Should I replace my 15-year old filter cartridges?

[peterl1365]

Pentair CCP 520, still on original cartridges. Pressure on low/slow pump rate (around 1200 RPM) is well under 5 psi. When I run my pump for skimming (around 2200 RPM), my the gauge reads 11-13 psi. These numbers have been fairly consistent for the last 5-6 years, at least.

I typically clean my filters just once a year, after the Santa Ana winds in Southern California dumps a bunch of dust and debris in the pool. Although there's a bunch of dirt and stuff accumulated in the filter, the pressure difference between "dirty" and "clean" is barely noticeable, maybe 1-2 psi at the most.

Still, at 15 years old, is it time to replace or should I just keep using them til they begin to fall apart? I can buy a new set of Pleatcos for ~$200, but no point in spending that money needlessly. FWIW, the pool isn't used much anymore that my kids are mostly grown. It's primarily used just for cooling off and the occasional pool party a couple times a year.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Peter,

I don't see any reason to replace them unless until you start to have an issue...

That said, at 1200 RPM, my filter pressure is less than 2 lbs. So I suspect that new cartridges would drop your filter pressure a little.. Not really enough to worry about.

Just to be clear, I have a 30 lb. gauge so easy to see 2 lbs...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[peterl1365]

Peter,

I don't see any reason to replace them unless until you start to have an issue...

That said, at 1200 RPM, my filter pressure is less than 2 lbs. So I suspect that new cartridges would drop your filter pressure a little.. Not really enough to worry about.

Just to be clear, I have a 30 lb. so easy to see 2 lbs...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Well, as far as I can tell the gauge is reading 2-3 psi. However, you really can't trust most pressure gauges below ~10% of the full-scale reading, which in my case is 60 psi. Even in the middle of the range, accuracy is typically somewhere around 2% of full scale, which would be around +/- 1.2 psi.

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll leave it alone for another couple of years. When I cleaned them last year, I didn't really see any signs of media deterioration, but I just thought I'd ask people more knowledgeable than myself, just in case.

 

[zea3]

You could always give them a good 24 hour TSP soak in the off season to get some of the stubborn dirt out if you want.

 

[wgipe]

I can buy a new set of Pleatcos for ~$200

I bought a brand new CCP 420 last year and it came with Pleatcos as OEM - not the Pentair branded ones. I called Pentair, thinking that perhaps the seller had swapped them on me. Apparently the Pentair filters are rebranded Pleatcos, and when the supply chain got jacked up last year, they ran out of the Pentair branded filters so they subbed Pleatco branded ones for a while. They admitted that there is literally no difference other than price.

All that to say - No reason to buy anything else.

 

[peterl1365]

You could always give them a good 24 hour TSP soak in the off season to get some of the stubborn dirt out if you want.

Yeah, I was thinking of that, but then I'd need to purchase a container just for that purpose. The cost isn't too big a deal, but hard to justify for something I'd only use once every 5 years or so. I'd also need to find a place to store it.

 

[peterl1365]

I bought a brand new CCP 420 last year and it came with Pleatcos as OEM - not the Pentair branded ones. I called Pentair, thinking that perhaps the seller had swapped them on me. Apparently the Pentair filters are rebranded Pleatcos, and when the supply chain got jacked up last year, they ran out of the Pentair branded filters so they subbed Pleatco branded ones for a while. They admitted that there is literally no difference other than price.

All that to say - No reason to buy anything else.

Agreed. Wasn't really looking to buy OEM. Pleatcos are probably at least as good as the original filters.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

After 15 years, I'd say you're living on borrowed time. One of those cartridges will say "I'm done" one day and you'll know by the crud returned to the pool. This is more of a concern for pools like mine with solar panels, as the little tubes are thin enough to clog with unfiltered water. But I still think you've got your money's worth out of those old carts. Just My Humble Opinion™.

 

[peterl1365]

After 15 years, I'd say you're living on borrowed time. One of those cartridges will say "I'm done" one day and you'll know by the crud returned to the pool. This is more of a concern for pools like mine with solar panels, as the little tubes are thin enough to clog with unfiltered water. But I still think you've got your money's worth out of those old carts. Just My Humble Opinion™.

Thanks for the input. You may be correct. I'll do a careful inspection when I clean them this year and reconsider my decision then.

On a side note, I wonder if my low-speed filtration strategy has significantly extended the life of these filters. It would kind of make sense that being exposed to lower pressure differences would prevent stress on the elements and the endcaps.

 

[Jimrahbe]

I wonder if my low-speed filtration strategy has significantly extended the life of these filters. It would kind of make sense that being exposed to lower pressure differences would prevent stress on the elements and the endcaps.

Peter,

How could it not help... I also run slow, most of the time, yet still get plenty of flow for both my SWCG and skimming..

It is something that I often recommend to new pool owners.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[BowserB]

After 15 years, I'd say you're living on borrowed time. One of those cartridges will say "I'm done" one day and you'll know by the crud returned to the pool. This is more of a concern for pools like mine with solar panels, as the little tubes are thin enough to clog with unfiltered water. But I still think you've got your money's worth out of those old carts. Just My Humble Opinion™.

Good point. Like driving on worn tires. Replacing is cheap insurance (especially if you get another 15 years out of the new ones!)