Not unlike the pump of a human heart, the role of a pool pump plays a vital part in maintaining the health of your pool.
The center of the pool circulation system is the pump. It moves water from the pool and sends it through the filter for removal of particulates, dirt and debris prior to sending it back to the pool.
How long should you run your pump each day? Pipe diameter, pool size, swimmer load and pump size all play a role in determining how long you should run your pump. For the proper time, it’s best not to guess, so consult your pool professional. Crystal Clear Aquatics can determine, based upon your specific pool parameter and usage, the proper amount of pump run time required to keep your pool clear and “Crystal Clean”.
The bottom line is if the pool pump is not running, the water from your pool is not being circulated or filtered. Running the pool pump and circulating the water is the best way to help prevent problems.
Filtration System
The filtration system removes dirt and debris from the pool water. The skimmer basket and the hair/lint basket all play a role in keeping pool water clean, but the primary element of the system is the filter. Casual pool users see the skimmer/lint baskets, but they rarely see the “heart of the system”.
Filter Types
There are three common types of filters that are used in swimming pools to remove the dirt and debris that enter the water.
- Sand Filters – Sand filters consist of a large tank, made of fiberglass, concrete or metal, containing a thick bed of special-grade sand. While gravity pulls the water down through the sand, the tiny sand particles catch any dirt and debris. At the bottom of the tank, the filtered water flows through the pick-up unit and out the outlet pipe.
- Diatomaceous Filters – In a diatomaceous earth filter, water from the pool passes through filter grids coated with diatomaceous earth, a fine powder made from the chemically inert, fossilized remains of sea organisms called diatoms.
- Cartridge Filters – In a cartridge filter, dirty water passes through a filter made out of polyester cloth or corrugated paper. Instead of backwashing, you simply remove the filter and hose it off. Eventually, it will be time to discard the old filter and put in a new one.
The one thing all three types of filters have in common? They all need to be cleaned and maintained to insure peak operating efficiency that prolongs the life of the pool pump, and keeps the pool water sparkling clean.
For a free consultation, call the West Palm Beach pool experts at Crystal Clear Aquatics at 561-318-6750 and see a “clear difference”.