Filter & Media Changes
Filter media breaks down and stops filtering properly well before most people notice.
Filter media breaks down and stops filtering properly well before most people notice, and a filter itself has a working life too. Both are covered, whether it's a media top-up inside an existing filter or a full filter swap.
What a Media Change Involves
A media change generally takes around 3 to 6 hours. It involves removing the multiport valve, vacuuming out the old media, cleaning the filter itself, and then adding new media in its place. It's careful work: media getting down the standpipe or the standpipe itself getting damaged during the process are both things to avoid, so the job isn't rushed.
Glass media is recommended, layered with coarse and fine grades for better filtration through the different stages of the media bed. Sand media is also used where that suits the job better.
Sand vs Glass Media
Both sand and glass media are available. Glass is the general recommendation, since as a rule of thumb it lasts 5 or more years compared to around 3 for sand, and filters more finely along the way.
The difference shows up over time rather than immediately. Sand grains gradually round off and channel water through gaps instead of filtering it properly, while glass holds its shape and filtering performance for longer. Both do the job when fresh; the difference is about what still works properly three or four years in.
Full Filter Changes
Cartridge, sand, and DE (diatomaceous earth) filters are all serviced and replaced. Where a full swap makes more sense than a media top-up, sand or glass media filters are recommended over cartridge or DE, since they're lower maintenance and hold up better over time. The filter itself is supplied as part of the job.
Cartridge and DE filters need more hands-on upkeep. Cartridges need regular cleaning and eventually stop rinsing back to clean, and DE needs its powder recharged after every backwash. A sand or glass media filter is closer to set-and-forget by comparison, which is usually what makes the switch worthwhile beyond just replacing what's already there.
Signs Worth Getting Checked
Media change signs
- ✓Water that stays slightly cloudy even though chemistry tests fine
- ✓Filter pressure climbing faster than it used to between cleans
- ✓Sand or media escaping back into the pool through the returns
Filter change signs
- ✓A cartridge that won't rinse clean anymore no matter how it's cleaned
- ✓Cracks or wear visible in the filter housing itself
- ✓Persistent leaking around the filter body or fittings
Photo: new filter media going in
Photo: a replacement filter installed
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a filter media change take?
Generally around 3 to 6 hours.
Sand or glass filter media, which is better?
Glass is the general recommendation since it lasts 5 or more years compared to around 3 for sand, and filters more finely, though both do the job when fresh.
How do I know if my filter needs a media change or a full replacement?
Media change signs include cloudy water despite good chemistry, filter pressure climbing faster than usual, or media escaping into the pool. Filter change signs include a cartridge that won't rinse clean, cracks or wear in the housing, or persistent leaking.
What's the difference between cartridge, sand, and DE filters?
Cartridge and DE filters need more hands-on upkeep, regular cleaning or recharging with powder, while sand or glass media filters are closer to set-and-forget by comparison.
How often should I backwash my filter?
When the pressure gauge reads about 8 to 10 psi above its normal clean filter reading, not on a fixed schedule, since it depends on how much debris the pool is collecting.
What does backwashing actually do?
It reverses water flow through a sand or glass media filter to flush trapped debris out to waste, resetting the filter's pressure and restoring proper flow.
Filter Not Keeping Up?
Get in touch and we'll take a look at whether it's a media change or time for a full filter swap.
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