Sand, D.E. Or Cartridges? Learn Which Pool Filter Is Best For You
A pool filter is a vital addition to have in order to keep your swimming pool clean and hygienic. It will sieve and remove different forms of dirt such as hairs, oils, grit and leaves from your pool water. This also has the effect of leaving your pool water looking clean and inviting. With three different types of pool filters in the market, it can get confusing trying to decipher which one is best for you. Read on to learn what the different filters have to offer and what it takes to keep one.
Sand filter
The sand filter operates through a simple mechanism, the same mechanism used to clean drinking water. Water from your pool enters the sand filter. The water is then forced through the sand via pressure. As the water passes through the sand, dirt and tiny particles in the water are trapped and left in the sand. The clean sieved water passes through and returns to the pool.
Every few weeks, you will need to backwash and rinse the filter to remove the trapped dirt from the sand. The sand pool filter is easy to use and requires little maintenance.
Cartridges
Cartridge filters are common too. Just like sand filters, they operate in a very simple manner as well. They feature membranes that trap dirt while allowing clear water to pass through. Pool water is passed through the enclosed filtration chamber and then forced to pass through the filter cartridges under pressure. The sieved water passed through and returns to the pool.
Pool filter cartridges need to be cleaned several times a year. This entails removing the cartridge, hosing off the dirt and possibly soaking the cartridge in a filtration solvent. You can also purchase cheaper disposable cartridges.
Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) Filter
The D.E. filter operates by using a special D.E. powder, which is actually the fossil remains of tiny diatoms. Acting like a sponge, this powder is poured through the skimmer, where it travels to the filter chamber and coats the D.E. filter grids. When pool water flows through the chamber, the filtration grids absorb the dirt while allowing clean water to pass through.
The D.E. powder, which is relatively cheap, has to be replaced when the water pressure in the filter chamber rises to a set limit. Unlike the sand filter or the cartridge filter, the D.E. filter is highly efficient. It can remove dirt that is not even visible to the naked eye.
So which filter is best for your pool? All of them are. You can use any of the above filters on your pool. The trick is to get a unit that is big enough to accommodate the size of your pool. A pool equipment supplier can assist you with that. Plus, you have to be ready for the little maintenance that comes with each unit.
For more information, contact a company like Leisure Coast Pool Centre.