A sand filter is easier to clean but does not clean your water as quickly as a cartridge. However, the sand almost never needs replaced where you need to occasionally replace a cartridge. So both have their ups and downs, neither is really overall better than the other.
Is a cartridge better than a sand filter?
If you are looking for a highly efficient solution with the least amount of bacteria and debris left swimming around in your pool, the cartridge filter is your best solution. The cartridge filter can catch finer debris than a sand filter, being 10-20 microns versus 20-40 microns.
Is a cartridge filter better than a de filter?
When determining which pool filter works best for your pool, consider the types of debris your pool collects. A DE filter will work better on smaller particles while a cartridge filter will work more efficiently with larger types of debris. Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
What is the best filter media for my sand filter?
Various granular media substitutes, such as perlite, zeolite and pulverized glass, can be used in the bottom of the filter to strain debris from the water, and according to their proponents, these improve a sand filter's performance and environmental report card.
What kind of sand goes into a sand filter?
They include:
- Silica sand: It is mined and helps to trap particulates.
- Glass sand: It is made of recycled glass and can help to trap manganese and iron particles.
- Zeolite sand: It is made of volcanic rock minerals and helps to trap chloramines.
Why is a sand filter better?
A sand filter will only filter down to 20 microns while a cartridge filter will filter down to 10 microns, half the amount. This means that a cartridge filter system will be able to rid your pool of more particles (dirt and debris) leaving it cleaner and more sparkling.
Which pool filter type is best?
BEST OVERALL: Hayward DE6020 ProGrid D.E. Pool Filter.BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: XtremepowerUS 19″ Above Inground Pool Sand Filter.BEST CARTRIDGE: Pentair 160332 Clean and Clear Pool Filter Cartridge.BEST SAND: Hayward ProSeries Pool Sand Filter.BEST ABOVE-GROUND: Carvin Laser 22.5 Inch Above Ground Pool Sand Filter.More items...•
Why is a sand pump better than a filter pump?
“Sand Filter” Vs. The pool water filters through the sand, which catches debris and small particulates, and sends clean water back into the pool. Sand filters are less expensive initially than their cartridge counterparts, are easy to maintain, and only require filter media changes every 5-7 years (depending on usage).
Which is better sand or salt pool filter?
Filtering Considerations A saltwater pump must function with a saltwater pool chemistry of 3,000 parts per million of salt, whereas the sand filter merely requires a basic, chlorinated swimming pool for filtration. Compared to the saltwater pump, the sand filter is a low-maintenance item.
Do I still need chlorine with a sand filter?
Sand filters need chlorine to sanitize the water. The sand is used to remove debris from the swimming pool, while chlorine is added to get rid of bacteria. Chlorine is a sanitizer; Sand is a filter. Your pool needs both of them to function properly.
How often should you change the sand in a pool filter?
every 3-5 yearsWhen do I need to replace my sand? On average, sand should be replaced every 3-5 years. This may be longer if the pool stays clear, or shorter, if the filter runs all the time. The jagged edges of the sand wear down and become smooth as the sand ages.
What is best filter for inground pool?
Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters are the best possible filtration method, removing particles of 2-4 microns in size. Filter powder is added through the skimmer to coat the DE filter grids, which is backwashed out and replaced every 3-6 weeks. In-ground pool DE filters include the Pentair FNS Plus DE filters.
How often do you have to backwash a sand filter?
“How often should I backwash my sand filter”? Ensure you do it if there's an algae outbreak or after a significant storm. A DE( diatomaceous earth)filter system needs cleaning six or more times each year. If you have a sand filter, backwash it every month and tear it down twice every year.
Can you use salt in a pool with a sand filter?
A sand filter is a great option for salt water pool owners for several reasons. The downside is they need to be backwashed regularly but the good news is that backwashing is quite easy to do. A general rule is to backwash when the pressure rises 6-8 lbs above normal operating pressure.
Can you backwash a cartridge filter?
Cartridge pool filters cannot be backwashed and must be cleaned by hand. Because they were not built for reverse water flow, cartridge filters can't be "backwashed" simply by reversing the water flow in the pool's filter system. These filters must be cleaned by hand when they are dirty.
How do you maintain a pool with a sand filter?
Deep Chemical Cleaning Pour sand filter cleaner into the strainer basket and replace the lid. Turn the pump off and leave it off for at least 8 hours. Backwash the filter for 3-5 minutes again to remove dirt, debris, and the cleaner. Turn the filter system back on.
Will a sand filter remove iron from pool water?
Will A Sand Filter Remove Iron From Pool Water? A sand filter will eliminate a large amount of particulate iron (and manganese). Dissolved iron may need to be removed from some sort of washed sand which could be better than zeolite or greener sand. It may be more expensive, but it would be more effective.
What is the best filter for an inground pool?
Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters are the best possible filtration method, removing particles of 2-4 microns in size. Filter powder is added through the skimmer to coat the DE filter grids, which is backwashed out and replaced every 3-6 weeks. In-ground pool DE filters include the Pentair FNS Plus DE filters.
What are the different types of pool filters?
There are three different types of filters that are available for use with inground pools. The three types are sand, diatomaceous earth (DE) and cartridge. Each kind has its pros and cons.
Is a bigger sand filter better?
A sand filter that is oversized for your pool is a better purchase than an undersized DE filter. Larger filters require less maintenance and the filter media lasts longer. And when you really need them to clean up poor water conditions, larger pool filters will do so faster and better than smaller.
What is the difference between a sand filter and a DE filter?
Like a sand filter, DE filters require regular backwashing to keep the filter clean. Unlike sand filters, however, the DE is actually removed with the trapped contaminants. This means that you have to add more DE to the filter each time that you backwash.
How does a sand filter work?
Sand filters work quite simply by pushing your pool water through sand that catches the dirt and debris and returns clean water into the pool. You clean your sand filter by backwashing it. This means running water backwards through the filter until the filter is clean. Sand filters are a pretty popular option for residential inground pools.
What is a cartridge filter?
Cartridge filters. Cartridge filters have a single layer of filter media made of synthetic fabrics attached in pleats to a cylindrical core. Water is pumped through the filter and passes through the cartridge, trapping dirt and debris in the fabric. Some spas and above-ground pools have a cartridge incorporated in the skimmer.
What is the best filter for debris?
For areas that tend to be debris-heavy, sand filters are your best bet.
Do cartridge filters give you clear water?
Both systems will give you clear water. But for the absolute best water clarity, cartridge filters win.
Sand Filter vs Cartridge Filter
Sand filters are solid and affordable options to filter in-ground and above-ground pools. This type of filter is ideal for larger residential and commercial pools with more powerful pool pumps.
The Drawbacks and Benefits of Sand Filter
A sand filter works in a way that the water flows from the top to the bottom of a certain size pool depending on what people want to remove from the water. Several physical and biological processes can also occur in a sand filter that causes the elimination of components.
The Drawbacks and Benefits of Cartridge Filter
The cartridge filter is commonly used for spas and small pools. The main purpose of cartridge filters is to eliminate the debris, small particles, and other contaminants from your water supply. Furthermore, It uses cloth-type material as a filtering agent.
Takeaway
There will be a pool filter that is better than the other. However, it is still up to you which type of pool filter works for your swimming pool best. Once you noticed that your current pool filter is not doing as much, do not hesitate to replace it and try the other options available.
What is a sand filter?
Sand Filters. Sand filters are the oldest form of filtration for a swimming pool. They consist of a large spherical-shaped globe that contains silica sand (may be referred to as simply ‘filter sand’). As water flows into the filter it passes through the sand. The dirt and other particles become trapped in the sand allowing clean filtered water ...
Why do you backwash a sand filter?
Backwashing a sand filter system is part of the regular maintenance of the system. As particles become trapped in the sand it restricts the water from flowing back to the pool. Your pressure gauge will start to increase as the filter sand clogs up with dirt and debris. This is your signal to perform a backwash.
How long does it take to backwash a pool filter?
Performing a backwash on a sand filter (part of the regular maintenance) will take you about 20-25 minutes. Cleaning off the cartridge should take only 5-10 minutes. Backwashing a sand filter will lower the water level of your pool and you will lose some of your chemicals along with it.
What is the best filter for an above ground pool?
Cartridge Filters are a great choice for Above Ground Pools. Although they both have some advantages, a cartridge filter would be your best choice for your pool’s filtration system. A sand filter will only filter down to 20 microns while a cartridge filter will filter down to 10 microns, half the amount. This means that a cartridge filter system ...
How long does a pool filter cartridge last?
You should remove it from the tank and hose it down thoroughly with your garden hose. Backwashing is not necessary with cartridge filters, eliminating water and chemical loss. The cartridge inside the filter will usually last about 1-3 years before needing to be replaced.
How long does a cartridge filter last?
Backwashing is not necessary with cartridge filters, eliminating water and chemical loss. The cartridge inside the filter will usually last about 1-3 years before needing to be replaced.
What is a cartridge filter?
Cartridge filters consist of a simple 2-piece tank (lid & bottom) with a cartridge inside of that tank. The cartridge is very similar to the air filters you can find in your car. Water is pushed into the tank from your pump and flows through the cartridge membrane.
What is the difference between sand filters and cartridge filters?
At their very heart, both sand filters and cartridge filters are the same. They filter your pool water so that you will be left with sparkling and clean water. But the way they work, what they’re made of, and even cost, vary greatly. Lets go over both types to see which is the perfect filter for your pool. But before we continue, here’s Mr Pool Man himself explaining the main differences between sand filters and cartridge filters.
Which is better, sand or cartridge pool filter?
While each type of pool filter has their own strengths and weaknesses, the main factors that really determine what’s better for most people are the ease of maintenance and long-term operating costs. This is why in the eyes of many people, pool sand filters are better than pool cartridge filters, and we tend to agree with this assessment.
How much water does a pool sand filter use?
Pool sand filters use a lot more water than pool filter cartridges when cleaning. The backwashing cycle will use anywhere between 300 to 600 liters of water. This is one big thing that cannot be ignored and, in this category, pool filter cartridges are the clear winner.
How does a sand filter work?
Sand filter media starts off with jagged edges that snag debris down to 20 microns in size and over time, these edges get worn smooth by the water passing through the filter, effectively reducing its filter efficiency until it no longer filters the water properly.
How long does it take to clean a pool sand filter?
Cleaning sand filters is pretty straightforward and it uses a technique called “backwashing” it’s basically reversing the flow of water and it’s a very simple task that can be done in just a few minutes. In fact, it takes longer to read our backwashing guide than to actually backwash the pool if you’ll believe that. For more information on backwashing your pool, be sure to check out our guide on how to backwash a pool sand filter through the button below.
How many microns does a cartridge filter have?
Cartridge filters can trap particles down to 10 microns in size, which means that you’ll end up with much clearer water when compared with that of a sand filter. The downside to this is that since it catches more stuff, then more cleaning is required. To clean a filter cartridge, you have to take it out of the housing, ...
What is pool filter cartridge?
Cartridge filters use filter cartridges that are constructed from synthetic fabrics that are attached to a plastic frame or core. Cartridge filters can trap particles down to 10 microns in size, which means that you’ll end up with much clearer water when compared ...
How many gallons of water is a sand filter?
When you have 20,000 gallons of water, it is! A sand filter is a very simple apparatus – it’s basically an empty bucket filled with sand. As water passes down through the sand, dirt is caught in the spaces between the pieces of sand. When the sand is full of dirt, you flush it out by running the pool water backwards through the sand, ...
Why doesn't everyone use a DE filter?
So why doesn’t everyone just use a DE filter? Because they are more expensive. Cartridge filters clean the water better than sand, and are fairly inexpensive to buy. Supposedly, they are better for the environment, but that’s sort of a “Paper vs. Plastic” argument.
How many microns does a de filter remove?
DE removes particles down to three microns, all the time. A micron is very small – a millionth of a meter. Cartridge filters work down to 40 microns only when they are working correctly. Sand filters work around 100 microns right after they are backwashed, and get down to about 75 microns when they are dirty.
How long does it take for a DE filter to clear?
In the same situation, the DE filter would clog up two or three times a day for two or three days – until the pool was clear. Of course, that’s because the DE filter was clearing up, in two or three days, what the sand filter was going to take a week or two to accomplish.
What happens when a pool filter is old?
When they are old and soft, they allow dirt to go right past the cartridge and back to the pool. Most of the owners of cartridge filters that we know (mostly on spas and small pools) are constantly fighting cloudy water. When you only have a few hundred gallons of water, draining and starting over is not a big deal.
How much does a DE filter cost?
DE is very inexpensive – about $15 a summer should do it.
What is the purpose of a pool filter?
The purpose of the pool’s filter is to keep the water clean and clear by removing dirt, algae, particles, and other stuff that makes the water cloudy. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) takes out much smaller particles much more quickly than any other filter.
Pentair 160340 Clean & Clear Plus Cartridge Pool Filter
Built with the largest filter surface area to clean your water quickly and efficiently than other filters, the Pentair Clean & Clear Plus includes an effective filter area of 320 square feet. Internal and manual air relief makes managing good water pressure easy. It filters 120 GPM inside a heavy, injection-molded tank.
Which Pool Filter Is Best
Every swimming pool needs a pool filter. Without a functioning pool pump and filter, your water will inevitably turn green. However, which pool filter is best: sand, cartridge, or D.E. filter? We often encounter pool owners who are struggling to decide whether to keep their cartridge filter or to switch to sand or D.E.
Best Pool Filter Reviews
So you can find the right pool filter, Ive gotten the details of a few of the best pool filter models on the market right now. These are filters that I consider to be a good value for the money and potentially a great choice for your pool.
How To Buy The Best Above Ground Pool Filter
Above ground pool filters come in different types, and so you should always start by deciding on which one to get. The types differ in the material they use to filter the water and also in how they work. Here are the 3 most common types.
Pool Filter Ease Of Maintenance
This is another factor that contributes to the answer of which pool filter is better. For pool sand filters, maintenance is a breeze. Backwashing only takes a few minutes and a few turns of a lever to clean out the filter completely.
The Best Filter Is The One Thats Best For You
You can spend less money for less maintenance and less filtering. Or invest a little more up front for better filtering for the cost of more time and work. Its really up to you whats best for your schedule and your budget.
What Do Pool Filters Do
The process of filtering a pool is pretty simple. First, some pool water is pumped out of your pool and into your filter. In the filter, it sifts through a filtering medium which catches and holds impurities and debris. What passes through the other side is the fresh clean water that invites us to dive in for a swim. Sand, cartridge, and D.E.
Sand Filter
Sand filters use rough sand generally made of silica or fiberglass to filter out debris in the poolwater. The sand used in pool filters is specifically designed to be sharper and more rigid, which helps to catch more particles.
DE Filter
A DE filter is a powder-like substance, which is much smaller than sand. DE or diatomaceous earth is made up of tiny fossils crushed into a fine powder. These particles can be poured directly into your skimmer, and then they will collect on the filter grid.
Cartridge Filters
Cartridge filters are an excellent option for better filtration than sand but are more affordable than DE. Cartridge filters use synthetic polyester screens as a filter medium. Pool water is pumped through and particles get stuck to the filter medium. They do not require backwashing to be cleaned.
Ultimately, How Do You Choose?
With so many pros and cons, it can be overwhelming to decide the type of pool filter that works best for you. In the end, it comes down to taking a look at your pool and considering a few factors.
Which is cheaper, a pool filter or a sand filter?
Cartridge filters are cheaper than DE filters, with fewer parts, plus no separate backwash valve to buy. Sand filters are the cheapest pool filter because they are the simplest type of pool filter, with few parts and a simpler design to fabricate.
How many microns are in a sand filter?
Sand filters are capable of filtering particles about 20-40 microns in size, which technically makes them the least effective among the three pool filter types in terms of the particle size removed. They are the easiest to maintain, requiring backwashing or cleaning to remove dirt from the filter when the pressure gauge has a reading of 8-10 psi over the startup reading.
What is a DE filter?
DE, or Diatomaceous Earth, filters remove particles down to 1-3 microns in size, a smaller particle size than can be seen by the naked eye, making them the most effective filter type. The filter contains either fingers or grids (grid assembly shown) that is covered by a fine powder called diatomaceous earth. It is this powder that actually does the bulk of the filtering. DE powder is generally sold separately from the filter itself and is added by pouring it through the skimmer.
Why are cartridge filters called cartridge filters?
Cartridge filters are so named because they contain a pleated spun polyester filter cartridge that looks similar to the air filter you will find in your car. Water is forced through the cartridge pleats and it will trap debris as small as 5-25 microns, a significant improvement over sand filters.
What is the advantage of a DE filter?
Pros – The DE filter has the advantage of filtering the water to the smallest particle size (2-3 microns) and will keep the water cleaner than a sand filter or cartridge filter. This can translate to less pump run time and less sanitizer needed to keep the water clean and clear.
How often should I clean my cartridge filter?
Cartridge filters require little maintenance. An oversized cartridge filter only needs to be cleaned about every six months, or whenever the filter pressure is 8-10 psi over the standard reading.
What is the best pool filter?
There are three kinds of pool filters: sand, cartridge and DE (which stands for diatomaceous earth). All three are capable of properly maintaining the water. There is no one best pool filter for all applications, but many owners have a preference for one over the other. This will help you decide which pool filter type is best for you.
Dear General-
Let’s First Take A Look at How They work.
- Sand filters
Sand filters work quite simply by pushing your pool water through sand that catches the dirt and debris and returns clean water into the pool. You clean your sand filter by backwashing it. This means running water backwards through the filter until the filter is clean. Sand filters are a prett… - Sand filter maintenance
Sand filters require very little maintenance, other than the aforementioned backwashing. You’ll need to replace the sand every 2-4 years, depending on how often you use your pool.
Which Filtration System Is Best For You? It Depends.
- How important is water clarity?
Both systems will give you clear water. But for the absolute best water clarity, cartridge filters win. Cartridge filters typically screen out twice as much dirt and debris as sand filters do. A cartridge filter takes out so fine a particle that your water actually glistens. It can really be witnessed at nig… - Where do you live?
For areas that tend to be debris-heavy, sand filters are your best bet. For example, I live in an established neighborhood with very little dirt and debris floating around in the air. Therefore, I enjoyed the cartridge system and only cleaned the filters once a season, when I closed the pool …
Ask The Pros
- You can always consult with your pool professional for advice on what type of pool filtration system will work best for the area you live in and how you plan to use and care for your pool. They can also make recommendations about manufacturers. No matter which system you choose, you’ll love the durability and low-maintenance that a fiberglass pool offers. Happy swimming!