Filters and Pumps for Above Ground Pools - Essential Equipment For Pool Maintenance
Author: Brenda Masten
Category: Home Improvement
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Whether your above ground swimming pool is your quiet and relaxing retreat or a place for your kids to enjoy hours of fun and laughter, proper swimming pool maintenance is absolutely essential. By keeping the water free of debris and contaminants, you'll be protecting the health of your swimmers. Of course, clean, clear water is also more pleasant to swim in than cloudy or dirty water. In order to keep your pool's water crystal clear and debris-free, you need to have a good pump and filter. Above ground pool filters and pumps work together as a system to remove dirt and other unwanted particles from the swimming pool so you can enjoy crystal-clear water and peace of mind.
Above ground pool pumps are powered by electricity and their main purpose is to circulate the swimming pool's water. Most swimming pool owners will keep their pool pump running for somewhere between six to twelve hours each day during the swimming season. However, some people will operate their pump continuously throughout the season. Naturally, since above ground pool pumps are electrically operated, running them for fewer hours saves electricity and lowers the cost of operation. For those who are concerned about such issues, it's good to know that several leading manufacturers are now producing swimming pool pumps that are highly efficient, allowing pool owners to save both money and electricity while still being able to operate their pump whenever necessary.
Above ground pool filters work with pool pumps to create a filtration system for keeping pool water clean. As the swimming pool's water passes through the filter, debris particles are trapped by the filter and prevented from moving on with the water. As a result, only clean water exits the filter and re-enters the swimming pool while the debris and contaminants remain in the filter. Different above ground pool filters use different media to filter pool water and trap debris particles. However, there are three main types of filters that are used for filtering swimming pool water - sand, cartridges and diatomaceous earth.
Sand filters have been around for many years and are very commonly used by swimming pool owners for keeping above ground pools clean. These above ground pool filters feature a series of chambers containing beds of sand. The sand serves to trap particles of debris and contaminants while the clean water is able to pass through the layers of sand and is returned to the swimming pool. Eventually, the sand in these filters will become clogged with debris, increasing the pressure on the filter and reducing its flow. When this happens, the filter needs to be run in reverse in order to get rid of the wastewater. This process is known as back flushing and should be carried out approximately once per week during the swimming season.
Cartridge filters can also be used along with above ground pool pumps to clean swimming pool water. With respect to their ability to trap particles, cartridge filters typically perform better than sand filters. Cartridge filters are also very low maintenance and inexpensive. These pool filters use cartridges similar to those found beneath sinks and can be easily cleaned with a garden hose and spray nozzle. While cartridge filters provide better filtration than sand filters, they also operate at a lower pressure and therefore exert less demand on the pool pump.
Although cartridge filters for above ground swimming pools perform better than sand filters, diatomaceous earth (DE) filters offer the best particle filtration performance. Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring, porous particulate that looks like microscopic sponges when viewed under a microscope. When water passes through this powder, particles as small as two to five microns are trapped while clean water is allowed to flow on through microscopic openings. Diatomaceous earth is inexpensive to purchase and DE filters are becoming more and more popular among swimming pool owners due to their exceptional filtration and their relatively low cost of operation.
No matter which type of filter you prefer to use for your swimming pool, there are certain things to keep in mind when shopping for above ground pool filters and pumps. First of all, efficiency is an important characteristic to consider. The more efficient your pump or filter is, the more money and energy you will save. At the same time, you should also look for features such as durability and weatherproof housing, as above ground pool pumps with such characteristics will ultimately last longer and provide you with more benefits for your money. By taking the time to choose a filter and pump that are right for your particular above ground swimming pool and your particular needs, you will be able to enjoy sparkling clean water and a healthy swimming environment throughout the entire swimming season.
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Keywords: above ground pool filters, above ground pool pumps, above ground pool pumps and filters, pool filters, pool pumps
View Count: 117
Date Submitted: 3/23/2009
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