Cartridge Pool Filters 101

There are varying opinions on what swimming pool filter is the best. Ask a pool professional and chances are you will be offered one of three possible choices: sand pool filter, cartridge pool filters or diatomaceous earth filter. Just to make sure that we have a good understanding of what these pool filter types are, let us go over each type. This may then help us decide which one is the best option for your particular requirements.

Sand pool filter uses a bed of sand to filter dirt and debris in pool water. A pool pump moves pool water down a sand filter. As it exits the sand filter, pool water is already free from dirt and debris that is filtered by sand. Eventually the sand filter gets clogged with accumulated dirt and debris and results in water pressure drop. This indicates that it is time to clean the sand by backwashing. What this means is that the pumping and filtration process is reversed to push out accumulated dirt and drained in the sewer system. This method of cleaning is needed periodically. The setback with sand filters is that smaller particles can pass through sand. This is probably not the most effective filtration method in handling small particles.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) filters are finer than sand which enables DE filters to filter smaller particles. Filer grids or sieves are coated with diatomaceous earth (DE). These are inert, fossilized substances. These are washable and can last for 5 to 8 years. DE filters can give you the cleanest water but it can cost more than any other filtration method.

Cartridge pool filters is generally known as a low maintenance and economic filter method. Pool water passes cartridge pool filters to catch dirt and debris before it goes back to the pool. In terms of coverage, cartridge pool filters can clean more area than sand filters. With regard to filtering size, cartridge pool filters are somewhere between sand filters and diatomaceous earth filters. There are inexpensive filter cartridges that do not last long but there are more expensive filters that can last more than 5 years. Cartridge pool filters are cleaned only twice in a season and are easy to maintain.

If you were to ask me, good priced cartridge pool filters would be my choice for simple reasons. For one, these require low maintenance of just two cleanings per season. Cleaning cartridge pool filters is easy. All it takes is hosing off the filters to wash away accumulated dirt and debris. Once the cartridge is soiled, then it is time to replace with a new cartridge.

Sand pool filters and DE filters are at opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of particle size being filtered. Cartridge pool filters are somewhere in between but these can filter smaller particles with two possible options.

Adding flocculants will allow filtration of smaller particles. Flocculants are substances that hold smaller particles, acting as adhesive to form bigger particles. The other option is to add diatomaceous earth to cartridge pool filters to enhance capability to filter smaller particles.