Pool Filter Cleaning in Higley

What a real filter cleaning looks like

Hosing off a cartridge in the yard helps for a week. A full cleaning means opening the tank, getting the oils and scale out of the media, and looking at the o-rings, gauge and air relief valve while everything is apart. That is the job we do.

Hard water and blowing dust load filters fast here, so most pools need this done a couple of times a year. If your filter is past saving, we tell you that plainly and give you the cost to replace it before we touch anything. You talk to the same person from the first call to the last cleanup.

What we do on a filter cleaning

Full teardown

We shut the system down, release the pressure and open the tank. Cartridges or DE grids come all the way out so we can see every pleat and seam.

Degrease, then descale

Suntan lotion and body oils coat the media first. We break those down with a degreaser before any acid soak for calcium, because acid on oily fabric locks the oil in. The order matters.

Sand filter service

Sand filters get a thorough backwash and rinse. We check the sand for channeling and clumps and let you know if it is due to be replaced.

Seal and valve check

We clean and lube the tank o-ring, check the air relief valve and look for cracks in the lid or clamp band. A bad o-ring is a common reason a filter leaks or sucks air.

DE recharge

For DE filters we add the right amount of fresh DE through the skimmer after reassembly. Too little leaves grids bare; too much clogs them early.

Clean pressure baseline

We start the pump, bleed the air and write down the clean pressure reading. That number tells you when the next cleaning is due.

Signs your filter needs cleaning

• Pressure is up 8 to 10 psi

  Most filters are due when the gauge reads 8 to 10 psi above the clean reading. If you never got a clean reading, that is the first thing we fix.

• Weak return flow

  The jets push less water and the cleaner moves slower. Water is backing up behind a clogged filter.

• Cloudy water with good chemistry

  If the numbers test fine and the water is still dull, the filter is not catching fine particles anymore.

• Torn pleats or a broken DE grid

  Frayed fabric, flattened pleats or DE puffing back into the pool means the media is failing. Cleaning will not fix that, so we talk replacement.

• Filter leaking at the band

  Water around the clamp band or lid usually points to a dry or cracked o-ring. We replace it while the filter is open.

How the visit goes

1. 1

   You call, we ask a few questions

   Tell us your filter type and what you are seeing. We give you a free quote by phone and set a time.

2. 2

   Shut down and open up

   On the day we turn off the pump at the breaker, relieve pressure and pull the media. We lay it out on your deck, away from plants and doors.

3. 3

   Clean, soak and inspect

   Cartridges and grids get rinsed, degreased and soaked as needed. Some soaks take a few hours, so we may come back the same day or bring the parts back clean. We show you anything worn or torn.

4. 4

   Reassemble and start up

   New lube on the o-ring, tank closed, air bled out, clean pressure recorded. We rinse the work area and haul off the used DE and wastewater the right way.

What moves the price

Filter cleaning is priced by the filter you have and what shape it is in. We give you the number on the phone before we come out. If we find something that needs a part once the tank is open, we stop and tell you first.

Filter type and size

A single large cartridge is quicker than four cartridges or a DE filter with eight grids. Sand filters take the least labor unless the sand needs replacing.

How heavy the scale is

Light dirt rinses out. Hard calcium buildup needs a longer acid soak and more handling.

Worn parts

Torn cartridges, cracked grids, a bad o-ring or a broken gauge add parts cost. We tell you before replacing anything.

Weekly customers

If we already handle your weekly pool cleaning, we keep an eye on your pressure each visit and schedule the filter before it becomes a problem.