It's not always easy to choose the correct size pool filter for your pool, but it's critical to keep your pool safe, clean, and open. The first step in selecting the appropriate pool filter is to determine the appropriate pool pump size. This helpful guide will walk you through the various pool equipment options available and discuss some considerations when choosing which pool filter to buy.
Choose the Correct Pool Filter
Many individuals err on the side of caution and buy a pump that is significantly larger than they require. This might be a costly error. Larger pumps are more expensive to operate. Consequently, they may raise your energy bill when compared to a pump that is the perfect size. In addition, an excessively large pump can overwhelm your filtration system. Conversely, a pool pump with insufficient power may not be able to adequately circulate and filter your pool. Bacteria and algae can develop up as a result.
Types of Pool Filters
Let's have a look at the various types of pool filters available. We'll discuss how they work, and how much maintenance is required to keep them in perfect working order.
Sand Filters
Sand filters are the most popular of the three types of pool filters since they are simple to maintain and relatively inexpensive when compared to the other options. Sand filters are also ideal for individuals with medium to big pools due to its cost and ease of maintenance.
Sand filters operate by "scrubbing" any impurities from the water being pushed by the pool pump. Under a microscope, sand filter media will have jagged edges that capture any particles and debris that passes through them, leaving you with crystal clean water. Maintaining a sand filter is simple, and it only takes a few minutes to complete a full backwash cycle. Furthermore, it is fairly "hands-off" to maintain.
Cartridge Filters
Cartridge filters are the way to go if you have a small pool. They cost a little more than sand filters, but they can filter out particles as small as 10 microns. It works by forcing water from the pump through a series of very fine mesh filters made of spun polyester that capture particles as the water passes through them.
Filter cartridges must now be cleaned out more frequently, depending on the size of your pool and how often it is used. What is the definition of "frequent"? It will take around a week or two. The bigger your pool, the more you'll have to clean your cartridge filter, according to a good rule of thumb. To clean it, simply open up the filter housing, pull the filter out, and hose it down to remove any debris it has accumulated. Every three to four months, give your cartridge filters a good soak in filter cleaner to remove any crud or algae growth that may have formed on the filter itself.
D.E. Filters
This is the pool filter system to use if money and effort are not an issue. D.E. Filters are similar to sand filters, except they use Diatomaceous Earth as their filter material. D.E. filters can filter out particles as small as 5 microns, which means they can filter out practically anything in your pool (including dead bacteria bits killed by pool chemicals), and you'll have the purest water imaginable.
Figuring Out The Right Pool Filter Size
Even if you have the correct pump size, if you choose a filter that is too small, the pump will produce too much pressure, causing the filtering material to break down and leave the filter ineffective. Small filters cause pressure to build up in your pump, which has resulted in explosions or catastrophic pump damage in certain circumstances.
In around eight hours, a properly sized filter and pump should be able to cycle all of your pool water. This straightforward article will show you how to select the proper pump and filter for your pool.
Figure out how much water your pool holds
The first step in selecting the appropriate pool filter size is to determine how much water your pool holds. If you have a simple rectangular pool, this is a pretty simple operation, but it becomes increasingly complicated as your pool pattern becomes more complex. In general, there are four types of pools: rectangular, round, oval, and kidney. There are various basic formulas to employ to determine the size of your pool.
Pool depth: You'll need to compute the average pool depth regardless of the geometry of your pool. To do so, simply locate the pool's deepest and shallowest points and calculate the average between them. The average depth would be 12+4 = 16 and 16 2= 8 if the deep end is 12 feet and the shallow end is 4 feet.
Rectangular pools: Take measurements of the length and width of your pool initially. Remember the classic formula A=L x W (Surface Area= length x width) from elementary school? It can be used to calculate the surface area.
Next, determine your pool's typical depth. To get the total volume, multiply the average depth by the surface area. Alternatively, combine everything into one formula: L x W x D = V. This is the size of your swimming pool. If your pool is "L" shaped, divide it into two (or more) rectangles and compute their volumes separately, then add them up.
Round pools: A little more complicated formula is required to determine the surface area of your round pool. The radius squared times pi (which is 3.14) equals the surface area (SA) (r2). As a result, your formula is SA = 3.14 x r2. After that, multiply the average depth of your pool by the volume.
Oval pools are a little more difficult; you'll need to measure the longest diameter, shortest diameter, and average depth, then multiply by the formula: longest diameter x shortest diameter x average depth = volume.
Kidney-shaped pools require you to determine the pool's longest width, shortest width, and length. Then use the following formula to compute the volume: (Longest width + shortest width) x length x average depth equals volume.
Convert Cubic Feet to Gallons
Once you've calculated the cubic foot volume of your pool, multiply it by 7.48, which is the number of gallons in one cubic foot.
Figure Out Gallons Per Minute
After you've determined your entire pool capacity in gallons, you'll need to figure out how many gallons per minute your pump can handle. Keep in mind that most pool owners try to keep their pump running for no more than 8 hours at a time. As a result, you'll need to figure out how many gallons per minute you'll require. To calculate gallons per hour, divide the volume of your pool (in gallons) by 8. Then divide that figure by 60, because an hour is divided into 60 minutes. The average pool is roughly 20,000 gallons, which translates to 2,500 GPH (gallons per hour) and 42 GPM (gallons per minute) (gallons per minute).
For commercial pools or other heavily utilized applications, you should be able to run your pool four times in a 24-hour period, which translates to a total pump duration of six hours or fewer.
Determine How Much Plumbing You Need
The piping between the pool and the pump must be taken into account (called the feet of head). The higher the number of heads, the lower the GPM. You'll also need to examine any fixtures or valves in the piping. At the very least, you should know how many feet of plumbing there are between your pool and the pump.
Select The Right Size Pool Pump
You may start looking for the proper pump once you know your GPM and feet of head. Most pump manufacturers and sellers will include a chart that shows the GPM capacity of the pump depending on different head lengths. It's usually advisable to buy a slightly larger pump once you know your pool's capacity and pump requirements.
Choose The Right Pool Filter Size
The size of your pool filter is proportional to the size of your pump. If the filter is too small, it may break, and your pump may overheat. Purchasing a pool filter that is too large carries less risks than purchasing one that is lower performance, so keep that in mind while shopping for a filter. Then match your filter to at least your pump's pumping capability, so if your pump can pump 42 GPM, choose a filter that can handle 42 GPM or more.
Additional Considerations When Choosing a Pool Filter
A variety of additional aspects should be taken into account as well. Water features such as waterfalls, spas, and other water features will increase the total GPM requirements of your pool. If your pool is really large (more than 60 GPM), you may require not just a larger pump, but also 2" diameter pipes that can handle up to 100 GPM.
