What Should My Pool Filter Pressure Be?

Instead this video teaches you about the acceptable range for pool filter pressure, 0-30 PSI, as well as teaching the significance of the pressure gauge on the filter, how to use it, what your maximum pressure should never exceed...all kinds of important information for you to know about your pool plumbing system, and specifically your filter.

#poolfilter #filterpressure #swimmingpoolsteve

[garym]

thanks! great info, new neglected pool owner, checked and it was running 30psi when we moved in, pool was sad, weak flo on jets, changed the filter cartridge and seals were now at 10 psi and it is sparkling clean! cleaning up around pump filter area there was sand/rocks piled up against the pump motor, bad for possibly over heating? blew it all out, looking at doing a rebuild of the pump👍

[Jonacarpenter]

Thanks for the information. 👍. Keep up the good work.

[robertbarta]

I'm new to pool ownership. My pool was on a single speed 3450rpm motor and got up to just under 30psi. Instead of cleaning the filter I went on a business trip and 4 days later the motor bearings were shot. Lesson learned the hard way!!!

I replaced the motor with variable speed, I did the work myself for the same cost quoted by a repairman to replacing the bearings. Also, the cost to run over a single year (3100rpm 4hours, 2600rpm 4hours, 1600rpm 8hours vs 3450 9hours) will more than pay for itself so I feel really good about the change. Also 3100rpm produces much less back pressure than 3450rpm.

I'll definitely be cleaning the filter earlier, once it breaks 20psi running @3100rpm.

[NickDeBonis-zikl]

Great information to know. Thanks for explaining it so simply.

[louisd]

I usually service my filter when the psi is about 5 to 10 psi more than what it should be. Also, a good measure for me is simply checking the water flow at the return.

[zackiinu]

That was a gold nugget of info. Thanks! 👍’d & 🔔’d.

[stevenzak]

I started up my pool today and the pressure was about 3 psi. An hour later, it was about 13. Yesterday, it was 10. Not sure why the variation, but until recently my gauge read: 0. I put a garden hose with a blow bag in the pipe on the pump side and cleared the skimmer line (after two pool companies had failed to accomplish that with their compressed air and various techniques), so now I finally have pressure. I digress, but it's really nice to see some pressure, any pressure, after running at 0 for several months.

[Loki-rascal]

Also don't forget these days with variable speed pumps you need to know what your clean operational pressure is at a specific RPM on your pump. I start out with brand new cartridge filters and then I make a note, never with a sharpie anywhere near my equipment! 😂 A piece of paper inside the cabinet door says new filters on X date at X PSI with the pump set at X RPMs and a flow rate of X GPM. And based on my timer settings I always know that my pump is running at its highest speed between 8 AM and 10 AM and that is when I always check on the pressure gauge.

[jeroenvanoene]

Thanks for the clear explanation. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[JustSayNO]

I would venture to say that the most accurate Clean Operational Pressure value would be that that which is indicated after installing a brand new filter.

[mayorb]

Clean start-up can range from 5-25 psi. As stated, it can vary by the HP/rpms of pump, and the hydraulics downstream from the filter.
Ideally, I'd like to see a flow meter and a psi gauge after the filter as original equipment when the pool is built but can be added later.
What that psi gauge will tell you is the differential pressure inside the filter vs the psi downstream from it. That gauge on clean start up should be near or a little lower than the filter psi gauge. Over time you will see the filter psi rise, as the other one reads lower psi.

[rjn]

I just installed a new pressure gauge which has a ring with an arrow that you can line up with the pressure reading after cleaning the filter. The ring has another arrow, which will point to a higher pressure. It says clean filter when your gauge needle reaches that point.

[keishaheard-corley]

Thank you so much awesome clear and concise‼️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[markframcis]

Hi Steve, thanks for the posted info, i usually clean my filter cartridges every 2 or 3 months, my Pentair 320 model filter tank is six years old as well as the piping, however the pressure, has been over 30PSI hole the time. what you think i should look at? Thaks in advance

[monoralph]

Agreed. But, if a variable speed pump is used, the pump speed must also be noted/recorded. The faster the pump speed = more water flow and therefor a higher initial pressure for clean filters. I need to add a flowmeter. Would like your thoughts on different size openings in the return eyeballs.

[aubreyroche]

Bought a two speed pump... Thinking a higher stage of operation may improve Vac and backwash....UUUUMMM, No... the pressure shot all the way into critical Red Zone... now I'm thinking I need to bypass partially around my sand filter...only running it at low speed now...

[ceecampbell]

Hey!..very clear and concise info. Thanks. Subscribed.C

[Homelander-jshd]

When I notice the return pressure not as strong as usual, I check the gauge....usually about 17 psi...I backflush and rinse and it goes back down to about 12 psi and the return is back to normal.

[leatherface]

Ok I had gotten behind on add chemicals to my pool and it turned green. I wasn’t running the pump either. I scrubbed the walls and added algicide and turned the pump on. The psi is normally around 10. After about an hour it went up to 20 psi. I backwashed and rinsed and started the pump back up. 10 psi. After an hour back to 20 psi. Did it about 5 times and let it ran over night. The next day. I sucked the rest of the algae out with the hose because I could see the bottom. But now when I backwash and rinse. It’s still doing the same thing 10 for about an hour. And back up to 20. Never done this before. What do you think Doc ?

[DaveTinFL]

30 psi max is good to know... I'm at 23 to 25psi and have ordered a replacement filter and o-ring for my Hayward C1200 cartridge filter. The jets in the pool don't seem that strong and the water-fall feature initially starts off looking like normal flow then piddles down to a trickle.