Which Better De Filter Or Cartridge

Demystifying Pool Filters - Sand vs. Cartridge vs. DE

Puddle filters are your main line of defense when it comes to keeping your swimming pool water clean. H2o temporarily leaves your swimming pool through the pool'due south skimmer, being moved by the pool pump into your filter. Dirt, hair, grass, body oils, and other impurities are all removed by this process, leaving you with clear, inviting water that is pumped back into your pool for when you lot're fix to swim.

In that location are three major types of pool filters: sand, cartridge and DE. While the basic principle behind each is quite similar, each filter type offers its own unique pros and cons.

Sand Filters

Pool water is pumped into the filter tank and through a bed of filter sand. Impurities in the water become caught up in the sand as the water passes through to tubes at the bottom of the filter and returned to the puddle.

In order to clean the debris out of the filter sand, the filter must be backwashed, a manual process which removes the particles and debris. Backwashing is necessary to maintain the filter's effectiveness, likewise equally prevent the pressure in the tank from building upwards to unsafe levels.

There are also options for filter media likewise sand that piece of work with sand filters. Alternative media include recycled glass and Zeo-Clear, which can improve filter efficiency. Just brand sure to use an culling media that is designed to be used with a sand filter.

Pros

Lowest maintenance compared to cartridge & DE filters
Filter sand is inexpensive and easy to supercede
Finer traps particles betwixt 20-100 microns
Alternative filter media tin can inexpensively improve filter efficiency

Cons

Manual backwashing required every few weeks
Tin allow for smaller particles to laissez passer back into the pool

Cartridge Filters

Cartridge filters piece of work similarly to an automobile's air filter, in which your puddle water passes through a filter element. Pool filter cartridges are plastic-framed cylinders of pleated fabric. The sizes of these cartridges vary from model to model, so information technology'south important to get the correct size cartridge for your filter.

As the h2o runs through the filter, particles are caught by the fabric while the water passes through and dorsum to the pool. In lieu of backwashing, the filter cartridge can be removed from the filter and hosed down to remove the nerveless debris.

Pros

No backwashing required
Less water is used cleaning the filter
Filter cartridges typically last 2-iii years

Cons

Hosing off filter cartridge can exist time-consuming
Filtering is not as efficient against smallest particles, compared to DE filters
Replacement cartridges must match size & specs of filter

DE (Diatomaceous Earth) Filters

DE Filters

Fossilized algae known every bit diatoms are basis up into a powder, forming what nosotros telephone call Diatomaceous Earth (or DE for short). The DE powder is mixed into the filter and coats a filter "grid", which then collects particles when your puddle h2o is run through the filter. This powder is finer than sand, meaning that a DE filter can filter out smaller particles than a sand filter is able to collect.

A DE filter is cleaned out by backwashing, just similar a sand filter. Small-scale amounts of DE pulverisation tin can remain in the filter after backwashing, so an almanac cleaning of your filter is recommended

Pros