Swimming pools are places to relax, unwind and have fun. However, in order to ensure that you and your family get the most benefit and enjoyment out of your in-ground swimming pool, you need to keep your pool clean and free of debris. Filters and pumps are essential equipment for swimming pool maintenance as they will remove particles of debris and contaminants from the pool's water, providing you with a sparkling clean swimming environment. With quality in-ground pool filters and pumps working for you, you can enjoy trouble-free pool maintenance and make the very most of your private aquatic retreat.

In-ground pool filters and pumps are the two essential components of swimming pool filtration systems. In-ground pool pumps are powered by electricity and their primary purpose is to circulate the pool water through the filtration system. How often pool owners operate their in-ground pool pumps depends upon personal needs and preferences. Some pool owners keep their pool pump running twenty four hours a day during the months when their pool is in use while others choose to operate their pump for only six to twelve hours each day. Since the majority of in-ground pool pumps are self-priming, they are able to re-start on their own following a timer-controlled rest period, even when located above the pool's water level.

In-ground pool pumps work together with swimming pool filters to create cleansed, debris-free water. When water is circulated through a filter, it traps particles and waste materials while allowing the water to pass through. Therefore, only clean water is returned to the swimming pool while debris and contaminants remain inside the filter. In-ground pool filters come in three main types, determined by the type of media used for filtration. These three main types of pool filters are sand filters, cartridge filters and diatomaceous earth filters.

Just as their name suggests, sand filters are in-ground pool filters which use sand as their filtration medium. These filters consist of a series of chambers containing beds of sand. Water from the swimming pool is channelled into the filter and through these chambers. As this occurs, debris and other particles are trapped by the top layer of sand while the cleansed water continues on and exits through the bottom layer of sand. The clean water is then returned to the swimming pool. The sand used in sand pool filters is specially graded and will generally trap particles in the range of twenty to one hundred microns in size. As the trapped particles build up, the filter will become clogged. As a result, it's necessary to back flush sand filters on a weekly basis in order to keep them performing their best. Back flushing simply refers to running the filter in reverse and throwing away the waste water.

Cartridge filters constitute the second main type of in-ground pool filters. These filters use cartridges to trap particles and contaminants as the pool water is circulated through the filtration system. Cartridge filters typically perform better than sand filters, as they are able to catch smaller particles which may be able to pass through sand filters. Cartridge filters also offer additional benefits, as they are a low maintenance and inexpensive option for swimming pool filtration. Rather than back flushing, these in-ground pool filters can be cleaned simply by removing the cartridge from the filter and spraying it clean with a garden hose. This cleaning process will generally only be necessary approximately twice each swimming season.

While cartridge filters offer better filtration than sand filters, diatomaceous earth (DE) filters offer the most high-performing option available on today's market. Diatomaceous earth is a porous particulate derived from the fossilized microscopic exoskeletons of ancient aquatic organisms. Under a microscope, diatomaceous earth looks like tiny sponges, and it's this structure which allows DE filters to trap even the smallest particles of dirt and debris. In fact, DE in-ground pool filters will catch particles as small as two to five microns in size, allowing for impressive water cleansing. As with sand filters, DE filters are cleaned through back washing. They also require the addition of new DE powder every once in awhile. However, diatomaceous earth powder is fairly inexpensive and is widely available from pool supply retailers.

Since in-ground pool filters and pumps play a major role in removing debris and potentially harmful contaminants from swimming pool water, they are an absolutely essential part of swimming pool maintenance. When your pool water is kept clean, your swimmers will have more enjoyable experiences and their health will be protected. With many of the most trusted manufacturers in the pool equipment industry offering high efficiency and high quality in-ground pool filters and pumps, every swimming pool owner should be able to find excellent units that will provide exceptional water filtration and allow for first-class pool maintenance.