Swimming Pool Filters: A Guide to Pool Filtration
Swimming Pool Filters: A Guide to Pool Filtration
There are a lot of questions when it comes to swimming pool filters. Is it the right size? How do I clean it? This guide has the answers to your questions.
Keyword(s): swimming pool filters
Swimming is the most popular activity children and teens do for fun in the United States. Do you want your children swimming in filthy water?
Swimming pool filters, when combined with the proper maintenance, remove debris to keep your water clear. The wrong pool filter, though, won't keep your pool as clean as it should be.
Today we'll give you some tips on how to choose the right filter and maintain it.
Let's get into it!
Types of Swimming Pool Filters
All pool filters fall into three basic types: diatomaceous earth (DE) filters, sand filters, and cartridge filters. Which one is the best for your pool?
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters
A diatomaceous earth filter is a tank with fabric-covered grids inside. A substance called diatomaceous earth covers those filters.
DE is a natural, white powder. It's small enough to stop any debris bigger than three microns while letting water flow through.
DE filters are large, so they filter the largest surface area to keep a large pool the cleanest. If you live in an area with a lot of trees or bushes, they remove more vegetation from the water than other filters.
Sand Filters
Sand filters are one of the most common pool filters. They're tanks that have filters with sand on them.
The sands strains debris larger than 20 microns. Then the water works its way through before finally coming out through drains called laterals.
Sand filters are popular because they're the easiest to use. However, they take longer than other filters to work.
They struggle with very dirty pools or those with a lot of vegetation debris.
Cartridge Filters
Cartridge filters are filters with no other material on them. They have a tight mesh that prevents debris larger than 10 microns from getting through.
They're easy to install because they don't require extra plumbing. They work faster than sand filters, so they're better for larger surface area pools.
The downside is that these are the most expensive units.
Choosing the Right Size
To keep a pool properly cleaned, you have to choose swimming pool filters of the right size. Warning: there's some math involved in this process.
Here's the basic process:
- Calculate the pool volume in cubic feet
- Calculate the capacity (the number of gallons that fit in the pool) by multiplying 7.48 by the cubic feet
- Determine the flow rate you want
- Find a filter flow rate that matches
Here are some pool calculation formulas for more help with these calculations.
Maintenance
Once you know the size you need, consider the maintenance needs of different swimming pool filters.
Backwashing
Backwashing is the process of running water backward through sand and DE filters. This cleans the dirt off of the filters and flushes it out of a pipe.
After you backwash a DE filter, you must replace the DE that flushes away with the dirt. Every 5-8 years, you also need to replace the sand in a sand filter.
Cartridge Cleaning
Cartridge filters need no backwashing, which saves water in dry areas. When the pressure rises to indicate a dirty filter, simply remove the filters from the unit and wash them.
That's the very basic maintenance, but the specific unit you choose might need more troubleshooting for its components.
Wrapping Up
Swimming pool filters seem complicated, but you just need to choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
For the cleanest water, choose a DE filter. For ease of use, choose a sand filter. For the easiest maintenance or least water usage, choose a cartridge filter.
If you're still confused, contact us. We can answer your questions on pool filters and give you a quote!