Pool Filter Unions, O Rings & Gauges

Pool filter pressure gauges

Pool filter pressure gauges are pretty straightforward pieces of equipment. They allow you to tell at a glance if your pool sand filter or cartridge filter is properly filtering out your pool water or if they need to be backwashed or cleaned. 

To know when your filter elements need cleaning, you’ll first need to take note of your baseline pressure. This reading is taken just after cleaning (or installing new) filter media. Your baseline pressure reading is the indicator that your pool filter is under the correct pressure, and elevated pressure readings will mean that your filter elements are already saturated with dirt and debris, giving the water a harder time to push through the elements and in turn increasing the pressure. 

Hint: If your pressure reading reads 8-10 PSI above your baseline then it’s a good idea to backwash your pool sand filter or to clean your filter cartridge.  For tougher gunk and dirt stuck on your filter cartridges, you may need to give it a good soak in some Water TechniX Pool Filter Cleaning Solution.

Inversely, if your pool filter pressure gauge reads lower than your baseline pressure reading then this could be an indication that your pump isn’t getting enough water and this could mean anything from a low pool water level (which can be prevented by using a water leveling device like the Aqua Level Automatic Water Leveling Device) or a pool line clog which prevents water from reaching your pump. Read more on how to clear pool line clogs here. 

When to replace your Pool Filter Pressure Gauges

Here are some signs to look out for that will indicate that your pool filter pressure gauge needs replacement.

• Water leaking out from the pressure gauge 
• Pressure gauge needle not moving
• Pressure gauge glass/face broken or cracked 

Tip: If your pressure doesn’t come down on your cartridge filter even after soaking the cartridge in some cleaning solution, it may be time to replace the filter cartridge itself.

Pool Filter O-rings

Pool filter O-rings are small pieces of rubber that creates a seal in between two sections of equipment like in between your filter lid and the body, your pipe unions, the multiport valve and the sand filter tank and more. Without a proper seal, your equipment at the very least could spring a leak, and at the worst, cause equipment failure and damage. 

Proper Pool Filter O-ring Maintenance

To ensure that your equipment is functioning properly and that your O-rings don’t fail prematurely, here are some simple steps you can follow: 

• Ensure that the O-rings are clean - When opening and closing equipment that’s joined by O-rings, ensure that no dirt or debris is caught on the O-ring when closing them back up to prevent scratches or tears. 
• Lubricate your O-rings when exposed to air - Whenever your O-ring is exposed to air, give it a light coating of silicone-based lubricant like the Aussie Gold Lube it. 

Pool Filter O-rings are an easy fix so there isn’t a reason not to replace them at the first sign of damage, and all the reasons in the world to replace them immediately.

Pool Filter Unions

Pool Filter unions are slightly cheaper than their pool pump union counterparts due to the simple reason that pool filter unions are not exposed to the heat and vibration that come from pool pumps. 

Every once in a while, your pool sand filter’s multiport valve may need cleaning or maintenance and to make the job easier, you can have pool filter unions installed. This is so that you can take the entire multiport, sit down in a nice comfortable area (with a desk or work table!) and do the maintenance work properly. Without pool filter unions, you will have to either remove the plumbing (which takes time, money, and a lot of effort) to be able to bring the multiport to a table, or you will have to work there awkwardly with the multiport hard plumbed into your pipes. 

For more information on troubleshooting and maintenance, you can check out our multiport repair guide here. 

Pool Filter unions also need no special maintenance aside from an annual checking of the O-ring. If the O-ring is fine then just add a bit of Aussie Gold Lube-It or any silicone based lubricant and you’re good to go. 

If you find that your unions are leaking then the cause is more often a faulty O-ring, which can be purchased for just a couple of dollars at your local hardware or handyman store. 

For spare O-rings and other pool filter spare parts, don’t forget to check out our pool filter spare parts collection