Clean your pool cartridge filter when pressure rises 8-10 psi above clean baseline.

The gauge tells you everything. Write down the pressure right after a fresh cleaning. When it climbs 8-10 psi above that number, it’s time to rinse. Waiting longer means your pump works harder, water flows slower, and your pool gets cloudy.

Cleaning is simple: pull the cartridge, hose it down with a nozzle, spray from the inside out. For deep cleaning, soak it in a filter cleaner (like muriatic acid or a commercial degreaser) once a season. Rinse thoroughly. Reinstall. Done.

Replace the cartridge every two years, or sooner if you see tears, fraying, or the material feels stiff and crusty despite cleaning. If it takes more than 20 minutes to hose off because the dirt is baked in, that cartridge is done.

Don’t wait for the pool to look gross. The gauge shows you what your eyes can’t.