Pool Equipment & Cleaning

What Is a Cartridge Filter?

A cartridge filter captures particles as water passes through replaceable pleated filter elements.

Cartridge Filter schematic with components and arrows showing the water path. — Simplified educational schematic. Teal arrows show water direction; shapes and connections vary by model. Not an installation guide.

How It Works

Pleats provide filtering surface area in a compact space. A cartridge filter is normally cleaned by removing and rinsing its elements according to its manual, rather than using a sand-filter backwash cycle. Never open a pressurized filter.

Related terms

Backwashing
Pool Filtration
Sand Filter

Learn more

Sand vs cartridge pool filter

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