Keeping chlorine and ph+ maintained at high levels.
Pressure drops from 15 to 10 psi each clean.
I’ll start 2x daily and let you(s) know how it goes. Thanks again.

 

[cowboycasey]

15 years you probably should change them out... that is a long time time to retire them...

 

[cowboycasey]

I clean mine once a year, if your cleaning once a day they are shot...

 

[Jimrahbe]

Rick,

Either the cartridges are done, or you have algae. If your water is green, or cloudy, then my bet is on the algae..

You should do what we call an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test or OCLT... Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

If you fail the OCLT, you will need to do a SLAM.. SLAM Process

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Selenap]

I buy a new cartridge every year. My filter just takes one big cartridge so it’s usually $120-$150 depending on make, model and sq ft. I have a lot of tree stuff that ends up in it. Decomposed bugs. Pollen. I clean them as needed but I still buy a new one. I’ll keep the old one until the worst of the pollen and stuff is gone, then put in a new one.

 

[patpend]

I got 14 years out of mine, rinsing them off 3x per summer. Prior to replacing them the water barely rippled when the pump was on. Afterward it was amazing how dynamic and turbulent the water was.

 

[Dean078]

We have a S8M150 that’s 15 years old and I just replaced the cartridges (we moved in 2 years ago).

The previous owners used DE with the old filter, but I am not following his “suggestion.” The old cartridges worked well for the past 2 years but the bands have been broken/disintegrated, and after a cleaning ran 17-20psi. New cartridges ran at 15psi, so that’s my reference pressure now.

I’m keeping the old cartridges to open the pool to not beat up the new ones too hard.

 

[zea3]

@Rick P could you post the actual test results? "high chlorine" and "high pH" mean different things to different people, when you post numbers we can give more relevant advice.

 

[Rick P]

OOPS! . . .
I can’t tell you how stooopid I feel . . and have to ‘confess’ before all of you.
I forgot to put the algicide in!
And it dawned on me when Jimrahbe mentioned ‘algae’.
Shame on me.
Anyway I put it in yesterday and the clearing process has dramatically increased! . . and it looks like all is back to normal.
Thank you ALL for your help and replies.

 

[zea3]

Did this algaecide have copper in it?

 

[cowboycasey]

We never recommend Algaecide unless it is polyquat 60 and then for closing in the winter...

 

[Newdude]

Hey Rick !! Chlorine 100% kills algae. Algecide does zero to kill algae. But it sounds like a great sanitizer at the pool store so they rake in millions.