Pool Safety and Security: Protecting Family and Thwarting Vandals

Choosing the Best Swimming Pool Filter

When it comes to choosing the best swimming pool filter, most people get confused with all of these technicalities. While there is no simple, best answer for this question, it helps to understand the basic types of pool filters before making a decision. There are three basic types of pool filters: sand, cartridge, and diatomaceous earth.

Any one of these materials will do the job just fine, but each of them comes with its own advantages and disadvantages as follows:

Sand Filters

Sand is one of the oldest mediums used as pool filters. The system works by having a filter pump push water through a layer of sand, and only clean water is allowed to flow at the bottom and eventually return to the pool. Because the sand will constantly cause significant pressure drops in water flow, maintenance must be performed every few weeks. When there is a pressure drop, this means that the filter is already clogged and you will need to perform backwashing, which is basically the reverse cycle of normal filtration processes.

Cartridges

Because of how easy they are to maintain, cartridges have gained huge popularity as swimming pool filters. They must be cleaned, like every other filter, but this process doesn't have to be done that frequently. For example, cleaning a cartridge must be done two or three times during a swimming season. All you will need for washing the loose particles is a garden hose, and a filter cleaning solution to soak the cartridge in. Once that is done, all that's left to do is to rinse the cleaning solution and the loose particles left after you soaked the cartridge. Decent quality cartridges can last up to five years, and can filter finer particles than sand filters.

Diatomaceous Earth Filters

Out of the three filters mentioned in this article, diatomaceous earth filters are considered the best water polishers, but also the most expensive. This filtering medium comes from fossilized round materials in powder form. The powder is then coated onto the filtering material, which enables the system to catch even the finest particles. The maintenance type of this type of filter is the same as the one for sand filters, backwashing. The old diatomaceous earth must be washed away, and new earth applied through the pool skimmer to the pool filter.

Ultimately, your personal preferences and your knowledge will help you in deciding which of these swimming pool filters is the best choice for you. All of these systems do their job correctly, but it all depends on what you think is best for your pool. To learn more, contact a company like Leisure Coast Pool Centre with any questions you have.