Taking measures to keep your pool tidy retains a clean environment that makes you enjoy swimming. Maintaining a clean pool requires using the right tools. Some people use chlorine and other sanitizers to kill bacteria, but that is not enough.
You need to filter them from the water. If the contaminants remain in the water, they may turn cloudy and accumulate debris, making it unsuitable for swimming. There are three pool filter types suitable for use with in-ground pools: Cartridge Filter, Sand Filter, and DE Filters. Each has different characteristics, and the choice of a suitable one also depends on the pool owner’s needs.
Pool Filter Cartridge
A cartridge swimming pool filter is a common type that every household can easily access, and there are various types of this filter. The two models are single elements and multi-element cartridges.
The difference between the two is that the multi-element filter has two to four cartridges, while the single filter has only one unique cartridge. They also vary based on size, from small, medium, and large.
Types
Your choice of this type depends on the size of your pool. It uses a paper-type cartridge.
The paper is pleated and tied on heavy plastic, and the finishing has a heavy-duty plastic rubber. To install, pool builders use a multi-element filter.
To get a maintenance-friendly pool, the builders mostly use a four cartridge filtration channel. The filtration systems work by trapping debris in the water.
The water flows to the center place from the outside cartridge and accumulates debris using the folds. The cartridge has a good surface area and does not need high maintenance. It only needs cleaning two or three times a year, depending on its usage.
Effective cleaning of the cartridges requires about one to one and a half hours. It needs to be carried out systematically, cleaning out every element of the cartridge.
The hose effectively gets rid of the dirt and debris when the cartridges are removed. The pool accumulates many contaminants such as hair, oils, and algae that can destroy the cartridge or make it perform poorly. So, the cartridges will need degreasing at least once a year. Proper maintenance of the cartridge can make it last for about four to eight years before a replacement.
Benefits
The beauty with it is that it’s easy to replace. You only need to remove the old ones and fix the new ones. Once fixed, it gets fully operational and works perfectly as a new one. A cartridge filter doesn’t require a backwash or a separation tank. It also does not need DE or sand media.
Sand Filter
Sand filters are among the oldest models and are less costly. They are so common, and you might find them in most old pools. This type has a tank with sand in it. The quantity of sand depends on the size of the tank. The sand needs to match the specific pool industry for it to work.
How Does Pool Sand Filter Work
So you’ll ask, how does a pool sand filter work? The water goes through the tank, moves up, and goes down through the diffuser. The tank has approximately 25% free space and 75% filled with sand.
As the water passes through the sand bed from the pool, it traps debris between the sand grains and remains until the system gets a backwash. The water ran from the bottom and pushed into the laterals and back to the pool.
The sand filter has a multiport valve that filters dirt and debris to tiny microns. During the filtration, the valve is set on filter frequency to remove the trapped debris. If the microns are large, they may remain trapped in the sand grains.
This filter also has a backwash mode that helps to discharge dirt and debris when it gets hooked on a hose. It works by pushing the water from bottom to top, forcing the trapped debris to move to the discharge hose.
Sand Replacement
The filter sand needs a replacement after three to five years, depending on the usage frequency and the maintenance. If you fail to replace it, it becomes less effective because the sand particles become rounder as the water runs up and down. You’ll need to be careful with maintenance measures and filter replacement to continue using it in good shape.
DE Pool Filter
This model uses a diatomaceous earth pool filter as the filter channel. It works almost like the sand model, and it’s covered with a plastic fabric. DE filter has a set of fingers, also called Diatomaceous Earth. The fingers are made of seal shells and are coated with DE powder.
As the water runs through the filter powder, it traps and filters out microns. It works more efficiently than the sand filter by trapping down lower microns. DE traps finer particles than the sand filter and makes the water more purified. When you backwash DE, it washes out more DE powder. It means that you’ll need to add more powder after the backwash to recharge the filter.
Be Watchful
You need to be watchful when using DE, as it can cause health problems when inhaled. It’s also a skin irritant and needs to be disposed of with care. You may need to use it in separate tanks and be careful not to flow to other properties when drained out. You’ll need to separate its filters annually and also clean and degrease its fingers.
Efficiency
The plastic DE filter fabric traps algae, body oils, and suntan lotion, and these filters are most efficient compared to the rest. They purify the water more. However, its downside is that it requires a lot of work and procedures during maintenance, and it’s costly.
Though it’s more efficient, it also has lowlights. These are some of the factors that you’ll need to consider when choosing a pool filter.
Making the Decision
From the pool filter types above, it’s evident that choosing the best depends on various factors. It depends on your maintenance levels, what kind of pool needs you have, the pool size, and your budget, among other factors.
The choice varies per person. But note that the last option of a filter you choose should match the pump’s power and circulation needs. Some consumers prefer to purchase DE and cartridge filters. However, some chose sand filters because of their popularity and lower costs.