How often do you clean your strainer?
Recommended Cleaning Frequency
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Saltwater environments:
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Check every 7β10 days in warm, high-growth areas
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Otherwise, at least every 14 days
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General boating guidelines:
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Some recommend cleaning weekly
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At minimum, monthly, or more often in tropical regions
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β Why So Often?
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Marine growth (barnacles, algae, scum) accumulates quickly, especially in warm or shallow waters, which restricts water flow
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Reduced cooling flow can lead to inefficiency, overheating, and even high-pressure faults or system failures
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Maintaining good flow ensures your heat exchanger isn’t overwhelmed by debris buildup.
π§° Quick Cleaning Steps
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Turn off raw water pump breaker and close intake seacock.
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Open strainer housing, remove basket.
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Rinse basket and housing thoroughly with fresh water; scrape off barnacles or scum
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Inspect and clean housing interior, Oβring seal, basket, and inlet/outlet areas
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Reassemble, open seacock, restore pump power, and verify flow.
ποΈ Suggested Maintenance Schedule
| Environment | Cleaning Frequency |
|---|---|
| Warm salt water | Every 7β10 days or weekly |
| Moderate salt water | Every 10β14 days |
| Temperate/fresh water | At least monthly, or weekly in tropical conditions |
π Pro Tips
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Keep spare baskets or plastic replacements to minimize corrosion
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Add descaling flushes (like weak acid or Barnacle Buster) yearly to combat scale in cooling lines If external divers service the intake scoop, ensure they also inspect and clear sea chests to prevent blockages
β Summary
In warm saltwater: weekly to every 10 days. In cleaner or cooler water: every 2 weeks. If your boat spends time in tropical or high-fouling areas, stick to weekly cleanings. Always flush and inspect thoroughly.
Let me know if you’d like help with flushing procedures, emergency clog checks, or recommendations for cleaning tablets or strainers!