A Short Guide About The Different Types Of Pool Filters

Is there anything better on a hot day than jumping into your swimming pool? It’s a pleasurable (and effective!) kind of exercise that can even help with anxiety reduction. However, all of this enjoyment can be spoiled if your pool is not kept clean. To keep your pool in good condition, your filter pool must be in good working order. Additionally, in order for your filter to keep your pool clean, you must maintain a clean filter. Let’s take a deeper look at the many types of pool filters and how to properly maintain them so that your pool is always ready to use.

Diverse Types of Swimming Pool Filters

Three distinct types of pool filters are available:
1. Sand Filter
2. Cartridge filter
3. Diatomaceous (DE) Earth Filter

We’ll discuss each one in further detail — and how to clean them.

Sand Filter

As the name implies, a sand filter is made up of sand particles that catch dirt and keep it out of your pool. While water may easily pass through the sand, everything else, such as leaves and debris, becomes trapped. Check the pressure gauge on your sand filter to determine when it’s time to clean it. You’ll want to inspect it first and then clean it once the pressure reaches 8-10 psi.

To clean it, switch off the pump, attach the backwash hose, and set the pump’s valve setting to “backwash.” Then, turn on the pump and observe the water flowing through it. It will begin clear, but will gradually darken as the material is washed away. Once it starts running clear again, switch off the pump and set the valve to “rinse,” leaving it to run for around a minute.

Finally, you can reset the pump to its default setting, at which point you’re finished.

Filter Cartridge

Cartridge filters, another common alternative, work by forcing water through a polyester cloth material that captures dirt and debris while allowing water to pass through. As with the sand filter, you’ll know it’s time to clean your cartridge filter when the pressure gauge reads 8-10 psi higher.

A cartridge filter does not require backwashing. Rather than that, you simply need to switch off the filter, remove the cartridge, and clean it with a hose. If your filter is really filthy, you may wish to spray it with a pool filter cleaning solution as well. When finished, simply replace the cartridge in the filter and turn it back on.

Diatomaceous (DE) Earth

DE filters, like sand filters, send water through a mesh filter covered with diatomaceous earth powder, which traps particles. Once again, you’ll know it’s time to clean your DE filter when the pressure gauge reads 8-10 psi higher than typical. DE filters must also be cleaned via backwashing.

Simply switch the valve to the “backwash” position and turn off the filter. Once the water is clean, you can reinstall the valve in its original position. Then, remove the DE filter and rinse it with a hose to remove any remaining DE powder. After that, replace the filter and refill the pump with new DE powder before turning the pump back on.

Leave Cleaning to the Professionals

Does this all sound like more labor than you’re willing to undertake? That is why Arizona pool maintenance service providers will visit your home and clean your filter for you. Professional pool cleaners will clean all sorts of pool filters so you can concentrate on what matters most: relaxing and enjoying your pool.