| Three different types of swimming pool filters are | | | | of needing to be cleaned every few weeks like |
| in use in the United States, and each of the three | | | | sand filters will require, they only have to be |
| offer certain advantages over the others. The | | | | washed off once or twice a season. A cartridge |
| three types are sand, cartridge, and diatomaceous | | | | filter uses the the simple technique of pushing |
| earth (DE) filters. While sand and cartridge are less | | | | water through the filter, the surface of which is |
| expensive options, there are drawbacks that | | | | larger than a sand filter. A cartridge will also |
| make DE filters the ones of choice for most | | | | remove smaller particles than a sand filter does, |
| people. Experts will tell you that if you want the | | | | but it won't remove debris as small as a DE filter |
| cleanest swimming pool water in town, use a | | | | can do. |
| large DE filter. | | | | DE filters utilize diatomaceous earth which is made |
| Sand filters operate using a process of water | | | | up of the fossilized skeletons of tiny organisms |
| being pushed through the filter which is then the | | | | known as diatoms. This earth is then poured into |
| clean water is removed through two lateral tubes | | | | a slurry and then on into the skimmer where it |
| in the bottom. Although this type of filter works | | | | will coat the filter grids. Once on the grids, the tiny |
| quite well, when it gets dirty it requires manual | | | | exoskeletons act as sieves to remove |
| cleaning before it will work efficiently again. To | | | | particulates as small as 5 microns from swimming |
| clean it, it must be run in reverse, and then | | | | pool water. Even though a DE filter will clean the |
| backwashed. The backwashing process is done | | | | water the best of the three types of filters, the |
| using a very inefficient piece of equipment which | | | | size of the filter matters a great deal in the job it |
| means the cleaning process is quite lengthy. | | | | does. Therefore, if you can't afford to purchase a |
| Cartridge filters are the least expensive type of | | | | DE filter of adequate size, you may find that |
| swimming pool filters, and they are very easy to | | | | you're better off going with a cartridge filtering |
| clean off with a hose once they get dirty. They | | | | system. |
| don't clog as quickly as sand filters do, and instead | | | | |