Mi-Way

Mi-Way filter cartridge cleaning tools

Pleated filter cartridges do the hard work in most modern pool and spa filtration systems, trapping suncream, body oils, pollen, fine sand and hair in the folds of their media. The trouble is that those same folds make a cartridge awkward to clean: a garden hose held against the outside of the element pushes dirt sideways rather than out, and the lower third of the pleats often stays loaded long after the surface looks clean. The Mi-Way range listed here consists of comb-style flushing tools that address exactly that problem, directing water down into each pleat so the debris is lifted out instead of being smeared along the media.

What the Aqua Comb does

The Aqua Comb connects to a standard garden hose and spreads the flow across a row of slim fingers. The fingers sit between the pleats of the cartridge while the water jets work along the full depth of the fold. Rotating the element slowly in front of the tool, or drawing the comb steadily around it, allows each pleat to be flushed in turn rather than hosed at random. Compared with a plain hose nozzle, this makes a noticeable difference to how much of the trapped material actually leaves the cartridge, and it reduces the temptation to use a high-pressure jet, which can drive dirt deeper into the media or tear the pleat tips.

Both versions are intended for the same task and work in the same way; the difference is the reach of the tool, which matters because cartridges vary enormously in height.

Choosing between the long and the short version

Here you will find two options, and selecting between them is simply a question of matching the tool to the cartridges you own:

• Long version (PPS-10074) – suited to tall filter elements, including the large single cartridges used in bigger pool filter tanks and the deep elements found in some multi-cartridge systems, where the pleats run a long way down and the bottom of the fold is hardest to reach.
• Short version (PPS-10073) – more manageable for compact spa and hot tub cartridges, skimmer-mounted elements and the shorter cartridges used in small above-ground pool filters, where a long tool is simply more than is needed.
• Both – a sensible combination if the household runs a pool and a spa, or a filter tank with cartridges of more than one size.

If you are unsure which to pick, measure the overall height of your cartridge from end cap to end cap and compare it with the working length of the tool. It is also worth checking the pleat spacing: very tightly pleated elements benefit most from a comb, because a hose alone barely penetrates them.

Looking after cartridges so they last

A cleaning tool is only part of good cartridge care. A few habits extend the service life of any element considerably:

• Clean on a schedule – rinse when the pressure gauge rises noticeably above the clean starting pressure, rather than waiting for poor circulation or cloudy water.
• Rinse before soaking – flushing loose debris out with the comb first means any chemical soak used afterwards can work on oils and scale instead of surface dirt.
• Rotate elements – keeping a spare set allows one cartridge to dry fully while the other is in service, which helps release embedded material.
• Inspect the end caps and core – split pleats, flattened folds, crushed cores or perished rubber caps mean the element is bypassing dirt and should be replaced.
• Work gently – moderate mains pressure through a hose is enough; pressure washers shorten cartridge life.

Mi-Way at PoolParthub.com

Here we list the Mi-Way Aqua Comb filter cartridge cleaners in both the long and short lengths, so the tool can be matched to the elements actually in use rather than compromising with whatever fits. They are kept alongside the replacement cartridges, filter housings, O-rings and pressure gauges they are used with, which makes it straightforward to order a cleaning tool and a spare element in one go.

Accessories of this kind are inexpensive relative to the cartridges they protect, which is why they sit in the range. A cartridge that is flushed properly between seasons keeps the filter running at a lower working pressure, puts less strain on the pump and is replaced less often — a small practical gain that applies to almost every cartridge filter, whatever brand of tank it is fitted in.