The Most Exacting Of All Swimming Pool Filters

By now you may already know that swimming pool filters come in three basic types. Those types are sand, DE or �diatomatious earth� and cartridge filters. So which one of the three does the most exacting job of removing the very finest of particles from your pools water?

5 Microns in Diameter

That would definitely be the DE pool filters. This is because DE swimming pool filters are able to trap particles as small as 5 microns in diameter. The next up would be the cartridge filter, that screens out particles of between 10 -15 microns in diameter.

Is it Backwash Time Yet?

Because the DE filter is operated at high pressure, it is imperative that the proper pump be connected to the system. So how do you know when it is time to backwash a DE pool filter to remove the debris that it has accumulated?

Yes! It's Backwash Time

That determination is done by examining the pressure guage that is connected to the filter. When it is registering 6 pounds over normal then that means that the accumulated particles in the filter are begin to clog the system.

Tiny Ancient Microscopic Sea Shells

Each microscopic particle of diatomatious earth is actually the tiny shell of an ancient one celled sea creature called a diatom. They are actually quite porous, which makes them each their own little water filter as the water pases through these incredibly small pores.

More DE Please!

After back flushing a DE filter, the grids inside of the filter itself have to be re coated with diatomatious earth. This is accomplished through a simple process that involves feeding fresh DE, which is essentially a type of very fine powdered chalk back into the filter through the skimmer.