Swimming Pool Filtration Systems: A Guide

Owning a swimming pool is a big responsibility. After you’ve taken care of one for a few years, there’s a good chance that you’re a pro at cleaning it and keeping your pool filtration system running at its best. But if you’re a first-time pool owner, it may seem like rocket science, trying to understand each and every part. That’s why Aqua Leisure Pools and Spas is here to break it down for you and explain.

Pool Filtration System

The Skimmer

Every pool filtration system begins with a skimmer. No, not the flat net on a pole that you use to remove debris from the surface of the pool; that tool is known as a hand skimmer. A normal skimmer refers to the small square or rectangular opening found at the top of the side of a pool. This opening is often half-submerged beneath the surface of the water and has a small door on it that allows dirt and debris to flow into it but not return back to the pool. 

The Pump

Through the skimmer, there is often a basket to catch larger items that cannot go through the filter. Beneath this basket is an opening. This opening brings the water to the pump. The pump is an essential part of the filtration system as a spinning impeller inside of it helps pull the water in from the pool. Once the water is in the pump, large debris that made its way past the skimmer is held back and the dirty water is pushed by the spinning impeller into the filter.

The Filter  

When it comes to what kind of filter you can have for your pool, there are a few options, including:

• Sand Filters
• Cartridge Filters
• Diatomaceous Earth Filters (DE Filters)

A sand filter cleanses pool water by using, you guessed it, sand! At the bottom of a sand filter are laterals, which are a series of plastic tubes that prevent the sand from entering the pool with the clean water. 

Cartridge filters contain filters typically made from polyester that strain the dirt and debris out of the water. These filters do not need to be backwashed like the others do but the cartridges themselves need to be cleaned often and replaced every few years. 

Lastly, diatomaceous earth filters (DE filters) consist of a series of plastic or polyester grids that allow the water to be filtered through. These filters require a DE powder to filter the water; without the powder, water would pass through without being cleansed.

Return to Pool

If a pool is heated, the water runs through the heating system before making its way back into the pool. However, if the pool is not, the water goes from the filter straight back into the pool through return jets. Return jets are the little circular openings on the side of the pool that are fully submerged underwater. They bring the clean water back into the pool and also create a current that moves dirty water into the skimmer, repeating the process. 

A Little Help From The Pool Professionals

Whether you’re an amateur, a seasoned professional, or looking to become a pool owner, Aqua Leisure Pools and Spas has just what you need. Contact our pool professionals for anything from parts and chemicals to pools and installation!

Posted by Aqua Leisure Pools & Spas in Pools