It all started on a quiet morning. I thought everything was fine. But then the pressure gauge on the filter stared back at me, higher than ever. Suspicion bloomed. Something was wrong.
Chapter One: The Clues
The water looked decent. Not great, but passable. Yet the pump groaned. The jets were weaker. And that gauge kept climbing, inch by accusing inch.
I ran the usual tests. Chlorine? Low, but not terrible. pH? A little high, but manageable. Filter? Supposedly clean, yet clearly not happy. And still the pressure rose.
The skimmer basket was stuffed with soggy leaves. The pump basket choked with debris. But even after clearing those, the pressure didn’t drop. That was clue number one.
Chapter Two: The Interrogation
I knelt by the filter, my hands on the valve like a detective with a suspect in custody. I asked the hard questions.
“When’s the last time you backwashed?”
It didn’t answer, but I knew.
I cranked the valve and let the water roar out. Dirty, dark, and full of regret. I hadn’t backwashed nearly enough. The sand was packed tight, the dirt embedded deep. And there it was, the filter had been screaming for help the whole time.
I checked the return lines. Weak flow. Checked the grids. Coated in muck. Every corner of my maintenance negligence came out in the interrogation. The filter had been carrying my laziness for months.
Case Closed
Once I backwashed properly, scrubbed the grids, rinsed thoroughly, and let the pump run, the pressure dropped back to normal. The jets came alive again, and the water sighed with relief.
What I Learned:
- High pressure is not a badge of honor. It’s a cry for help.
- Backwash regularly. Seriously.
- Clean the skimmer and pump baskets before they overflow.
- Inspect the grids and sand for hidden gunk.
- The filter never lies. Listen to it.
So next time the gauge creeps up, don’t just squint at it and hope it fixes itself. Be the detective your pool needs. And close the case before it closes on you.
