Mid-Atlantic Pools

Sand Filters for residential swimming pools can be a headache beyond saving a few hundred dollars. I build in-ground swimming pools for a living and like almost all swimming pool builders we offer a base equipment package. I briefly explain that all necessary swimming pool equipment is included with our base package and that our clients do not need to purchase anything else to make it work. But no sooner I finish that sentence, I automatically roll into the longest explanation of what they are getting for their money.

Don't let this be an opportunity for me to tell you that sand filters are worthless, they're not. They do a fine job as long as the swimming pool is already clean. Getting a pool clean after it is built or after a spring opening can sometimes be another question. Time and time again I have had to clean a filthy pool that was running on a sand filter and it never fails, as soon as the water gets cloudy from dirt being kicked up I am left with two choices:

1.Dump Flock and Drop into the pool which costs more money and come back the next day (or)
2.Tell the homeowner to let the swimming pool run 24/7 and call me when it is clear again - which also costs money because the pump is spinning your electric meter as fast as it can.

The average turnaround time for a sand filter to clear a cloudy pool caused by dirt or allege for me is usually 4 to 5 days and that's "IF" the home owner is paying attention to the filters Back Wash needs. So if the season is right, you the homeowner has to spend more money on chemicals or lose valuable swimming time because your budget sand filter just can't cut the mustard. Consider a few pit falls before buying a Sand Filter:

1.Sand Filters frequently need to be Back Washed and many times need multiple Back Wash cycles to be cleaned thoroughly. This is a waste of water and chemicals as well as your money.
2.Sand Filters usually carry a minimum of 250 #'s of sand. When your sand is dirty and needs to be replaced it will have to be vacuumed out and disposed of. This is a messy and heavy job and remember, your 250 #'s of sand (minimum) probably weighs more than 400 #'s now that it's wet and filled with dirt.
3.Sand Filters take up more space than any other filter.
4.When manually vacuuming your pool, if your floor is very dirty and the filter has decided it has had enough it is common for the dirt to be blown back into the pool through your returns. Now you have a dirty floor and a cloudy pool. Nice!

And for those customers that were sold on the idea of a cartridge filter, this applies to you also but for different reasons. Cartridge filters as far as I'm concerned are worthless. Though they are popular in certain regions, my experience with them has been nothing but frustration. Cartridge filters work okay until they go bad and you need a replacement. Then it's a game of finding someone who carries your specific size and brand. Assuming that you don't get that lucky you can order your filter which can take between 5 to 10 business days for it to come in. Long story short, that's two weeks of your swimming pool being broken because someone sold you on the idea that cartridge was the way to go and you can't find a new filter. If you absolutely have to have one on your pool do yourself a favor and keep spare filters on hand.

DE filters do cost a bit more than sand, depending on the size of your pool they can be sometimes twice as much. But take this into consideration:

1.DE Filtering will filter out 600 to 800% more microns on the first pass.
2.Cloudy Pools caused by excessive dirt or allege can be filtered completely in less than 8 hours without the need of additional chemicals.
3.DE Powder can many times be found at Lowes, Home Depot and Wal-Mart, so even if you don't have a pool store nearby you are not left in the dark.
4.As a pool builder I will average maybe 1 complaint on a DE filter versus 12 or more complaints on a Sand Filter. Keeping my phones quiet and complaint free is not only good for me, but good for you.
5.DE filters can be Back Washed once and be cleaned free of dirt and debris
6.DE filters can handle the excess dirty when you manually vacuum your pool without allowing blow by. Now your floor can be clean and your water is still crystal clear. VERY NICE!