Wondering if there is another issue? Noticing the rpm to keep good flow through my salt cell needs to be higher. Run the pool 8am to 8pm. Had to bump the vsp up to 2600 rpm otherwise the flow was blinking red on the pentair salt cell. Cleaned skimmers and the cartridge filter, then was able to get it down to 2200 rpm. Then a few days later I have to keep bumping the rpm. Back now to 2500rpm in order to get adequate flow through the salt cell. The filter had a lot of crud in it and looked somewhat “weathered”. I replaced it January of 2024. Filter issue? Could this be an indication that the salt cell needs to be cleaned? It’s generating chlorine fine, as long as flow is good.
Replacing cartridge filter frequency?
- Thread starter Zplayer
- Start date
Do you have the typical Florida tiny sized filter? That may be one problem. If the FC has been low, a clogging filter can indicate an upcoming algae outbreak. The filters themselves should last many years and properly sized filters should go a whole season without cleaning unless you have an overly dirty environment around the pool.
DrewLG
Gold Supporter
- May 31, 2022
- 674
- Pool Size
- 8000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
If the flow is good right after you clean the filter, but then gets worse over a few days, I'd suspect that algae is clogging the filter. Especially because your filter is the small size that Florida builders apparently prefer.
Have you performed an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to determine whether there's algae in your pool?
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,882
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
The first thing to check is always the filter. A clogged filter, regardless of type, is the cause of most service calls, especially on heaters and SWGs.
You have a small filter at 150 sq. ft. so it needs to be cleaned more often. When was the last time it was cleaned? How old is the cartridge?
You would do well to install a second filter of the same type, plumbed parallel to get 300 sq. ft. which would need cleaning less and give you better flow. If you do that, replace the cartridge on the first filter at the same time.