The cartridges inside your filter need to be cleaned everytime the filter gains 10lbs of pressure. Here are the steps to do that on the Pentair Clean and Clear filter!
1. Turn off the pump, open the air relief, and take off the drain cap. (if your equipment is below water level you'll need to close the valves on the suction and return side before opening anything!)
2. Take a 7/8" socket and remove the nut, washers, and spring, on the band clamp. Once this is free you'll be able to take off the clamp and lift the top half of the filter off. (Do not lift the filter by the air relief but by the sides)
3. Next remove the top adapter, filter screen, and top manifold. The cartidges will now be able to slide right out.
4. Grab your garden hose with a nozzle on the end and spray down each cartridge top to bottom, slowly getting inbetween each pleat. You can also rinse out the bottom of the filter base, the lid o-ring and its track at this time too.
5. Reassemble the filter by putting the cartidges back in, making sure they are snugg in their spot, and reinstalling the top manifold, filter screen and top adapter. Inspect the lid oring and then slide the lid back on so the o-ring fits inbetween the two halves.
6. Replace the band clamp and put the hardware back on. It should go small washer, spring, larger washer, barrel nut. First, tighten the nut by hand and then use your 7/8'' socket to tighten furter. Use a rubber mallet or something similar to tap around the entire clamp, then continue tightening the nut. The spring coils should be touching when the clamp is properly tightened and should stay touching after tapping with the mallet.
7. Put the drain cap back on, keep the air relief open, and restart the pump. Once the air relief is constantly spewing water, close the valve. Inspect the rest of the filter and make sure the band clamp and drain plug aren't leaking anywhere.
8. Take note of the new PSI on the pressure gauge and repeat this process when it gains 10lbs from the current level.
**Cartridges should be completely replaced about every 2-3 years**