How Does a Sand Filter for a Swimming Pool Work?
A pool filter takes debris out of your pool water. Without one, your pool would be dirty and the water would not circulate as it should. The properly working filter is an important part of keeping your water safe and clean. It may seem strange that a filter with sand in it would actually help clean your water, but it does.
- The sand used in the filter is ground to a consistency that will trap dirt, but allow the water to flow through.
- Your pool will have a skimmer box and a return outlet. The skimmer box sucks dirt and debris in and the return outlet sends clear, clean water back into the pool. The skimmer box will have a basket to catch the larger particles.
- The pool water is sucked into the skimmer and through a hose, which attaches to the filter. Once the water reaches the filter, it is brought into the filter through a diffuser.
- The diffuser, along with gravity, propels the water and debris down into the filter, where it will pass through the sand.
- The sand will trap dirt and allow the clean water to pass through.
- The clean water will pass through and go into a return hose, which will bring it back up to the pool.
- The clean water will enter the pool through the return jet or jets.
- Over a period of time, the dirt that gets trapped in the sand can slow the filter down and the filter will need to be backwashed. You will know when backwashing is needed by paying attention to the pressure gauge on the filter. When it goes up, it is time to backwash.
- To backwash the pool, certain valves will need to be turned. The valves needed to be turned will be explained in your filter's instruction manual. Hose positions will be changed during backwashing as well.
- After a few years, the sand will generally need to be replaced.