JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
Customer Service: [email protected]
What Filter Do You Need for Your Swimming Pool?
No one likes to swim in dirty water! To keep your swimming pool water crystal clear, you will need to choose the correct swimming pool filter and pump combination for your pool so the system operates sufficiently.
You can’t get rid of all the dirty particles your pool may collect with swimming pool chemicals alone. They may kill a large majority of the contaminants and prevent algae, but they work best in conjunction with a pump to circulate the sanitising chemicals in the water and a filter to ensure that any remaining contaminants are removed.
Since above ground pools generally come in a uniform size, shape, and depth, it’s safe to say that they won’t have the exact same filter requirements as inground pools since there’s a lower flow rate and volume of water to circulate.
Filters come in different shapes and sizes with a few variations to consider, such as media, side mount and top mount, so we’ve put together a few suggestions to help you find the most efficient filter system for your above ground or inground swimming pool.
Filters come in two varieties, side mount or top mount, but which is best?
Top mount filters tend to be cheaper than side mounts but less convenient if, for example, you’re changing sand. Unlike a side mount filter, you have to disconnect the pipes to remove the valve of a top mount.
Still, it’s worth noting that a side mount takes up more room, so if your above ground pool has limited space, we recommend using a top mount.
As dirt accumulates over time, regular backwashing is needed so your pool filter system doesn’t get clogged and works to its full potential. You will be able to tell if a pool filter requires an urgent clean if you notice the filter is less effective than it used to be and find dirt particles lingering in your pool.
However, it’s best to prevent it from getting to this point in the first place by adapting to a routine backwash.
If your pool’s pump is operating regularly we recommend backwashing it at least once a week, and even more when it undergoes heavy usage.
A routine backwash is important because the lifespan of your pool filter is mainly affected by how much dirt it has to clean. Ultimately, as long as you’re keeping up with weekly backwashes, you can enjoy much more usage out of your pool filter.
Prolonging the lifespan is most effective in conjunction with general filter maintenance.
Regular attention to the maintenance of your pool filter can extend the lifespan, just as neglect can shorten it. All filters, no matter the media, require a certain level of upkeep as your swimming pool pump system has a lot of water to pump!
For example, in a standard 15x30 above ground pool of a 4ft depth, you can expect the water volume to be around 13,500 gallons.
No matter how high quality the filter is, water pressure takes its toll, meaning your filter will eventually require repair or replacement.
The general lifespan of a filter depends mainly on what media you use. Now that you have a good grip on what proper filter maintenance entails, take a look below at our suggestions for the filter media that will work best for your pool.
Filter media generally comes in either paper, sand or glass media, this material being what filters the debris. Your pool’s pump system works together with the filter, pushing debris in the water through the filter. The media inside will catch all the contaminants while pushing clean water back into the pool.
Glass, sand and cartridge filters essentially work the same way, the main difference being longevity and price, so it can be tough to make a decision. Read more below to see the difference between the existing types of filter media.
Although filter cartridges work similarly to other media, there are some differences worth considering. Used mostly for spas and hot tubs, cartridges are typically paper-based, utilising a single layer of spun and pleated polyester that is attached to a cylindrical core. Some of the benefits include:
Since above ground pools usually aren’t as big as inground pools and, more often than not, come in standard rectangular or circular shapes, a heavy-duty filter may not be necessary; a simple filter cartridge may do the trick!
However, inground pools come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so consider a higher efficiency filter if your pool is bigger than average.
With around 2,000 working hours, filter cartridges have an approximate lifespan of 2-4 years.
Sand filters are the most popular option for all pools for a reason. The media works by trapping dirt particles within the sand bed, and when the contaminants continue to amass, it becomes even more capable of catching finer particles. A successful sand filter media will have grains of the same size, usually 0.4-0.6mm.
Our Silica Sand provides the following benefits:
Sand filter media contain around 3-7 years of mileage.
For measurements on the correct level of filling and quantities, we recommend you follow the manufacturer’s guide.
Glass filter media is finer than cartridge and sand filters and can filter down to 5 microns.
Similarly to a microfibre cloth, it has a slight negative charge so it can trap very fine particles; this charge releases the particles when the water is backwashed.
Although at first glance this appears to be the most expensive option, for ultra-efficient filtering, consider purchasing the Eco Glass Filter Media (EGFM) as it offers the following advantages:
Glass media filters tend to outlast sand and paper at around 7-15 years.
This option will end up saving you more money in the long run. Theoretically, our EGFM might not even need changing as it doesn’t wear down the same way sand or filter cartridges do, but we still recommend checking its condition every 5 years or so just in case.
As mentioned above, the differences between the available types of filter media are fairly variable and minute, so this decision mainly comes down to personal preference.
We hope this blog has helped answer some questions you had about filter options for your swimming pool. If you have any more queries, don't hesitate to give our expert team a call; we are always on hand to help!
