Filter Lids, Lock Rings & Bleed Valves

Pool filter lock rings are plastic rings or collars that safely secure your pool filter lids in place. These lock rings allow your cartridge filters to safely reach proper operating pressure so it can filter out your pool water correctly. 

Pool Filter Lid Care 

Pool filter lids are made out of pretty durable stuff and with some proper care and maintenance, it should last you for the lifetime of your cartridge filter. Here are some things to keep in mind when handling your pool filter lid to ensure that they don’t get damaged. 

• Do not over tighten the lid - over tightening your pool lid can cause excessive pressure on the threads which can lead to cracking of the lid (or heavens forbid, the cartridge filter tank itself). Gently tighten the lid, and once it feels snug then you’re good to go.
• Check and Clean the O-rings - whenever opening up your pool filter lid, ensure that the O-rings are clean and well lubricated with some Aussie Gold Lube it to prevent leaks and O-ring cracking. 
• Properly Seat the O-rings - a common problem with pool filter lids is when the O-rings are not seated properly. This causes the O-ring to get caught in between the threads of the lid which may cause leaks and a damaged O-ring. 
• Check your filter gauge frequently - a damaged filter gauge can cause wrong readings and may cause pressure to build up inside your cartridge filter and cause it to crack or at the worse case, explode. 

Dangers of a Damaged Pool Filter Lid 

A cracked or damaged pool filter lid can be very dangerous. Remember that your pool cartridge filter is pressurized. A crack can cause structural instability and cause the entire filter unit to explode under pressure. So at the first sign of cracking (no matter how small, even a hairline crack can be dangerous!) replace your filter lid immediately.

If you find that there are cracks on both your lid and your filter cartridge tank, then it would be a good idea (and cheaper as well!) to replace the whole cartridge filter unit itself! 

Browse our collection of pool cartridge filters here, and as a shameless plug, we encourage you to check out the Water TechniX Pool Filter Eclipse. It’s a super compact pool cartridge filter that’s designed with the harsh Australian conditions in mind and it’s one of the best bang-for-buck cartridge filters out there on the market.  

We also have the widest selection of cartridge filter spare parts for all you pool cartridge filter needs.

Pool Filter Lock Ring Troubleshooting

The problem we hear most often with pool filter lock rings is when they become stuck. This can be due to a number of things, such as: 

• Cartridge Filter Still Pressurized - This is a very common issue that we come across, it is impossible to remove the lock ring while the pump is running or if the filter chamber is still pressurized. To remove the lock ring, simply turn off the pump to allow the pressure to come down naturally and try again in a few minutes. If you’re in a hurry, you can also relieve pressure from the air relief valve or from the drain plug on the bottom. 
• Warped Filter lock ring - Sadly there is nothing that can be done about this and the lock ring has to be carefully sawn off for you to be able to get it off. Do not attempt to use heat to soften the locking ring as it may warp your cartridge filter tank or lid, causing even more damage.
• Old Unused Pool Filter - If your pool has been sitting idle for a while then it is possible that the collar and lid are being held in place by dried chemical residues. A good way to try and loosen this up is to run some water over the filter lid and the pool filter lock ring and give it a few taps with a RUBBER MALLET, yes, a rubber mallet. Do not attempt to give your pool cartridge filter a good tap with a metal mallet. 

Replacing a Pool Filter Lock Ring

Replacing a lock ring is pretty straightforward, simply take out the old one and put in the new one. Some words of advice though. If you’re replacing a lock ring because of warping or damage, check your pool filter lid and O-rings for damage as well as they usually fail at the same time. 

Tip: Do not overtighten your pool filter lock rings. Once they’re finger right, loosen them a bit just so that they’re snug, the water pressure and your O-rings will take care of the rest. Over tightening your lock rings can cause damage to the lid and to the filter tank itself. 

If your cartridge pool filter has seen better times and you’re considering a replacement, check out our collection of pool cartridge filters here or pool sand  filters here.

Pool Filter Bleed Valves

Your pool cartridge filters need to be free of air for it to function correctly. Air usually gets into your filter from the pump or from after you clean your filter cartridge. Your pool filter bleed valves are strategically located at the top of your filter (since air goes up) and a simple twist will allow you to “bleed” all of the air out of the filter tank. You’ll know when the bleeding process is complete when water starts to flow out of your bleed valve. 

Pool filter bleed valves also play a role in priming older non-self-priming pool pumps by allowing your pool pump to push all of the air out of the pump and filter.  Check out this blog post for more information on how to prime your pool pump. 

If your bleed valve is leaking water even though it’s closed then it’s time for a replacement, and this should be done as soon as possible. A leaky pool filter bleed valve is a point of failure in itself. Not only does it allow water to leak out and pressure to escape, but it could fly out like a bullet depending on the type of damage sustained. 

A leaky filter bleed valve could also mean that there’s a crack on your pool lid where the pool filter bleed valve is attached so be sure to check your pool filter lid as well if your bleed valves are leaking water.

Be sure to check out our range of pool filter spare parts for other pool filter fixes!