Pool Filters

An important part of any pool water system is pool filters. Their function is to move away pollutant debris and particles from any pool. Pollution accumulates very quickly, creating dirty water with all the possibilities for algae population. The importance of the normal functioning of pool filters is hard to overestimate.

Water filters do not only make the water of pool clear, but also make it safe for those who swim in it. There are too many confusions today as to the various filters, but it must be pointed out that all the filters guarantee comparatively the same result.

Above Ground Pool Filters

The above ground pool filters are great for all the kinds of pools. The range of sizes and types allows a customer to select the one that suits him best in price and quality. There are two main kinds of these filters: Hayward and Pentair Above Ground Pool Filter Systems. They are practically the same and assure effectiveness and reliability of filtration.

The core of any above ground pool is pump and filter. This system keeps the water moving in pool and removes debris. Without the system of filtration the pool will be full of slime. The system starts with the skimmer – an opening in the wall of pool, it has a basket for catching large debris. Water flows through the filter with the sand, the sand removes small particulates from it. The filter and the pump are equally important. The pump size depends on the size of the pool.

There are three major types of filters:

Diatomaceous earth filter is made of fossilized exoskeletons or man made materials and is used for filtration medium. It can filter out the elements that are less than 5 microns, thus providing the leanest water. This type of filters is the best one as it removes the smallest particles, which are usually not cleaned by others filters (sand and cartridge). It is a porous powder with microscopic openings.

Pool Sand Filters are the most frequently used filters in which the sand is a filtration media. The backwashing is obligatory every two-three weeks, but the sand appears to be the least effective method of filtration. It’s one of the first methods of pool water filtration and is a rather popular one. During the normal filtration cycle, the water flows from top to the bottom. Dirt collects on top of and in the sand bed. The filter doesn’t demand cleaning.

There is an amount of problems which occur mostly with sand filters. They trap the particles of about 20-100 micron in size and those, which are smaller, usually stay in water. The main drawback is that when the sand goes bad, no one can notice it at once. Looking at it won’t help you to define its condition. When you want to check the quality of sand and water, you need chemical test. Only the chemical test can confirm or object the suspicions you have.

Cartridge Filters have special cartridges and the cleaning is obligatory only once or twice per season. The range of the effect is between the diatomaceous earth filters and pool sand filters. Passing through the cartridge filter and the dirt is screened out from the water.

The cartridges must be cleaned as the dirt is accumulating inside of them during the process of filtration.
Pool Filters are obviously very significant element of any swimming-pool; if not then your pool would never be clean, but green and cloudy. The filters keep the water flowing and prevent it from becoming stagnated. As there are three major kinds, you are to select the one, which suits you best. Don’t be afraid. If treated, the result is going to be practically the same. You won’t make a mistake.

Using Your Pool Cover Pump

Pool covers are used when the swimming pool is not in use and needs to be covered. However, there may be times, when the pool cover has excess water over it. Removing this excess water can be time consuming and messy if you intend to do it on your own by using a garden hose.

You may also contemplate using the services of a professional pool cleaning service, but would have to shell out sizeable fees. Instead, the best way to accomplish the task is by using a pool cover pump.

Pool cover pumps are little but powerful machines, which pump out the water off the pool cover, efficiently. The water is drained through the hose attached to the pump, which can be diverted to dispose off water anywhere you wish. The pool cover pump is also beneficial as it gets rid of the stagnant water over the cover, which can be a breeding ground for insects.

pool cover pumps models

Pool cover pumps are available in many varieties in the market. Some of these are basic models while the others are elaborate machines. While the basic models are time consuming, the advanced pool cover pumps pump out the water quickly. The models can be of the submersible type or the fully automatic type.

Whether you use the basic model or the advanced model, the basic purpose of removing water off the pool cover is achieved easily with these pool pumps. Additionally the pool cover pumps have other benefits like being used to pump out water from a flooded basement or from a boat, which has retained excess water.

Taking good care of the pool cover pump ensures that it works efficiently. Since mostly basic models are used, they are relatively low on maintenance. However, you still must check that the pump has not clogged up.

Maintenance of pool cover pumps

For this, you may regularly clean the screen or the filter of the pump. It might be clogged with debris, twigs, leaves and other such products that might be floating on the pool cover. Similarly, if you wish to use the pool pump in the winter months, you ought to be careful as these pumps tend to freeze and need to be thawed to be able to work again. For this, you would have to place the pump in an area, where the temperature is not as low as in the open.

This will thaw the pump and the frozen water would drain out. Maintenance of pool cover pumps is negligible but if there are broken parts, you may get them replaced. However, it may be difficult to find parts for an inexpensive pump and it would be better to buy another swimming pool cover pump.

Above Ground Pool Pumps

The above ground pool pump and filter system may be called the heart of any swimming pool. The reason for this is that without these equipments, the swimming pool would not be anything but a pool of slime.

It is the above ground pool pump, which keeps the pool water moving, helps in removing the debris and pollutants, helps in distributing the chlorine evenly in the pool and filters the small particles present in the pool water. Therefore, the essential part of sanitizing a swimming pool is done by the above ground pool pump.

types of above ground pool pumps

Buying an above ground pool pump can be difficult if one is not aware of the concept and working of these pumps. However, one may always leave the task to the experts, who can suggest the right sized and right powered pump for one’s swimming pool.

There are three types of above ground pool pumps; sand, diatomaceous and cartridge filter systems. Each of these has its own advantages and drawbacks. While the sand filter system is known for its ease of use, reliability and low-maintenance, the cartridge system filters out small particles in a much more efficient manner.

The Diatomaceous filters on the other hand are the best filters but they may with time, suffer from loss of water flow. Therefore, one has to go with the expert recommendation depending upon the pool size and the budgetary constraints.

Working of the above ground pool pumps

The skimmer is the starting part of the above ground pool pump system. Just below the water line in the pool wall, there is an opening, which is actually the skimmer. The skimmer has a basket fitted inside a container, which is mounted on the exterior of the wall, to catch large debris.

A hose connects the skimmer to the pump and another from the pump discharge to the filter unit. The filter has sand to remove the dirt particles and from here, the water is passed through another hose to the pool wall just below the water line.

pool pumps and filter systems efficiency

For the above ground pool pumps and filter systems to work efficiently, it is imperative that the filter is elevated from the ground and is level. Pavers can be created to provide a solid base, so that the filter may sit on it easily. One should regularly check the skimmer as a clogged skimmer basket hampers the efficiency of the pump by restricting the water flow. One should also ensure that the pool water should not go below the skimmer as this could cause the filtration system to malfunction and burn the pump.

Using the Swimming Pool Pumps Efficiently

A proper pool pump is imminent for the efficient working of a swimming pool. For this reason, it is imperative that the swimming pool pump installed is of the right size and correct horsepower to be able to save energy and provide maximum pool filter benefit. Therefore, choosing the right swimming pool pump involves a number of aspects, which must be considered while going for a pool pump.

Bigger is not always better and this applies very well in the case of pool pumps. Depending upon the pool size, the pump can be a small pump as long as the hydraulic characteristics of the pump match with that of the flow characteristics of the pool. To know the right size of the pump, you ought to know the size of your pool and can then consult a sizing chart.

Efficient use of swimming pool pumps

The efficient use of swimming pool pumps means that they should be able to keep the swimming pool clean while saving energy as well. The industry standard of running a swimming pool pump and motor for efficient cleaning and filtration is eight hours. However, if you wish to save energy you may decrease the running of the pool pump to six hours.

Swimming pool pumps are normally run when you need automatic debris cleaning or at the time of addition of pool chemicals, but running for a long time only wastes energy.

A better way to utilize the swimming pool efficiently is by cutting down its running time, while scrubbing the walls and adding chemicals to keep the pool and the water clean, respectively. However, if there is still need of using the pool pump, increase its run-on time slowly like by half-hour increments.

Efficient filtration

For efficient filtration, you may run your pool pump with the timer on for short periods. This would not only keep your swimming pool clean each day but will bring the overall usage of the pool pump down. For a swimming pool pump to be able, to run efficiently you need to clear the skimmers and the drains free of debris.

Clogged areas can only add to the problem and need the pool pump to work harder and thereby use more energy.

Size of the swimming pool pump

Sizing the swimming pool pumps with respect to the size of the swimming pool is the ideal way to get the right pump. In addition, conscious efforts to save energy by reducing the on-time running of the pool pump helps the environment and this could be a way to contribute to reducing the carbon footprint.

Pool heat pumps buying guide

As the name implies, the pool heat pumps are pumps, which are used to heat the swimming pools or maintain a steady temperature of the pools, to provide an extended swimming season. The pool heat pumps do not use fuels like propane or oil to heat the swimming pool. Instead, they use the outside air and transfer the heat to the pool by using the refrigerant technology. The refrigerant used, absorbs the heat in the ambient air and transfers heat energy into the pool.

There are some features of pool heat pumps:

Cost effective: although the pool heat pumps are a little expensive than the normal pool heaters, they prove to be cost effective, as operational costs in their cases are far less. Since heat from the ambient air is transferred, they do not require any additional fuel to run on to heat the pool.

The resultant cost of electricity to run the pool heat pumps as compared to the cost of fuel to run the traditional heat pumps is far less and therefore the former are more cost effective.

Easy and safe to operate: the feature of the pool heat pumps to transfer the ambient air’s heat to the swimming pool makes it easy and safe to operate. There is no use of flammable gases and refilling of fuel tanks to heat the pool. Moreover, they are environmentally safe as they produce air as a byproduct.

Require less maintenance and last longer: as compared to traditional heating pools, the pool heat pumps require less maintenance and they last longer.

Things to keep in mind when purchasing a pool heat pump

When you wish to purchase a pool heat pump, ensure that you make your purchase from a reputable company, which offers quality, experience and warranty services. In addition, look for a pump with advanced technology as this may get you a hassle-free, automatic pump.

It is important to note the performance of the heat pumps from several brands. Lastly ensure that the sanitizing system of your swimming pool go along well with the heat pump as the chemicals in the filtration system may cause the heat exchangers in the pool to malfunction.

The installation of the pool heat pumps is made after the pool pump and filter but before the chemical feeders, required to clean the pool. This is to ensure that the heat pool pump does not get corroded due to the chemicals and that the pump works to its utmost efficiency.