Pool Care: What to Know About Sand Filters
There are tons of benefits to owning a pool. From relation to exercise, or even entertaining, these fixtures add to any residential or commercial space – but have you ever thought about what keeps them running? It is easy to take crystal clear water for granted, but there is a lot riding on water condition. The most recognizable type of system relies on cartridge filters, but these require regular replacement and wear down easily. More and more pool owners are opting for a more natural, lasting approach, with sand filters.
You might associate sand with the beach, but there is a lot that it can do for you at home. Sand acts as an excellent filtration system, in fact, it can produce better results than many other pool filters. The idea of a pool sand filter might seem scary at first, but with a bit of help from a Puddle Pro, it can be a breeze to have the cleanest pool around town.
Pool Sand Filter: How They Work
Before you opt for a sand bed to filter your pool, it is important to know how they work. Luckily, our Puddle Pros have put together a quick guide to how they work, and the work that goes into maintaining them.
How They Work: Sand filters work to trap and hold pieces of large debris and small particles as well. This material provides natural filtration by allowing water to pass through a sand canister, trapping items as they flow. After debris is filtered out, clean water is pumped back into the pool system. Over time, more and more debris becomes trapped and makes the filter even more effective. This filter type operates using a specific grade of sand that can last for years if properly maintained.
What Gets Trapped?: Much like a cartridge filter, a sand bed is able to trap all sorts of debris. In pool grade sand, leaves, seed pods and even insects are unable to get past the top layer of sand at all, and smaller pieces that make it through surfaces layers are trapped as water trickles down.
Maintenance: The more materials that is caught up in your filter, the more pressure will build up within the filter canister. It is important to take note of the reading on the pressure gauge, and then check it every week or two to see if there is an increase in pressure. Once the pressure is increased by roughly 8-10 pounds, you will need to have an expert come in to perform a filter and backwash clean. Together, these processes work to remove excess dirt and debris from the sand.
Sand Change: In order to keep your filter systems running smoothly, a sand filter will need a change up. Depending on the size of your canister, you can be dealing with hundreds of pounds of sand in one go. Without the right training and technique, this can be a messy job and even lead to injury. Instead of struggling through, hire and expert to change your sand with no muss and no fuss.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
Sand filters might work more naturally than other filtration systems, but they are not immune to regular wear and tear. Without regular maintenance, a system can deteriorate quickly, leading to costly repairs or the need for premature replacements. Puddle Pool technicians offer regular servicing of all pool types, with any sort of filter. With options for scheduled, routine care and sand changes, we can help to keep your system running smoothly.
