Archive for Pool Filter
How Often Should I Run And Clean My Filter?
Posted by: | CommentsWater clarity depends mainly on three factors:
- 1. Proper chemical balance 2. Adequate daily circulation 3. Quality filtration
- Your swimming pool water needs the combination of these three variables to stay crystal clear, algae free and ready for swimming enjoyment.
- The filter is designed to trap small particles suspended in the pool water. These small particles are what make inadequately filtered pool water look hazy or milky.
- A dirty filter can have a dramatic effect on circulation. As water passes through the filter, millions of tiny particles cling to the filtration elements. Eventually, these accumulated particles make it difficult for water to pass through the filter. A dirty filter can reduce pump efficiency by up to 80 percent. In other words, circulating your water for 10 hours a day when the filter is dirty is the equivalent of circulating the water for 2 hours a day when the filter is clean. Many times, a homeowner will find their water is cloudy and greenish, even though the chemical levels are fine, and the pump is running for an adequate amount of time each day. A dirty or damaged filter is usually the source of the problem.
- Since filtration and circulation play such an important role in keeping your swimming pool water clear and properly maintained, we have included the following standard instruction for the three types of filter systems. Following these instructions will assist you in keeping your filter system working efficiently and effectively.
Types of Swiming Pool Filters
Posted by: | CommentsThere are many different opinions when it comes to filtering your pool water. Below is some information that can help in choosing which filter is the best solutions for your pool. Any pool can be properly maintained with any of the filter systems available: Sand, Cartridge, or Diatomaceous Earth (DE).
Sand Filter
Water is pushed through a bed of sand filter media and removed through a set of lateral tubes at the bottom. The filter area of a sand filter is equal to the area of the filter itself.
The principle behind this filter is that water is pushed through the filter sand then the dirty water goes in the top and clean water exits out the bottom. As the filter sand becomes plugged with debris from the pool, the pressure increases on the filter and the water flow drops. In order to clean the filter, you just run it in reverse and empty out the wastewater and accumulated debris; this is referred to as “backwashing” the filter. Once the filter is backwashed, you move to the rinse mode and that repacks the sand and then back to filter. This has to be done manually every few weeks or when filter pressure rises more than 10-psi form clean operating range. From a hydraulics standpoint, a backwash valve is typically the most inefficient piece of equipment you can add to a swimming pool system. Should the sand ever become really dirty, it is easily and inexpensively replaced. In terms of particle size filtered out, sand is the lease effective method – it does allow smaller particles to pass back into the pool. Manufacturers recommendations are to have the backwash valve broken down and lubricated quarterly or every three months. Read More→
