You shocked the pool, tested the water twice, and even tossed in one of those “miracle” clarifiers your neighbor swears by. Yet, your pool still looks like someone poured a gallon of milk into it. Wondering what gives? Spoiler alert: it’s probably your filter, and no, it’s not “just old.” You didn’t clean it. You didn’t backwash it. And let’s be real, you probably don’t even know when it last ran properly.
Let’s break down the brutally honest reasons your filter is failing and why your pool looks like a sad soup.
You Haven’t Cleaned the Filter in Weeks (or Months)
You wouldn’t drink from a coffee maker that hasn’t been cleaned in a month, so why let water circulate through a filter caked in last summer’s sunscreen and leaves? Filters need regular cleaning.
Filter Cleaning Schedule:
- Cartridge filters: Hose them off every 2–4 weeks
- Sand and DE filters: Backwash when the pressure gauge hits 8–10 psi over normal
No, spraying it with the hose for 20 seconds doesn’t count. Give it a real rinse.
You’re Not Running the Pump Long Enough
Here’s a fact that stings: your pump isn’t magic. It needs to run long enough to filter all the water in your pool. Most pools need at least 8 hours of circulation a day. During hotter months or after heavy use? Make it 10 to 12.
What Happens If You Don’t:
- Water stays stagnant
- Debris and particles build up
- Pool gets cloudy fast
Running your pump “when you remember” isn’t maintenance. It’s laziness in disguise.
You Don’t Even Know What Kind of Filter You Have
Is it a cartridge? Sand? DE? If your answer is, “Um, the round one?” then we’ve found the issue. Different filters need different maintenance routines.
Quick Fix:
- Take five minutes, look it up
- Read the manual or watch a short tutorial
If you don’t know what you’re working with, you’re flying blind.
You Keep Adding Chemicals Instead of Fixing the Filter
Shocking the pool won’t do much if the water can’t circulate through a working filter. Chemicals can only do so much. Without proper filtration, all you’re doing is making expensive soup.
Reminder:
- Water needs to move
- It must pass through clean media
- Chemicals are not magic if circulation is poor
Stop wasting money on chlorine tablets and get that filter working.
You Let Gunk Build Up in the Skimmer and Pump Basket
Yes, those baskets. The ones you never empty. When they’re full of hair, bugs, and mystery slime, they choke your system’s flow. That means less water gets to the filter and less gets cleaned.
What You Should Do:
- Empty skimmer and pump baskets every couple of days
- Don’t wait until it overflows or smells
Your “I Swear I Take Care of My Pool” Checklist
If you’re ready to get honest with yourself, here’s what you need to do:
Weekly Filter Maintenance
- Clean your filter regularly (every 2–4 weeks for cartridges)
- Backwash sand/DE when needed
Daily and Seasonal Habits
- Run the pump for 8–12 hours a day
- Learn what kind of filter you have and how it works
- Stop dumping in chemicals as a shortcut
- Clean skimmer and pump baskets at least twice a week
Own Your Mistakes and Fix the Filter
Cloudy water isn’t just annoying. It’s a sign you’re cutting corners. Filters are the lungs of your pool. Treat them like it.
If you wouldn’t breathe through a dirty sock, don’t expect your pool to.
Now stop blaming the weather, the moon phase, or that one kid who peed in the deep end last summer. Your filter isn’t working because you aren’t.
Fix it.
