Pool Filters

Pool filters are essential in swimming pools, they act just like the kidneys do in the human body by filtering what shouldn’t be in the pool. It is impossible to overstate the significance of pool filters because they perform such an essential function.

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Maintaining your pool and keeping the water clean is one definite way to keep yourself (personally) safe while also attracting customers (commercially). If you plan on doing so, you’ll need to find the best pool filter for your pool.

While there are a variety of pool filters available, there are few reliable details to aid in decision-making. To assist you in finding the best pool filter, I’ve produced a list of the top items to consider.

I’ve also included some vital information about pool filters, including a buying guide and maintenance instructions.

Why Use a Pool Filter?

You must provide a safe environment for your pool’s users regardless matter whether you operate a small or large pool. Nothing seems more awkward than having unfavorable remarks about your pool if it is a commercial pool. You won’t want to put your family in risk at a non-commercial pool.

Knowing your alternatives is the first step in selecting the right filter. Sand, cartridge, and diatomaceous earth, or D.E., are the three types of filters available. The cost, frequency of replacement, and filtration rates vary by type. If you’re wondering how to clean a pool filter, the answer is that it depends on the type you choose.

However, you must first understand microns in order to accurately evaluate pool filter types, how effectively they function, and how much maintenance they take.

Bacteria and other contaminants can only be filtered out if the filter media—the material that actually accomplishes the filtering—is fine enough to collect those teeny, tiny particles, whether or not they’ve been destroyed by chlorine.

How a Swimming Pool Filter Works

An electric motor inside the pump spins an impeller, which pulls water via the return piping (suction side) and pushes it to the filter (pressure side). Debris that is too tiny to pass through the skimmer basket or passes through the main drain collects in the strainer basket in front of the pump. The water is subsequently sent through the filter, where it is cleaned even more thoroughly.

The water is then pumped into the filtration system, which is free of leaf material. Water may then travel through filters made of fabric, sand, diatomaceous earth, or other materials. The filter housing, which is commonly a fiberglass, metal, or plastic tank, contains the media.

Dirty water enters the tank through the filter’s inlet line and is spread throughout the tank. The unclean water flows through the media under pressure or gravity, filtering out any dirt, debris, algae, bacteria, and bigger microorganisms. Filtration can also remove metals and minerals.

Pool Pumps & Pool Filters

A pool filter and a pool pump go hand in hand. The filter will not work unless water is moved through it by the pump. Neither will function correctly if the pump is not the appropriate size for your pool.

Gallons Per Minute

Gallons per minute (GPM) per square foot is how filters are assessed. The filter flow rate must be at least as high as your pump’s GPM, if not more. When it comes to pool filters, it’s advisable to go for the bigger size so it can manage the pump’s power. A good rule of thumb is to select a filter with at least 1 square foot of surface area per 10,000 gallons of pool capacity.

Sand Filters

The most popular pool filter among pool owners is this one. This is owing to the fact that it is inexpensive. Pool filters with sand filtration are also inexpensive. Furthermore, sand pool filters are low-maintenance.

Water is pumped through a sand bed to power the system. Most sand filters are capable of removing particles as small as 20 microns. All you have to do when the sand bed is clogged with dirt or debris is backwash.

With heavy use, the sand can last up to 5 years. Filterglass, Zeosand, and Silica are common sands, with the latter being the best pool filter sand. There are two types of sand pool filters available:

Top-mount — The valve is located on the device’s top. They are less expensive than sand pool filters that are mounted on the side. Maintenance, on the other hand, is a little more time consuming because the pipes must first be disconnected.

Side-mount — The valve is mounted on the side of the sand pool filter in this case. The pipes do not need to be disconnected before cleaning.

Best Sand Filters – Editor’s Pick

Hayward S224T ProSeries

The Hayward S224T ProSeries is built to last, with a waterproof, corrosion-proof tank. It comes in three sizes and comes with a multi-port valve. If necessary, models with side mounts are available. Plus, depending on how often you use your pool, you only have to backwash it every few months.

Pentair Triton II Side Mount Sand Filter without Valve (Inground)

The Pentair Triton II is the epitome of simplicity, designed with ease of use in mind. The pressure gauge is situated in a handy location and is simple to read. The sand is easily accessible thanks to the swing-away diffuser. Winterizing is a breeze thanks to the combination sand/water drain.

Intex Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump (Above Ground)

The Intex® Krystal ClearTM Sand Filter Pump keeps the water in your above-ground pool clean, soft, and refreshing. The 6-function control valve allows the pool owner to filter, backwash and rinse, recirculate, drain, and close the system, while the sand provides excellent water filtering. The built-in 24-hour timer adds to the convenience of maintaining a cleaner pool. The strainer basket makes cleaning a breeze and extends the life of the sand. The Krystal ClearTM Sand Filter Pump has a 2,100 gallon per hour pump flow rate, making it suitable for above-ground pools. Except for sand change every 5 years, this pump requires almost no maintenance.

Cartridge Filters – Editor’s Pick

Water is passed via a filter cartridge in this sort of pool filtration. They build their screens out of cloth-like materials. They’re more efficient and can get rid of particles as small as 10 microns. Because cartridge pool filters have a large filtration surface area, they are typically slower. They use a smaller quantity of energy.

Pentair 160301 Clean & Clear Plus Cartridge Pool Filter (Inground)

The Pentair Clean & Clear Plus has an effective filter area of 420 square feet and was designed with the greatest filter surface area to clean your water more fast and efficiently than other filters. Maintaining good water pressure is simple with internal and manual air relief. It filters 150 GPM from a tank made of injection-molded plastic.

Hayward C4001575XES EasyClear Filter (Above Ground)

The Micro StarClear comes from a well-known brand in the pool business. This Hayward filter is ideal for above-ground pools with a capacity of less than 24,000 gallons. It allows for quick cartridge replacement, and you may rotate the head to position the pressure gauge and manual air release valve where you need them.

Intex 28633EG Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter Pump (Above Ground)

If you own an Intex pool and need a cartridge filter, this is the filter for you. This filter, unlike others, uses disposable cartridges. Turning the handy flush valve and dropping in a fresh cartridge is all that’s required for maintenance.

Dismantle and store it with your pool at the end of the season. If the weather is pleasant, its double-walled structure allows you to leave it up without worry.

DE Pool Filters (Diatomaceous Earth) – Editor’s Pick

They are the most effective since they use Diatomaceous Earth as their pool filter medium (DE). DE is made up of fossilized materials that have been pulverized into a powder and arranged in a grid. It’s more like a sand and cartridge filter combo. The DE filters are capable of filtering out particles as small as 5 microns. They do, however, necessitate greater upkeep.

Pentair 188592 Quad Cartridge Style D.E. Pool Filter (Inground)

The Pentair Quad is designed with easily replaceable cartridges to make maintenance a little easier. It contains four large-capacity cartridges with a lot of surface area, so your pump doesn’t have to work as hard to clean the water as well as other D.E. filters.

Because of the larger surface area, it takes longer to clog, allowing you to clean it less frequently. All of this is contained within a tough, fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene tank.

Hayward EC40AC Perflex Extended-Cycle D.E. Pool Filter (Above Ground)

The Hayward Perflex Extended-Cycle is the perfect combination of serious cleaning and simple maintenance. This type has a cool bump mechanism that allows the D.E. Flex-Tubes to self-clean, resulting in less cleaning time. It’s built to have the least amount of resistance possible, allowing it to run at higher efficiency with less horsepower.