subject: The Maintenance of Swimming Pool Filters [print this page] Swimming pool filters are one of the most important elements when it comes to keeping your swimming pool clean. A swimming pool has to be kept backwashed and clean for your swimming pool to stay safe and clean. There are three kinds of swimming pool filters, and each is cleaned slightly differently. You also have to maintain swimming pool filters to keep debris out of your swimming pool and maintain the proper level of chemicals that will let swimming pool filters work efficiently.
Different Types of Swimming Pool Filters
The three basic kinds of swimming pool filters are the sand, cartridge, and the Diatomaceous Earth (DE). The sand filter is the largest and least effective of all the swimming pool filters. The cartridge filter uses pleated filament paper the catch whatever is filtered. The DE filter consists of microscopic skeletons of plankton and is the most expensive and effective of the swimming pool filters.
Preventative Maintenance of Swimming Pool Filters
The preventative maintenance of swimming pool filters is one of the most important factors in keeping your swimming pool safe and clean. First, you should maintain your swimming pool by cleaning it every day. This can be accomplished either by vacuuming the pool by hand with a pump , with an automatic swimming pool cleaner, or by hand with a skimmer net.
You also have to maintain the proper level of chemicals in your swimming pool, based on the volume and size of your swimming pool. The level of chemicals can be tested with a test kit.
How to Clean and Maintain Swimming Pool Filters
Sand swimming pool filters need to be backwashed usually 2 or 3 times a week depending on how dirty your filter and pool are. The addition of a cleaning solution to sand swimming pool filters through the skimmer while the pool pump is running is also a good idea. Once the backwash has been performed properly, the sight glass will have clean water flowing through it. You need to monitor the sand level and may need to add sand to the filter and pump as the swimming pool season continues.
For the DE type of swimming pool filters, you have to backwash the filter on the pump. There are particular pump cycles including backwashing, circulation, vacuuming, and filtration. Add new DE powder following each backwash. Add the new DE powder to a bucket of water and then pour it through your skimmer. You also may have to disassemble the filter and clean with a filter solution.
The three basic kinds of swimming pool filters are the sand, cartridge, and the Diatomaceous Earth (DE). The sand filter is the largest and least effective of all the swimming pool filters. The cartridge filter uses pleated filament paper the catch whatever is filtered. The DE filter consists of microscopic skeletons of plankton and is the most expensive and effective of the swimming pool filters.
For the cartridge type of swimming pool filters, you can either replace the whole filter or you may remove the filter cartridge and spray it with water to remove debris and then let it soak overnight in a filter solution.
