Swimming pools are fun, but they also come with responsibility -- the responsibility to keep them clean. Dirty or contaminated pool water can cause swimmers to contract infections or illnesses, something which nobody wants to happen. While pool maintenance involves a variety of different steps and supplies, perhaps the most essential swimming pool equipment is a quality filtration and circulation system. Swimming pool filtration and circulation systems consist of pool pumps and filters, which work together to keep pool water clean and clear. There are a variety of different swimming pool filters and pumps available on the market, each with their own benefits and design features.

The purpose of pool filters is to remove contaminants, dirt, algae and other debris from the water so that clean water can be re-circulated into the pool. Pool filters achieve this by trapping debris and other particles in the porous material that is located within the filter unit. At the same time, the water is allowed to pass through the material so that it can return to the pool in its clean state. There are three main categories of swimming pool filters, differentiated by the type of porous material used. These categories of filters are sand filters, cartridge filters and diatomaceous earth (DE) filters.

Sand filters represent a very common category of pool filters and have been in use by owners of private swimming pools for many years. As their name suggests, sand filters use sand as their porous material. This sand is located in a series of chambers inside the filtration unit. When water from the swimming pool passes through these sand beds, dirt, algae and other particles are trapped and prevented from continuing on through the filter with the water. In fact, sand swimming pool filters can trap particles as small as 20 to 40 microns in size. Since the trapped debris builds up within the filters, sand filters must be backwashed from time to time in order to maintain efficient operation.

Although sand filters have been in use for a long time, cartridge filters typically provide superior filtration. These swimming pool filters can trap particles as small as 10 to 15 microns. Another advantage of cartridge pool filters in relation to sand filters is the fact that they are easier to clean and maintain. Since cartridge filters have a larger surface area than sand filters, they do not become clogged as easily or as often and can be cleaned simply by spraying the cartridge with water from a standard garden hose.

Diatomaceous earth or DE swimming pool filters provide even more effective filtration than cartridge filters and thus provide the best filtration available today. Diatomaceous earth is a porous powder derived from the fossilized exoskeletons of diatoms. DE powder consists of microscopic openings which allow water to pass through the powder while preventing bacteria and other particles as small as 2 to 5 microns from continuing on through the filter. While DE pool filters are more effective than other filters, they do share one thing in common with sand filters in that they require backwashing once in a while to prevent them from becoming clogged. DE swimming pool filters also need to have their powder replenished from time to time.

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