Can Intake For Above Ground Pool Filter Sysyem Be Installed Closer To Bottom Of Pool

Bound rains have subsided, lawns and gardens accept been the primary focus of attention. The garage is fifty-fifty getting somewhat organized, and equally the days first to finally promise some consecutive sunshine yous turn to the last simply not least about important thing in the thou that's frequently the final spring project for many homeowners: the swimming puddle!

Some folks are lucky. The pump primes correct up, water circulates, there are no leaks, and they are off to skillful offset. For others, a common fate is shared as they open to a non-working pump, cracked or damaged filters, or just now remember the previous flavour's struggle with a filter organization that was merely not doing the job anymore.

If you are yet struggling to clear the pool water, hither's information that tin can be useful to you, our Beginner'southward Guide to Puddle Filters.

Filtration, Filtration, Filtration

To help yous comprehend, I offset must exude a pool pro's wisdom with the mantra: "Filtration, filtration, filtration!" as this is the true secret to keeping a pool clear!

The pump and filter system is the middle of your pool and it does virtually of the cleaning and clarifying, so make sure information technology's performance well and sized properly.

There are a multifariousness of filter brands and models for every size pool, in-basis and aboveground akin. Some great brands are Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, and Waterway and they are sold as filter simply or equally a organisation with a pump.

Aboveground systems unremarkably include hoses and fittings, a pump, and base so they are a "plug and play" purchase. For smaller pools and soft-sided pools at that place are some nice products from Intex and GAME that are easy on the budget, as well.

Generally, they all behave similar warranties and have the aforementioned bones features and functions. You lot simply need to place your faith in a make and get for it similar you lot would if you were choosing any other household appliance like a new stove.

What I have found is that virtually folks replace their old 1 with the same blazon and/or brand that was in that location when they bought the abode, purchase the aforementioned kind their parents had, or take a tip from a friend or neighbour. By the way, your pump and filter can be different brands, no problem there.

A skilful source of puddle filter advice (outside of mine) would be to ask whatever ane of these people, read some good pool blogs, manufacturer sites, and/or read some real reviews on line.

And then let'southward swoop into the details of the iii chief types of swimming puddle filters, sand, cartridge, and DE, and distill some differences.

SAND FILTERS

A sand filter is comprises a hollow tank on a stand with a simple vertical PVC piping stand up in the eye that extends to the bottom and is fitted into a manifold with slotted lateral pipes extending in a fanned out mode looking much like wagon wheel spokes on an beam tipped on terminate.

Sand filters are filled with, you lot guessed information technology, sand, merely not merely any sand. You tin can fill it with a Pool Filter Sand, (#twenty grade silica sand for pools at $4.99-$9.99/50 lbs.), Zeolite (a premium loftier porosity filter media at $39.99/50 lbs.), or Filter Drinking glass (recycled crushed glass that really filters out claret cells and entraps cryptosporidium at $44.99/fifty lbs.).

Traditionally, Sand Filters are filled ii/three full and a handy multiport valve sits on elevation with an O-ring and a clench band to seal and secure the valve to the filter. The multiport valve allows yous to control all of the filter functions externally.

Note that variable valves vary. Try to say that 10 times in a row! Some models have a threaded top mount valve or a side-mounted 1 that is fixed to the side of the tank via two bulkhead unions. They can have 1.five-inch ports or accept 2″ ports.

Multiport valves, also used on DE filters, typically have six positions just can have from four to eight. They are set to "filter" mode most of the fourth dimension. Y'all can utilise the valve to recirculate, vacuuming to waste, or to driblet your water level for endmost. Check your possessor's manual for full functionality and closing recommendations.

How it all works: Water flows through the valve and diffuser, passes through the sand bed, which captures fine debris particulates, and travels through the slotted laterals up through the standpipe and goes dorsum to the pool.

As the sand bed slowly plugs up, your pressure gauge, located on the valve (or dome for side mounts) will ascent in force per unit area. Proceed in mind that the more a sand filter plugs up, the effectively the particulates that are captured then information technology's good to let it plug up somewhat, and non backwash too frequently.

Normal operating pressure depends on your pump size and overall resistance in the system, but most residential tanks will showtime at between x-20 psi and when the force per unit area rises 8-10 pounds, it is time to backwash the filter.

To backwash a sand filter, cut the power to the pump and reverse the valve, then turn the pump dorsum on. The water flows in reverse and dirty water is sent out another port on the valve, where you lot will have fastened a aftermath hose with a clench and flushed to the lawn, or wherever your aftermath hose may atomic number 82.

Merely brand certain information technology goes away from the puddle and, if heavily chlorinated, away from any flowers or gardens. It is best to exercise this when your chlorine or sanitizer is low so you don't waste it! Flushing for two minutes or so should do it or you can watch the belch water or sight glass on the valve until the water runs clear. Shut the pump off and render the valve to filter mode.

Sand will filter down to nearly twenty microns (i micron is equal to 10-100 human pilus widths) and should be replaced every three to v years. Smaller tanks may be emptied at the end of the flavor then it is easy to store abroad the filter and then replaced with fresh sand each spring. Winterizing involves a heavy backwash and then merely draining the tank by unscrewing a plug at the bottom and putting the valve in "winterize" position to drain the valve itself.

You lot volition know the filter is working if the h2o pressure level coming into the pool is strong, the pump basket housing is e'er full of h2o, the gauge pressure is normal, and the pool water stays clear.

Peak Mount Sand Filters vs. Side Mount Sand Filters

Acme mounted sand filters are e'er sold with a multiport valve that is flange attached to the top of the filter tank. Top mountain sand filters besides include all internals (standpipe, hub, laterals), and the bleed assembly. Top mount sand filters are cheaper for manufacturers to make, because the top-mount pattern is simpler, and much fewer parts are used.

1. Summit mounted multiport valve can be rotated to align with pump and other equipment.
2. Lower cost filters;  from reduced cost of manufacturing tiptop mount sand filters.
3. Fewer parts than side mounted tanks; no bulkheads or pinnacle closure assembly.

Side mounted sand filters are sold separately from the valve, a multiport or slide valve, primarily because you have a choice. A slide valve (aka button-pull valve) offers just two functions, filter or aftermath, only tin be preferred considering of (much) lower resistance than a multiport valve, and because the elementary pattern requires fewer repairs.

1. Side mountain filters are NSF certified for commercial pools to NSF/ANSI Standard 50.
2. Side mount filters can use a slide valve for college flow rates and reduced restriction.
3. Side mountain filters provide easier access to inspect sand and service internal parts.

Sand Bed Rejuvenation: You can clean your sand or zeolite with a quart of Filter Sand cleaner to disinfect the media, decalcify, and rejuvenate the bed.

Filter Sand Alter: To empty or alter the sand you just disconnect the hoses or PVC, remove the valve, and carefully remove scoop by scoop with a java mug or soup tin can. When y'all've removed most of the sand, the standpipe and lateral associates tin be folded up or unscrewed and removed so that you lot tin apply a bigger scoop and somewhen tip over the tank and rinse it out. Then replace the inner components, middle and comprehend the pipe and then sand does non get in it, add enough h2o to embrace the laterals, and replace with new sand. Remove the embrace, clamp on the valve and yous are good to get!

Sand Filter Parts: Ordinarily replaced filter parts would include drain assembly parts or laterals. Sand filters have very few parts, which make them simpler to work on than DE filters.

CARTRIDGE POOL FILTERS

For those who want more simplicity than the aforementioned filtration apparatus, and a worry-costless setup, the cartridge filter may the way to get! This style of filter has taken the aboveground market past storm due to its unproblematic design and ease of use.

Many cartridge filters are tall and narrow so they save on space and, unlike sand, the filter is a simple 2-slice tank (lid and bottom). They use a spun, bonded polyester, fan folded filter much like a cylindrical automotive air filter.

Cartridge filters have the nearly available filter surface expanse, ranging from l-500 foursquare feet. The cartridge has less resistance so you get more turnover in gallons over the same horsepower with sand, with less strain on your pump. This also means you tin can run information technology for fewer hours and save electricity and money! Some filter cartridges are likewise available in an antimicrobial version: Microban.

Here's how they work: Water is pushed into the filter tank from your pump and flows through the filter membrane. Fine particles and debris are trapped in the fabric and clean water returns back to the pool. A gauge on summit lets yous know when it's fourth dimension to clean.

When the pressure level swings up 10 points or so it is time to remove the cartridge and you lot only hose it downwards. No backwashing means you lot salvage on heated and chemically treated water besides, although you do have to spend some time if you desire to really deep clean betwixt the pleats. There are also some nice tools you can buy that fit on your garden hose just for this.

A cartridge filter tank comes apart with a belly clamp or knob on the top. For aboveground puddle owners, be sure to close off the skimmer and return jets before you open the tank or you will have a water gusher. Some systems come with close off valves to prevent this or you tin add them yourself. Slice, gate, or ball valves work great.

Cartridge Rejuvenation: Occasionally, the cartridge needs more a hosing. Soak it overnight in a large saucepan of water and cartridge cleaner. If your bucket is not deep plenty, just flip the filter over and echo. Filter cleaners tin can restore the cartridge to its original white status, and remove oils and mineral deposits.

Cartridge Replacement: The cartridge will terminal for 1 to 3 seasons depending on how many hours of use and how much cleaning it must do, only eventually they become fuzzy, the support straps suspension, and they either collapse or merely become too stained and muddied to keep clean.

Many folks buy a new cartridge every few years and keep the former 1 just for spring cleanup. Replacing a cartridge is a back saver and much easier than all that sand! Replacement filters boilerplate about 75 cents a foursquare foot and are like shooting fish in a barrel to observe on line or in most pool stores.

Cartridge Filter Parts: Normally replaced parts include the tank hat O-ring, gauge, and cartridges. Since there is no multiport valve, cartridge filters often need the least amount of repair parts of all filter types.

DE POOL FILTERS

And in the spirit of saving the best for last, we have the Diatomaceous Earth filter! If you can't pronounce it yous tin just call it DE!

DE pulverisation is a fine natural powder composed of the fossilized exoskeletons of tiny diatoms that one time thrived in the sea and are now layered hush-hush. DE particles are hollow with loftier porosity so they make an excellent filter media.

Grids are held in place by a summit and bottom manifold while the fingers are sandwiched between two pressure level plates and a diaphragm gasket that allows the tubes to be shaken, but not stirred (haha, couldn't resist that ane!).

The amount of available filter area for DE filters falls between sand and cartridge from 24-60 square anxiety. Your manual will tell you how much DE to add based on the mode, which is normally 1 pound of DE for each v square feet of filter expanse.

Here's how they work: Sprinkle the powder into your skimmer, which draws it into the filter and coats either fabric coated grids or a cluster of "fingers" with a fine layered top coat. A pound of DE goes for about $1.00 and is usually sold in 25 lb. bags.

DE powder is fine enough to let h2o pass through but almost cypher else! By using a DE filter you lot filter down beneath 5 microns and actually reach a whole different level of h2o clarity: crystal clear water. Merely there is a downside in that spring startup tin can exist a chore because the media is and then fine it plugs up quickly and regularly and you will go through a adept supply of DE if your puddle is quite dingy or has experienced an algae flower.

But let it be known that these trusty filters are designed for this and you lot just bump and shake the debris from the fingers with the meridian mounted crash-land handle on most models or use the multiport valve on the grid style filters to just backwash out the collected debris. Either way information technology gets flushed abroad through a valve at the bottom of the tank or aftermath hose, and y'all tin can re-add DE to the skimmer and the cycle starts over once again.

DE Filter Rejuvenation: DE filter grids and fingers demand periodic soaking just like a cartridge, specially in cases where the water is hard and the pores can calcify. DE filter cleaner is readily available to remedy this and the components are accessible by loosening a belly ring or unbolting the lid and separating the top half of the tank from the bottom. Once more, shut-off valves are helpful for above ground cleanouts whereas in ground equipment owners should have no worries unless the top of the tank is situated beneath the pool water level. Grids and finger "nests" can be soaked overnight in a pail with the cleaner, and so rinsed with a hose and replaced in the tank.

DE Grid Replacement: Grids tin concluding up to ten years, but eventually they may become ripped and torn, or the plastic beneath the fabric can interruption. Of all filter types, however, DE filter media can be the longest lasting.

DE Filter Parts: Common replacement parts are E-clips, O-rings, gauge, tank O-ring, and over time yous may need to supplant filter grids or fingers. DE filters accept the most parts of all filter types, so may require a few extra repairs.

DO I Demand A NEW FILTER?

Start with your eyes and ears. If the pump is whining, grinding, corroded, or sucking air and your filter is leaking at the ports, but not keeping the pool clear, or information technology looks physically worn, it may be time for a new 1. If a pump lasts x years, that is excellent!

A filter tank can theoretically final forever, but chemicals, weather condition, UV rays, and age can take its toll. If you tin proceed your equipment covered or surrounded by a wall, that is the all-time way to protect your investment. My system is next to the garage and we added a simple roof on 2 supports and so nosotros accept had the same filter (tank) since 1979! I've replaced the filter media many times, however.

Some filters are woefully undersized. If y'all are cleaning your filter more than than once per month, it may be also small for your puddle. If you take frequent battles with algae, cloudy h2o or difficulty managing water clarity, your filter could exist too small or the filter media inside has get tired and needs replacement.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Information technology would seem that the skillful erstwhile sand filter is easy enough to use with external controls and contains just a few parts. Operation is a snap when all you do is movement a valve handle, and if you lot employ the twenty grade silica sand, it is cheap but some work to alter. Functioning is proficient and you have just a few wear and tear parts with the valve itself.

The cartridge filter has the least amount of parts and is the second best method of filtration. The negative is the cost of replacing the cartridge and cleaning between the all those pleats can be ho-hum. But it'due south a no-brainer how easy information technology is to use when you just plop in a cartridge and let information technology go!

DE filters, although they outclass the balance for producing sparkling articulate h2o, are laden with parts, tin can be dull and frustrating at startup, and let's not forget that y'all must buy, store, and handle the DE powder. But that'southward the toll you lot pay for that over-the-elevation sparkling water clarity and for some it's worth it!

No matter which type of filter you purchase, here'due south a few maintenance tips that should non be ignored. E'er lube your O-rings in the bound with pool O-ring lube, use Teflon record on threaded fittings. At the end of the flavour, give your sand filter media, grids or fingers, and cartridges a good cleaning and be sure to remove all drain plugs when winterizing.

Using close-off valves and unions between your various pieces of puddle equipment. It makes cleaning, servicing, and replacement a snap!

Whichever filter you decide is best for you and your puddle. A new "heart" for your system may exist merely the breath of fresh life your pool needs. All three filter types are in use in someone'southward yard today — tried-and-truthful methods of keeping a pool clean and articulate then you can spend your time swimming and enjoying your pool.

Mike Cummings
InTheSwim Staff Blogger

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Can Intake For Above Ground Pool Filter Sysyem Be Installed Closer To Bottom Of Pool,

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