Different Types Filters for Swimming Pool: A Quick Guide

For inground swimming, there are 3 different types of filters to choose from. Sand, diatomaceous earth (DE), and cartridge are the three categories. Each type has advantages and disadvantages. The type of filter to employ is determined by the pool owner’s budget, the amount of upkeep required, and other location-specific criteria.

What Is the Purpose of a Filter?

Before we get into the details of the many types of filters, it’s crucial to understand what a filter accomplishes and why it’s so essential for a pool. A filter is a device that is connected to the pool’s plumbing system. As the water passes through the filters, debris and dirt are trapped inside.

This produces filtered and safe water. The clean water returns to the pool via an output pipe. This loops indefinitely as long as the system is turned on. Many pool owners operate the filter for 6 to 12 hours every day, depending on what type of filtration and the volume of pool usage.

The Classic Sand Filter

This is one of the most basic technologies and the cheapest filter available. A sand filter can be found in most old pools, unless they’ve been renovated. In a sand filter, there is indeed a tank with a specified amount of sand based on the size of the tank. The medium that goes into the container is sand. Only a certain type of sand for the pool industry is allowed to be used.

The filter operates by circulating water from the peak to the bottom of the tank. In the tank, there is around 75 percent sand and 25 percent open area. As the liquid from the pool reaches the tank, it travels through the sand, filtering out any microns large enough to have been caught in the sand.

The De Filter

This filter functions similarly to sand pool filters. The filter medium that is employed is what sets it apart. A set of squares, or fingers as they are often known, are found on the inside of a DE filter. DE powder is comprised of crumbled sea shells and the exterior silica discharges of tiny microscopic sea animals called diatoms, and is applied on these fingers.

When water passes through these fingers, most debris and dirt is trapped at a much finer micron level than a filtration system. It may trap much finer and smaller particles, purifying the water more effectively. This can improve water clarity and allow for a safer swimming pool. Backwashing the DE filter is also required. When you backwash a DE filter, unlike with a sand filter, a considerable portion of the DE is washed out and lost.

The Cartridge Filter

One of the most common types of filters is cartridge filters. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are two types of cartridge filters: single element and multi element cartridge filters. 2 to 4 cartridges are typically found in multi-element types. A multi-element filter is frequently installed by pool builders.

A four-cartridge filtering system is typically installed by a professional pool builder who is attempting to produce the most maintenance-friendly pool. The cartridges of a cartridge filter system capture the particles. Depending on the size of the pool, they can come in a number of sizes ranging from small to huge. They’re usually formed of pleated polyester that’s wound around a hefty plastic or PVC core and bound on both ends with a tough rubbery plastic. Water travels from the exterior of the cartridges to the centre core, where the folds catch the dirt.