Lifetime warranties is for pool structure not pool equipment. Shasta only offers 5 year on pool equipment not lifetime
Filter cycles are dependent on how many gallons and gpm the pump flows. In general 6-8 hours winter, 8-12 hours summer. Goal is to cycle the entire pool every 24 hours. Variable speed pumps change the turn over rate times. As they can run 24hours a day on low speed and use less energy than a single speed running 6 hours.
The debate between sand de and cartridge is typically determined by region.
Sand filters, very efficient media and natural process. With minimal maintenance. But requires large footprint, and when it is time to replace sand it’s a fukin mess. And the average pool guy has little experience with them unless you’re on east coast.
DE filters, filter down to the lowest microns, cleaning is a shit show and leaves DE field of mess behind. And many cities in CA no longer allow DE backwash to be plumbed to sewer. So you have to backwash within your property. More mess. Also cleaning the elements, people always get confused on where the small grid goes, forget standpipe orings and dump de back into the pool on start up. Backwash orings fail.
Cartridge filters, are within 2 microns of DE. Not visible with naked eye or water clarity. Very easy to clean and debris can go in lawn or sidewalk and washed away. With cartridge bigger is always better. Unless you have a spa I’d suggest getting a 520 sq ft filter on every pool/pool spa combo.
Also hybrid cartridge / de filters that are cartridge filters with 2 elements inside. That you add de and ability to backwash, some guys love em, I’m not a fan
Also aquastars cart filters, theyve been around a few years now, smallest footprint, highest flow rate, easiest filter to open and close for cleaning. No personal experience, but service guys are selling and using them with great results.
Any and all filters should be cleaned every 6 months at minimum
If your cleaning more often than that it’s likely your filter is under sized or oils on cartridge clogging the fabric and need to replace or your “cleaning” skills suck. lol
Norco - unless your pool backs up to equestrian ranch, or you have dirt lot everywhere around pool that your drive on daily, or outside dogs that use pool as their daily bath. You should be getting 4 months min between cleans winds or not. 20 bucks DE is not enough for 5-6 filter cleans unless your filter is 24 sf. Largest bag of DE would be 2 maybe 3 cleanings on avg filter. Unless your doing backwash and not “ cleaning “
If not adding enough DE the grids will get clogged in days making pressure sky rocket and require cleaning again and again and again
As far as what equipment Pentair, Hayward, Jandy are all similar products. No unit is superior to the other. It’s the back end of why sellers push one over the other. Who they have better relationship with for warranty. Next is who gives better incentives ( kickbacks )
Personally I’m motivated by warranty station relationships. If and when there’s a problem I want to make a call and have it priority to get fixed asap. Less down time for a customer = confidence is person who did the work
West coast has been dominated by pentair for years.
Jandy and Hayward last few years have dropped their pants on rebate incentive dollars to sellers. Not that either are bad products, just makes a buyer question motivation if they know seller gets 20% kickback for every item sold.
What other pool questions we got?