Expert Pool & Spa, Inc.
"ASK THE EXPERTS!"
Omaha Nebraska
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Expert Pool & Spa, Inc.
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| Please select the type of filter you have from the list at the left for specific instructions.
Occasionally a filter cleaning product should be used to help deep clean the filter and extend the life of the filter media. There are different types of cleaners depending on what type of filter you have. Cartridge filters should be soaked in cleaning solution, sand filters require the product to remain inside the filter for 24 hours before backwashing and D.E. Filter grids can be soaked in a special cleaning solution. Be sure to follow label directions carefully.
Sand Filters - These filters use a fine, grade 20 silica sand to catch dirt and debris as the water travels through the sand. Sand filters will filter out a particle as small as 15-20 microns. As the dirt load increases, the pressure reading on the gauge rises and water flow through the system decreases. When the filter pressure is 5-10 psi above normal, the filter will need to be cleaned or "Backwashed". Backwashing is the process of circulating water backwards through the pool filter to loosen dirt and debris caught in the sand and then flushing that mixture of dirt and water out to waste. Backwashing removes most, but not all of the debris caught in the sand and over time the sand will need to be replaced. Eventually the sand will solidify together and the effective filtration area will be decreased resulting in shorter filtration cycles or time between backwashings. If the sand is not replaced at this point, "Channeling" may occur which is when the water actually rips a channel or a path straight through the solidified sand and results in little or no filtration at all. The sand in most filters should be changed every third season at a minimum. Be sure to add chemicals to the pool after backwashing if they are needed, this way they are not pumped out to waste during backwashing.
D.E. Filters - D.E. or "Diatomaceous Earth" filters are the most effective type of pool filter. These filters use a fine powder or "D.E. Powder" to cover a series of grids inside the filter. The powder is very fine like baby powder and can filter a particle of 2-3 microns in size. We recommend D.E. Filters for all of our new pools and for replacement filters. D.E. Filters can hold a much larger amount of dirt and debris before backwashing is needed and D.E. Filters usually can go for about two weeks before backwashing. D.E. Filters tend to clear up a cloudy pool much faster than sand filters do. The D.E. Powder is added to the filter through the pool skimmer and it then goes through the pool pump and into the filter where it coats the grids on the inside. When you backwash a D.E. Filter, you are "blowing" the D.E. powder off the grids and out to waste. The D.E. powder is simply disposed of and not reused unlike sand filters. D.E. Filters should be disassembled and cleaned manually at least once per season.
Cartridge Filters - Cartridge filters are most commonly used on spas and hot tubs. There are some large capacity cartridge filters for swimming pools available. These filters use a cartridge element that is made of a special paper like material. They are similar to an air filter for a car but bigger. Cartridge filters are not really backwashed but removed from the filter and sprayed out with a garden hose and a nozzle manually. The cartridge can also be soaked overnight in a cleaning solution or just simply replaced with a new one. Cartridge filters should be cleaned on a monthly basis.
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~ Expert Pool & Spa, Inc. ~
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Pool filter "Backwashing" is a routine procedure which is usually
performed on a weekly basis depending on what type of filter is on your
system. There are three types of filters - Sand, D.E., and Cartridge. All three types of filters do basically the same thing - filter
the water - but use different methods. The types are identified by the filter media that is
used to achieve filtration. Sand is the most common type, then D.E. and
finally cartridge. Cartridge filters are most commonly used on spas and
hot tubs. D.E. Filters are the most effective and we recommend installing
these if filter replacement is required.
