Types of Swimming pool filters

Swimming pool filters are an essential part of pool health. They ensure that pool water is filtered regularly and that important chemicals are distributed throughout the pool. There are three main types of swimming pool filter used in outdoor pools today and they are - cartridge, sand, and Diamateous Earth ( DE ). Which is the most suitable will depend upon your location and the characteristics of your water supply.

Sand Filters

Sand Filters were introduced over 30 years ago and they are very popular, easy to understand, simple to operate and inexpensive to run.

Comparatively sand filters are quite large and their use is generally limited to below-ground swimming pools, however they are the least expensive of the three filter options. On the down side, they only filters particles down to between about 20 to 40 microns in size.

In terms of operation, sand filters come with a valve to change the direction of water flow and this is known as the multiport valve. Sand filters also allow a much greater volume of water to pass through them which adds to their effectiveness. Sand filters are efficient enough to keep just about any swimming pool clean and healthy.

Cartridge filters

Cartridge filtration has been available for a comparatively long time, but it has only recently begun to enjoy rapid growth and wide spread popularity.

Cartridge Filters have a greater surface area than sand and they allow for fewer clogs and consequently easier maintenance. Paper cartridge filters can be cleaned by removing them and hoseing them with water, however they do not last long and require frequent replacement.

Cartridge Filters can trap pool debris as small as 10 to 15 microns.

Diatomaceous Earth filters

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters come in three versions, namely, Spin, Regenerative and vertical grids.

Diatomaceous earth filters use a mineral which is mined and that is composed from the fossilized exoskeletons of tiny diatoms – hence diatomaceous earth. They work when the water from the pool passes through the diatomaceous earth and filters out the smallest of particles. Of the three available filter systems for a swimming pool, the Diatomaceous Earth filter system is the most efficient when it comes to micro particle removal.

Diatomaceous earth filters can filter out debris as small as 3 to 5 microns.