When you own an in-ground swimming pool, you also need to own certain equipment in order to keep your pool safe for swimming. Filters and pumps for in-ground swimming pools are two extremely vital pieces of such equipment as they will operate together to remove many types of debris and contaminants from the water. By doing so, in-ground pool filters and pumps will not only help to keep your pool water crystal clear, they will also help to keep the water safe for your swimmers by removing invisible contaminants such as bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms. It is therefore easy to understand why every pool must be fitted with a pump and filter.
In-ground swimming pool pumps participate in the above-mentioned functions by circulating the pool water through the filtration system. In-ground pool pumps require electricity to operate and will typically run somewhere between 6 and 24 hours per day, depending on the particular pool owner's needs and preferences. Naturally, running a pump less often will save on electricity, but it's still important to run your pump enough to keep the pool water clean. Some in-ground pool pumps come with timers which make it easy and convenient to set the devices to work for a specific amount of time each day.
In-ground swimming pool pumps are available in a wide variety of different models, including numerous models from top brand names such as Hayward, Pentair and Sta-Rite. High quality pumps for in-ground swimming pools will feature a good energy efficiency rating, allowing for energy savings as well as energy cost savings. Other great features to look for when purchasing in-ground swimming pool pumps include quiet operation and durable, corrosion-proof construction. By selecting a reliable model with the above features, you will be able to enjoy many years of dependable, quality performance from your pump.
While pumps for in-ground swimming pools circulate water, it is the filters which actually remove debris and contaminants from the water. In-ground pool filters are available in three types, distinguished by the type of medium used to trap debris particles within the filtration unit. These three types are sand filters, cartridge filters and diatomaceous earth (DE) filters. Although all three categories of in-ground swimming pool filters will provide good filtration and help to keep pools clean, some provide better filtration than others.
Not surprisingly, sand-based filters for in-ground swimming pools use sand as their filtration medium. These units contain sand beds through which the pool water is propelled by the action of the pump. While clean water is able to pass through the sand beds, debris particles and contaminants as small as 20 to 40 microns are prevented from penetrating the sand and thus remain trapped in the filter. Sand filters for in-ground pools have been available for many years and are widely used by residential pool owners. In order to keep these filters clean, they require periodic backwashing.
Cartridge filters are also available for use by residential pool owners. These in-ground pool filters use cartridges made from a fibrous paper material to filter contaminants out of pool water. Cartridge filters for in-ground pools can filter out particles as small as 10 to 15 microns in size and put less strain on in-ground pool pumps as they operate at a lower pressure. Cartridge filters for in-ground swimming pools also have a larger surface area than sand in-ground pool filters, which means that they become clogged less easily. Cartridge filters are also easier to clean as they do not require backwashing and simply need to be washed with a standard garden hose from time to time.
The third category of in-ground swimming pool filters is comprised of diatomaceous earth filters. Diatomaceous earth is a porous powder made by crumbling the fossilized exoskeletons of hard-shelled algae called diatoms. DE filters for in-ground swimming pools offer the most effective filtration of all three types of filters, trapping particles as small as 2 to 5 microns in size. Although the diatomaceous earth in DE in-ground swimming pool filters needs to be replaced occasionally, diatomaceous earth is relatively inexpensive to purchase. Due to their low cost of operation and superior filtration, DE filters for in-ground pools are growing in popularity every year.
When purchasing filters and pumps for in-ground pools, it's important to decide which of the above filter types will best suit your particular needs and preferences. In addition, when shopping for in-ground swimming pool filters and pumps, you will need to take the size of your pool into account. It's extremely important to purchase a pump with the capacity to handle the volume of water in your pool. Otherwise, the pump and filtration system will not work as effectively as they should and the cleanliness of your pool water will suffer. As a result, it's always a good idea to ensure that you know what your pool needs as well as what you are looking for prior to starting your search for new in-ground pool filters and pumps.
Michael Peterson is an experienced specialist in pool supplies and products. He describes a variety of pool filters and pumps for in-ground swimming pools. This guide helps homeowners make an informative decision and chose a suitable in-ground pool filters and pumps. http://www.intheswim.com
