When it comes time to deciding what is the best filter for your swimming pool, there are many different factors that go into making that decision. The most common filter today is the sand filter and It would be easy to install one on every swimming pool but there are a variety of factors that go into which filter is the best for your swimming pool. This can be broken down into the following categories:

• Your interior finish
• How many trees, bushes and other vegetation is around your swimming pool
• Surface area of the pool
• Water conservation factors
• Ease of use

Ultimately the goal of each filter is to keep your swimming pool the cleanest! With that said, we hope this blog post is informative on the best type of filter for your pool, when they should be backwashed and what to look for when they need to be cleaned or replaced. In the swimming pool industry there are three different types of filters; sand, cartridge and diatomaceous earth (D.E.). First, we will highlight the pros and cons of each and then discuss what makes it work for your pool. 

Sand Filter

Pros

• Easiest of all the filters to use
• Most common filter seen in swimming pools
• Filters down to 20 microns
• Easy to backwash when pressure rises to set backwash number

Cons

• Requires replacements of sand every 5-8 years or when laterals break which takes the most amount of time out of all filters.
• Not recommended for pebble tec pools or pools with lots of vegetation due to high micron number. It can struggle when pool is super dirty.
• Can take much longer to clean up a green pool with this type of filter

For a full assortment of sand filters, CLICK HERE!

Cartridge Filter

Pros

• Simple to maintain
• Filters down to 10 microns which is better than the sand filter
• If you are in an area where water is a concern this is the best filter because it doesn't require backwashing.
• Filters better in large surface area pools

Cons

• Most expensive of all filters to purchase
• Cartridge replacement can be more expensive

For a full assortment of cartridge filters, CLICK HERE!

D.E. Filter

Pros

• Filters down to 3 microns 
• Filters the largest surface area and keeps the pool the most clean
• Best for pools with lots of vegetation

Cons

• Requires the most amount of maintenance especially after backwashing

If you are looking for a DE Filter, CLICK HERE!

The key to picking out a type of filter for your swimming pool is ultimately dependent on you and your budget but the above factors should play into your decision. If your swimming pool is surrounded by a lot of plants, bushes, soil and other vegetation you should buy a DE Filter to keep your swimming pool the cleanest. Other than that, if you’re in an area where there are drought conditions we will always recommend a cartridge filter because there is no backwashing and it does a great job of keeping your swimming pool clean. When it comes to a sand filter, all that is necessary is a backwash but always be on the lookout for sand in your pool. When this happens, you might have a cracked lateral, which is the main filtration mechanism in a sand filter. At this point, a sand change will be necessary. As for cartridge filters, when the pressure rises to the maximum, they will need to be hosed down and cleaned (usually 2-4 times a year). Finally, a D.E. filter should be taken a part a minimum of one time a year. You will need to hose down the grids to get the excess D.E. off of them and then recharge the DE filter when you put it back together. Please note, that if you see D.E. blowing back into the pool there’s a pretty good chance there’s a tear in the grid and it will need to be replaced.

If you should have any questions, contact us today to learn more about what would be the best filter choice for your swimming pool!