If you're in the market for a new pool filter, there are a few things you need to know. Not all swimming pool filters are the same, and your choice of filter will depend largely on your propensity to carrying out maintenance and your budget. So hold your breath. It's time for pool school.
Why do I need a swimming pool filter?
Your filter is responsible for keeping your pool full of lovely, fresh and inviting water. It systematically in draws water from your pool, sifting out particles of dirt and purifying the water before releasing it back into the main body of your pool. Without a good filter your pool will soon turn from a luxurious lagoon to a green and slimy pond.
Choosing the right pool filter
You'll find three types of swimming pool filters commonly available:
Sand filters
Cartridge filters
Diatomaceous earth filters, or DE filters
Sand filters
The most economical of the varieties of filter, sand filters simply pump the water in your pool through a bed of silica sand, filtering down to around 20 microns. Sand filters are available in both in ground and above ground models, are simple enough to install yourself and require very little maintenance.
When your sand tank fills with particles, a pressure gauge on the outside will indicate it's time to give your filter some attention. This is your cue to backwash, or reverse the flow of water, sending the water out a waste valve. Sand filters do waste a lot of water during backwashing, and the pressure they create also makes them less energy efficient that other types of filters. You can expect the sand in your filter to last up to seven years, after which it'll be time for a change.
Cartridge filters
Another low cost, low maintenance option for small and medium pools, cartridge filters have the added benefit of being both energy and water efficient and filtering down to 10 microns. To maintain your cartridge filter you'll simply remove the cartridge from its tank and give it a good hose down. You will need to replace the cartridge every two years
DE filters
Filtering all the way down to 5 microns, DE filters are equipped with a powder made of fossilized exoskeletons, which filters more effectively than sand. DE filters are both more expensive and demand more maintenance than sand and cartridge filters, but are widely recognised as doing the best job. To maintain a DE filter you'll need to backwash the filter and top up the DE powder.
So, have a look at your budget, determine the amount of time you're willing to devote to maintaining your filter, and you'll be well on your way to choosing the best type of swimming pool filter for your pool. For more information, contact companies like Leisure Coast Pool Centre.
Share7 March 2018
Hello! My name is Peter but my friends call me 'Swimming Pool Pete'. This is because of my new obsession - my swimming pool. I had a new swimming pool installed in my backyard last summer. My family and I had a fantastic time swimming around in the pool all summer long. When the weather became cold and the leaves began to fall, I covered the pool and went inside. However, on the first day of spring, I was devastated to discover that the water in my pool had turned green. I called a pool guy who came over and he explained I needed to add chemicals to the pool to maintain the water quality over the winter months. I asked this man a million questions and I have taught myself everything there is to know about pool care.