Swimming Pool Filters: An Overview

Essential Supplies for Keeping a Pool Clean and Sanitized

Swimming pool filters are instrumental in maintaining a pool as they remove any suspended particles from the water by consistently circulating the water through a medium to trap matter and optimally clean the pool. Without a filter then, the water not only becomes turbid but disinfectants and other pool chemicals can’t do their jobs as well.

The Three Types of Swimming Pool Filters

Three types of swimming pool filters are available for cleaning the pool. You can choose from a cartridge, sand or DE (diatomaceous earth) filter to get the job done. Typically, the DE filter is regarded as the filter that does the best job in cleaning the pool of debris.

Less Expense but the Potential for more Upkeep

Because sand swimming pool filters are inexpensive and offer ease of maintenance, they are extremely popular among consumers. However, they are the least efficient filters as well when it comes to keeping a pool sparkling clean. While the sand in the filter can remove most of the undissolved particles from your swimming pool, the medium also causes some of the debris to be released back into the pool’s water. Although the filters cost less than the other two types of filters, they also pose more problems for the pool owner when it comes to maintenance.

Cartridge Swimming Pool Filters

Cartridge swimming pool filters do a credible job of cleaning a pool, whether they’re more expensive or lower in cost. The more expensive cartridges can last for a number of years although both the more expensive and lower-cost cartridges require routine maintenance. As water passes through these kinds of filters, small particles become trapped. However, if the filters are not cleaned regularly, the trapped debris can become dislodged and circulate again in the pool’s water supply. Thus, if you have a cartridge filter that is more expensive, you need to remove it a couple times annually and hose it off or replace it if it’s a cheaper type cartridge filter.

The DE Filter – A Superior Choice among Swimming Pool Filters

A DE filter is made up, as stated, of diatomaceous earth, which is a mined substance composed of fossils of microscopic organisms. When this substance then is included in a filter, it cleans a pool more thoroughly as it’s able to capture smaller particulates. As a result, DE swimming pool filters are more costly than sand and cartridge type filters. To save a bit more, when it comes to expense, some people add diatomaceous earth to the other types of filters. The added DE enhances the ability of these filters to clean the water although it still doesn’t work as well as just purchasing DE swimming pool filters to keep a pool sparkling and well-maintained.

Weighing your Choices

So, what is the best filter to pick when considering cost and maintenance? If you want to buy a filter that will last a long time and is lower in cost, then any of the swimming pool filters with a medium of sand may be for you. However, if your main concern is selecting a pool filter that requires low maintenance, then a cartridge type filter may be ideal. If cost is no factor and you want a pool that is pristine and sparkling, then a DE filter is a select choice.

Look Online

Look on the Internet. You can find a variety of swimming pool filters online. Do some research and you’ll be able to determine the right filter for your budget and your swimming pool.
photo credit: billjacobus1

Pool Filters for Your Above Ground Swimming Pool

Overview

The main purpose of your above-ground swimming pool is to remove debris that gets into it. This debris could be stuff that has fallen in from the outside of the pool. (Don’t forget to use your swimming pool cover!) But it is also an important part of the process of cleaning your pool along with your swimming pool chemicals.

When the chemicals have done their job and bonded with an organic molecule such as a virus or bacteria, the filter then removes the results.

Types of filters

There are three basic types of pool filters available today – Sand, Cartridge, or DE filters. They all work on the same basic principle of running the water of the pool in through the filtering medium, and then returning the filtered water back to the pool.

Sand filters use sand to sift particles out of the water as the water passes through the sand. This type of filter has been around the longest. It also happens to be the least effective at removing very small particles. It can only filter down to about 20-40 microns.

Cartridge filters can filter out much smaller particles than Sand filters. Besides being able to clean out more particles from your above-ground swimming pool, these pool filters require less cleaning on an annual basis. And let’s face it, if you don’t have to spend time cleaning the swimming pool filter every 1-2 weeks, the greater cost of the Cartridge system starts to be more appealing.

DE filters use diatomaceous earth for the filtering process. DE is the fossilized remains of algae. DE makes the best material for pool cleaning because it is able to filter out debris down to 3-5 microns.

Costs of Filters

As you might expect, the relative costs of the filters ranges in the same order as listed above, with sand filter systems being the least expensive, and Cartridge and DE filters being in the same general price range. Don’t forget that you will likely need to look at your pool pump to make sure that it will be able to work with the filter type you are thinking about using.

Conclusion

Take the time to think about what level of cleaning you’re likely to need, what kinds of costs will fit your budget, and how much time of your pool cleaning time you will need to spend on your pool filter system and you will be able to decide which system will be right for you.

photo credit: billjacobus1