Sand Filters

filter equipment for above ground pools

In my many years of owning above ground pools I have used all three types of filters.  The diatomaceous earth filter, the cartridge filter and the sand filter.  Diatomaceous earth is an excellent filtering agent.  Diatomaceous earth filters have also come a long way over the last thirty years.  In the early days you would have to remove the filter elements, hose them down, and then recoat the system with diatomaceous earth.  As these filters have progressed the cleaning part has become much easier.  There is still the cost of recharging the system with every cleaning.  This is probably the reason for the decrease in popularity over the years.

The reason people still use them is their great ability to clean the water.  DE filters clean to about 6 microns of dirt compared to 20 for a cartridge filter and 60 for a sand filter.

Cartridge filters are still very popular.  They are the least expensive and tend to come as standard equipment with low end pools.  The downside to the cartridge filter is having to open up the system, removing the cartridge and hosing it off to clean it.  It is time consuming and a little messy, but an affective system if you clean the filter weekly and replace the cartridge yearly.  The cartridge filter is the second best filtering agent just behind diatomaceous earth.

There are, of course, high quality cartridge filters and many pool owners swear by them.  There are even some towns that have outlawed all other types of filters.  The reason for this is that cartridge filters are the only ones you do not have to backwash.  Water is becoming a great concern in some places.

Having used them all over the years my personal favorite is the sand filter.  You simply shut the pump off, move a rotary valve, restart the pump and backwash until the sand is clean.  Sand filters are fast and very efficient, they are also the most popular filters sold with above ground swimming pools.  I much prefer the ease of operation and the great filtering qualities of a sand filter.

My favorite systems for cleaning an above ground pool would be the Perflex DE filter system.  I owned one of the very first Perflex filters.  It was a store demo and the tank was clear so the inside movements could be demonstrated.  For well over twenty years this has been an outstanding system.

The Easy-Clear cartridge filter is a good solid filter.  I had the pleasure of installing hundreds of these over a period of a few years when they were the filter of choice for one of the pool stores I worked for.  The installation was as easy as it gets and I very seldom had to do any service work on the systems.  The cartridge removes easily for cleaning and the top seals up nicely each time you close it.

I guess I just don't mind swimming around with that invisible dirt that is all of 60 microns.  I water my trees with the backwash so I don't feel guilty there, and I am really lazy.  This system is just to easy to maintain.  I love the Pro Series sand filters.