Choosing The Right Filter For Your Swimming Pool

With summertime temperatures officially here so is swim season. This is also the time where your swimming pool is going to have increased use and your filter is going to have to be working efficiently for the increased use. First and foremost, there are many choices when it comes to filters for your pool and you will want to make sure you have the correct one for your swimming pool. The most common filter that we see and easiest to install is a sand filter but we want to discuss the pros and cons so you can make a wise decision and get the best filtration for your pool! When making that decision the following factors should go into that decision:

  • Type of interior finish
  • The number of trees and bushes around your swimming pool
  • The surface area of the pool
  • Ease of use

With that said, we hope this blog post gives you some insight on the best type of filter for your pool, when they should be cleaned/backwashed, and what to look for when they need to be cleaned or replaced. Currently, there are three different types of filters; cartridge, sand, and diatomaceous earth (D.E.).

The first filter we will be evaluating is a cartridge filter and the following are the pros and cons of owning one.

Pros

  • Simple to maintain and the least amount of maintenance
  • Filters down to 10 microns
  • Since there’s no backwashing, it uses the least amount.

Cons

  • Most expensive out of all the filters to purchase
  • The cartridge filters can be pretty expensive
  • It needs to be taken apart twice a year to be cleaned.

The next filter that we will be evaluating is a sand filter and the following are the pros and cons:

Pros

  • Simplest to use
  • Most common filter for swimming pools and works with most. It is the most common commercial swimming pool filter as well.
  • Filters down to 20 microns
  • Easy to backwash when needed

Cons

  • Requires replacements of sand every 5-8 years or when a lateral break (this can be a lengthy process as it takes a while to vacuum out the sand).
  • Not recommended for Pebble Tec pools or pools with lots of vegetation due to high micron numbers. The pebbles from the pool can get stuck in the sand or laterals
  • If you have a green pool, it can take a very long time with this type of filter to clear up

The last filter that we will be looking into is a DE Filter:

Pros

  • Filters down to the lowest of microns which is 3
  • Filters the largest surface area and keeps the pool the cleanest
  • Best for pools in backyards with lots of trees and debris

Cons:

  • After backwashing, it does require the most work as you need to add DE to the filter to coat the grids.

The above factors are key to making a decision on what type of filter you should buy. Each pool and each backyard is different but if you base your purchase on the above pros and cons of each it should help you make the decision. If you should have any questions on which filter would be best for you, please contact us today!