Should Pool Filter Gauge Show Pressure

Guide to Filter Pressure Gauges

When information technology comes to swimming pool maintenance, few things are every bit important as the filter: Your filter arrangement keeps your pool water sparkling clean and costless of debris and harmful bacteria. It helps ensure that your chemicals piece of work effectively and your water is counterbalanced.

This is a large job, and your puddle filter can't exercise it alone. If y'all want to keep your filter operating at peak performance, you'll need to learn how to accept intendance of information technology properly. We'll start with one of the well-nigh important – but near oftentimes overlooked – parts of pool filter maintenance: Learning to read and understand the pressure gauge.

A puddle filter pressure gauge is the gadget that reads the amount of pressure building up inside your filter. A typical pressure gauge is circular, with an indicator needle and a maximum reading of 60 PSI.

Know the Lingo: Pounds per Square Inch

Pounds per foursquare inch – sometimes called "PSI" for short -- is a unit that is used to read air, gas, or liquid pressure. Even if you're new to pond pools, you might be familiar with PSI from measuring the air pressure in your automobile's tires.

Understanding Your Pressure Gauge: Know What's Normal

Pressure gauges aren't terribly complicated devices, but they play a critical role in your filter'southward operation. Pressure level keeps the h2o moving through your filter organisation -- so when your water force per unit area is besides high or as well depression, your h2o quality will endure.

The first step in understanding your pressure estimate is knowing what is considered a normal PSI range for your filter. For puddle owners, the normal range is effectually x PSI; check your owner's transmission for more information.

One time you know what's normal for your filter, get in the habit of checking the pressure gauge in one case a week as role of your pool maintenance routine. As long as the water force per unit area is in the "normal" range, you can rest assured that your puddle filter is in skilful working condition.

What should the pool filter pressure level gauge read?

When information technology comes to swimming puddle filter systems, all systems operate a little differently. Cheque with your manufacturer or ask your puddle professional person to find out what's considered "normal" for your model.

Pressure Gauge

Pressure Too High? It'due south Fourth dimension to Clean the Filter.

By and large, if your pool filter h2o pressure rises more than than 10 PSI over the normal range, it's fourth dimension to clean – or maybe even replace -- your filter. For most filters, twenty or 30 PSI is considered also high, but you should consult your puddle professional to brand sure that's true for your model.

If you've cleaned the filter recently and y'all're still showing an above-normal PSI, check for leaks in your filter system.

Meet Your Pressure level Judge's BFF: The Air Relief Valve

The air relief valve works hand-in-hand with your pressure judge to go on your filter running smoothly. The air relief valve provides a much-needed outlet for releasing air that gets into your filter system, causing pressure to rise. In general, you desire to release air through this valve subsequently any maintenance activities that could innovate air to your organization, such every bit cleaning or backwashing your filter.

Pressure level Also Depression? Expect for Blockage

If your pressure gauge indicates that the PSI is lower than normal, you may be dealing with blockage: Bank check your skimmer baskets and all the lines in your filter, and clear out whatever large droppings or clogs. A few other mutual causes of low pressure problems? Your pool'south water level might be too low or your pump might be too minor. And don't forget to check for leaks. Depending on where they're located, holes or leaks can cause low force per unit area, too.

The Three Types of Swimming Puddle Filters

Every pond pool organisation – salt water or fresh; inground or above-basis; vinyl, gunite, or fiberglass – needs a filter. There are hundreds of models to choose from, but all of them fit into one of these 3 categories:

Sand Filters – Inexpensive and easy to operate, sand filters remove dirt and debris through a process called "backwashing," which basically means flipping a switch to reverse the water catamenia.

Cartridge Filters – Cartridge filters remove more than dirt and debris than sand filters, and they don't require backwashing. Instead, you lot simply remove the cartridge when it becomes too dingy and hose it off.

Diatomaceous Globe (DE) Filters – Like a sand filter, a DE filter requires backwashing. However, unlike sand filters, DE filters merely need to be backwashed a few times a yr. DE filters are expensive, but their filtration capabilities, superior to both sand and cartridge filters.

Replacing Your Pressure level Gauge

If you're getting wrong or inconsistent readings – for example, your PSI is heaven-high one day and well below normal the side by side, or your gauge is reading high or low for no reason – it may be fourth dimension for a replacement. You should besides supplant your pool filter pressure gauge if it's cracked, rusted, or showing whatsoever other signs of wear.

The good news is pressure gauges are cheap and relatively piece of cake to replace. You can buy a replacement at any big-box or pool supply store.

Pro tip: Remember to turn the pump off and use the air relief valve before you replace your pressure judge!