Home / Services / Equipment Installations / Pool Filter Installation
Equipment Installations
Passion Pool Care handles pool filter installation in Nashville for cartridge, DE and sand filters. We size the new filter to your pump and pool, plumb it for easy service and test it before we leave.
Local
Greater Nashville based
Reliable
Weekly, like clockwork
Since 2013
Over a decade of pool care
Family Owned
Real people, real care
What's included
Most filters we replace in Middle Tennessee reach us the same way. The tank has cracked, the grids or manifold are no longer made, or the filter has needed one repair after another. Sometimes the filter is simply too small for the pump, and it loads up every few weeks during pollen and leaf season.
A filter that is wrong for the pool keeps costing you. An undersized filter pushes the pressure up, needs constant cleaning and makes the pump work harder for less flow. The right pool filter replacement holds clean water longer between cleanings and matches the rest of your equipment pad. It can also lower the strain on your pump and the time you spend on upkeep.
Our installation starts with sizing. We match the filter to your pump's flow and your pool's gallons, help you choose between cartridge, DE and sand and install Pentair, Hayward, Jandy, Zodiac or another major brand. We plumb the new filter with unions, pressure test it and record its clean starting pressure. Our team installs filters across Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties. Below, you'll find how each type compares and what a proper installation includes.
Is it time?
Most filter trouble is a cleaning or a single part, but these signs usually point to a pool filter replacement.
01
The tank itself has a crack or leaks from the body.
02
You can no longer buy grids, cartridges or a manifold for your model.
03
Your filter needs cleaning every few weeks during pollen and leaf season.
04
Filter pressure stays high all the time after a new variable-speed pump went in.
05
A sand filter backwashes away lots of water and still leaves the pool dull.
06
The filter is well over a decade old and parts keep failing one after another.
Filter choices
Here is how cartridge, DE and sand filters compare, how we size them and what a proper installation includes.
Each filter type has its place. Sand filters are simple and forgiving, and they clean by backwashing. DE filters catch the finest particles of any type and give the clearest water, but they need fresh powder after each backwash and careful cleaning. Cartridge filters skip backwashing entirely, save water and handle the heavy pollen and leaf loads around Nashville well, but the cartridges have to come out for cleaning. We look at your pool, your trees, how you use it and how much upkeep you want, then recommend the type that fits.
We size a filter by its surface area and the flow it can handle. Each type has a maximum filtration rate, measured in gallons per minute per square foot, and the flow through the filter should never exceed it. High-rate sand filters handle far more flow per square foot than cartridges, so a cartridge filter needs much more surface area to do the same job. We start with your pump's flow and your pool's gallons, then choose a filter with room to spare. A slightly larger filter runs at lower pressure and goes longer between cleanings. We also check the pipe size, since small plumbing limits how much water any filter can see.
Variable-speed pumps changed the way we size filters. At low speed, they move water gently, which is easy on any filter and actually improves filtration. At high speed, for a spa, a waterfall or a cleaner, they can push more water than an older, smaller filter was built for. When that happens, the pressure stays high and the filter loads quickly. If you have upgraded your pump, or plan to, we size the filter for the pump's top speed so both work together.
Sand and DE filters clean themselves by backwashing, which sends pool water out to waste. Every backwash takes water and the chemicals in it, so the pool needs topping up and rebalancing afterward. Cartridge filters do not backwash, so they save that water and chemistry, though the cartridges need regular cleaning by hand. For many Nashville homeowners, that tradeoff decides the filter type. In a dry Middle Tennessee August, the saved water adds up. Where backwash water goes matters too, since it should flow away from storm drains and creeks.
All three filter types keep a pool clear with the right size and proper care. DE forms a fine powder coat that traps the smallest particles, which is why DE pools often have the most polished look. Cartridges filter finer than sand and hold a lot of dirt in their pleats. Sand filters let the finest particles through at first, but they get better as the bed loads slightly. Some owners choose glass media in place of sand. The right choice depends on how clear you want the water and how much upkeep you are willing to do.
Every filter needs care, just in different ways. Sand filters need backwashing when the pressure rises about 8 to 10 psi, and the sand itself lasts roughly 5 to 15 years before it needs changing. DE filters need backwashing, fresh powder and a full teardown of the grids now and then. Cartridge filters need the cartridges pulled, degreased and rinsed, with acid used only for minerals. We explain the routine for the filter you choose, so you know what it will ask of you before it goes in. If you are on our weekly route, we read the gauge for you on every visit.
Equipment works best in the right order. Water leaves the pump, passes through the filter, then the heater and finally any chlorinator or salt cell, so concentrated chlorine never flows back through the heater. The filter also needs room around it, so we can lift cartridges out and open a DE or sand tank without moving other equipment. When we install a new filter, we look at the whole pad and fix any order or clearance problems while the plumbing is open.
A proper installation makes the filter easy to service for years. We plumb it with unions, so it comes off without cutting pipe, and add isolation valves where they help. The pressure gauge has to be easy to read, because it tells you when the filter needs cleaning. The air relief valve on top lets trapped air out and lets pressure drop safely before anyone opens the tank. We test every joint for leaks under pressure before we leave, and we show you how to read the gauge and release air safely.
Many owners change filter types when they replace one. A common switch is from DE to cartridge or sand to avoid handling DE powder. Another is from sand to cartridge to cut backwash water. Switching usually means changing the valve, since cartridge filters do not use a backwash valve, and sometimes adjusting the plumbing. It can also change how the pool looks and how often you deal with the filter. We walk through the tradeoffs before you decide, so the new filter fits how you want to care for your pool. Either way, we handle the plumbing changes as part of the installation.
A new filter needs a little attention at first. Fresh sand can release fine particles, so the first rinse runs until the water is clear. DE filters need a correct first coat of powder. We record the clean starting pressure on day one, because every future cleaning is measured against it. Pressure may climb faster in the first weeks as the filter catches debris the old one let through. If the pool was cloudy before the swap, expect an early cleaning as the new filter does its work. That is a good sign.
DE is a fine white powder, and dry DE can contain crystalline silica, which should not be breathed in. That is one reason some Nashville owners move away from DE filters when it is time for a replacement. If you choose DE, we show you how to add it as a slurry with water, which keeps the dust down, and how much your filter needs. Too little powder lets oils clog the grids, and too much can bridge between them. Used DE also needs proper disposal and should never go into a storm drain or creek.
Tree cover shapes the right filter choice around Nashville. Pools in Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Green Hills and Brentwood take a heavy load of pollen in spring and leaves in fall. A filter with plenty of surface area handles that load without constant cleaning. Large cartridge filters hold a lot of debris between cleanings, while sand and DE filters handle it with more frequent backwashing. Good skimmer and pump baskets matter just as much, because they catch the bulk of the leaves before the filter ever sees them.
The filters we install on Greater Nashville pads most often come from Pentair, Hayward, Jandy or Zodiac, and we work with all major brands. We match the filter to your existing pump and valves where it makes sense, so parts and fittings line up. Each manufacturer sets its own directions for installation, pressure and startup, and we follow them. Choosing a common model also means replacement cartridges, grids and o-rings will be easy to find for years. That matters more than most owners expect.
Most Middle Tennessee winters are mild, but a hard freeze can crack a filter tank that is left full of water. If your pool runs through winter, the pump needs to keep water moving on freezing nights. If you close the pool, drain the filter, remove its drain plug and leave the air relief open. We show you where the drain plug is on your new filter and how to winterize it. A few minutes each fall protects the investment for many seasons.
Not every tired filter needs replacing. An o-ring, spider gasket, gauge or lateral costs far less than a new filter and can add years of service. Replacement makes sense when the tank is cracked, parts are discontinued, the filter is too small for the pump or several parts are failing together. We look at the age and condition of your current filter and give you a free quote for both options. If a repair is the smarter choice, we will tell you.
How it works
1
Call (629) 247-6255 or send the form with your current filter and pump, if you know them.
2
We check your pool, pump and pad, recommend a filter that fits and give you a free, no-pressure quote.
3
We plumb the new filter with unions, pressure test it and record its clean starting pressure.
FAQ
Still have a question? Call or text (629) 247-6255.
It depends on what you value. DE gives the finest filtration, cartridge saves backwash water and handles heavy debris and sand is the simplest to run. We recommend the type that fits your pool, trees and upkeep.
One rated for at least your pump's top flow, with room to spare. Each filter type has a maximum flow per square foot, and a larger filter runs at lower pressure and goes longer between cleanings.
It depends on the filter type and size and on any plumbing changes, so we give a free, no-obligation quote after seeing your pad. Call (629) 247-6255 to set it up.
Yes. It usually means removing the backwash valve and adjusting the plumbing, since cartridge filters do not backwash. You save backwash water but clean the cartridges by hand.
Replace it when the tank cracks, parts go out of production, the filter is too small for the pump or several parts fail together. Otherwise, a repair often gives better value.
Some owners do to stop handling DE powder. Sand is simpler, but DE filters finer. A cartridge is another option that avoids both DE and backwashing. We explain the tradeoffs before you decide.
Usually, up to a point. A larger filter runs at lower pressure, filters more gently and goes longer between cleanings. It still has to fit the pad and match the pump and plumbing.
Not always. If your filter is rated for the pump's top speed, it can stay. If pressure stays high or the filter loads quickly at high speed, it may be undersized for the new pump.
A new filter may simply read differently, so its clean starting pressure becomes the new baseline. Higher pressure can also mean the pump is pushing more flow or the filter is catching debris the old one missed.
Backwash sand and DE filters when pressure rises 8 to 10 psi, recharge DE after each backwash and clean cartridges by hand at the same rise. Drain the filter before any hard freeze if the pool is closed.
Cartridge, DE and sand filters opened, cleaned and checked when the pressure gauge says it is time.
Cartridge, DE and sand filter leaks, torn grids, broken laterals and valve gaskets repaired.
Variable-speed pumps sized to your pool, installed with unions and programmed to save power.
Free quote
Tell us about your pool and your current filter, and we will size the right replacement and give you a free, no-pressure quote. Prefer to talk? Call (629) 247-6255.
Call or text
Based in
Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Serving Greater Nashville
Hours
Call for hours & availability
Takes less than a minute. Tell us about your in-ground pool and we'll reach out fast with a free, no-pressure quote.
No spam. Fast callback. Or call (629) 247-6255.
Where we work
Based in Murfreesboro and caring for pools across Middle Tennessee. Find your county to see the cities we cover.
Call (629) 247-6255 and we'll check availability for your address.
