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Sand Swimming Pool Filters |
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 Of all the types of swimming pool filters, sand filters are about the most reliable. They are very common, and are the best type of filter for any public swimming pool. As the name indicates, a sand filter uses sand to sift out impurities. The pump forces the dirty water through the sand, which filters out debris and returns the cleaned water to the pool.
For a sand swimming pool filter to work properly, you must have a specific type of sand in it. The right kind of sand is very clean and very fine. If for any reason you have to change the sand in your filter, you should not use playground sand or sand from construction sites. It must be the special sand available from a pool supplier. Good swimming pool sand will filter out impurities as small as 20 microns across, which is too small to see with the naked eye.
Instead of replacing the sand when it gets to dirty to keep filtering out impurities, a homeowner needs to backwash the sand. You can tell that it is time to backwash because there will be a change in the pressure reading on the unit. It will become higher because the unit is having a harder time pushing the water through the sand. There should be instructions with your pump and filter system showing you how to backwash the sand. If the pool is an inground, plumbed pool, it should just be a matter of turning a few valves or flipping a switch.
A sand swimming pool filter cannot do the job of keeping your pool water clean and safe by itself. You must add the needed chemicals, whether you use chlorine or bromine or a biguanide alternative. You will also probably need to add algaecide from time to time. Knowing how to test and adjust your pool water with chemicals is essential to keeping a sand filter running at top efficiency.
If you are just getting a pool established and you are buying a sand filter, be sure to choose one that is big enough to do the job. It may seem like a needless expense, but it is generally recommended that when in doubt, you go with the larger size of filter. The fact is, it will save you much headache and trouble in the long run if you choose a large enough filter in the first place.
Another consideration is that if you have not made up your mind for sure that a sand filter is the type of filter you want, you may wish to talk to other pool owners in your neighborhood. Sand pool filters are not the best kind to use in very dry climates because of the amount of water needed in backwashing, and in some municipalities they are not even allowed.
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