Your Water Filter is Your Pools Superhero!

Clean and clear water does not happen by accident, maintaining your pools water filtration system is the key keeping your pool sparkling clean all year round. There are 3 main categories of pool filters and in this post we will be discussing the pros and cons of each as well as the best practices to maintain the health of your filter system.

The top 3 water filter types are cartridge filters, sand filters and diatomaceous earth or DE filters. Each one of these filter systems work fantastically for residential pools but there are some key differences between them that may impact which system you chose for your pool. Remember, whether you are building a pool for the first time or you are a seasoned pool owner, knowing the differences between these filter systems is very important.

Cartridge Filters: Cartridge filters have been increasingly popular over the last 15 years mainly due to their ease of use and relatively low cost. With a cartridge filter system water is forced through a pleated “cartridge” filter that traps large and most small debris as the system runs. Maintenance is very simple, you just shut the system down, remove the top off of the filter housing, remove the cartridge and wash the cartridge with water and a high-pressure nozzle. Once the filter is clean simply replace it and the filter housing lid and pressure the system back up and you are good to go. Typically, this needs to be done every 2-3 weeks or when the pressure is reading about 10 lbs over the clean starting pressure. Typical life span of a cartridge is 2 years so make sure to inspect your cartridge for signs of wear (typically in the form of buckling pleats) and replace the cartridge when necessary.

Sand Filters: Sand filters utilize fine sand in a large filter chamber to clear debris from the water. Sand filters are capable of trapping finer particles than cartridge filters and also require “backwashing” to clean out the sand in the bottom of the filter. Pros are that they are ease of maintenance and the ability to trap finer particles than cartridge filters. Cons are that the sand needs to be replaced every 3-5 years, which is a more involved task that you should hire a pool pro for.

Last but not least we have DE filters. These filters utilize a very fine substance called diatomaceous earth that coats the surface of several grids inside the filter. These filter systems trap the smallest particles out of all three popular filter types, and they require the homeowner to clean the grids and replenish the DE powder regularly.