{"time":1706868488795,"blocks":[{"id":"gAJ7nZeasi","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Deciding when to replace your filter media can be difficult, especially when your filter continues to remove contaminants to acceptable levels. However, periodic media replacement is an essential part of your filter’s asset management plan in order to ensure optimal equipment performance and life cycle."}},{"id":"pWSknUVuQv","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"We consider filter media to have an average life of 15 years with a range of 10 to 20 years depending on site-specific factors, like backwash type and frequency, operational frequency, media type and condition, and overall filter performance. Unless there is a major hydraulic upset, filter media does not simply fail. Rather, it changes over time in properties like size distribution, roughness, depth, and composition (solids build-up), all of which can impact filter run length and effectiveness. As these changes occur gradually over months and even years, it is difficult to discern differences in operation and performance. For this reason, we recommend planning for media replacement every 10 to 20 years even if it does not seem obvious based on performance alone."}},{"id":"Zk5WFHJ4gs","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"If you are considering changing your filter media, here are some signs that would support the decision:"}},{"id":"YjcGTboUie","type":"list","data":{"style":"unordered","items":["Filter performance has decreased, such that contaminants are detected at higher concentrations than normal throughout the filter run.","Contaminants are breaking through sooner, requiring more frequent backwashing.","Media depth is significantly different from the original specification.","Up to one inch of loss per year is considered normal; however, media depth can also grow from build-up of solids over time.","Filter is building differential pressure faster than normal or very little before seeing breakthrough."]}},{"id":"nyjQ0Tl43e","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Understanding the quality of your filter media may also factor into your decision to replace it. In addition to inspecting your media for things like mudballs or bacteria growth, you can have your media analysed to assess its current condition. Taking a representative core sample of your media is a critical first step in evaluating its quality, and it generally involves the following steps:"}},{"id":"KnebPV1qbb","type":"list","data":{"style":"unordered","items":["Backwash your filter","Drain the water below the bottom of the media","Push a 1¼” or 1½” tube that is 4’ to 6′ long into the media bed to capture media and then pull out and remove media from the tube","Push the tube into the same hole and repeat the process until the tube bottoms out at the support gravel or media-retaining underdrain, depending on your filter configuration","Do not push down into the support gravel, it is not part of the media analysis","A minimum 1-quart of sample is necessary for an accurate analysis and multiple core samples may need to be taken at different places in the filter cell."]}}],"version":"2.27.0"}