Regular water filtration in a garden pool guarantees comfort and sanitary safety for all users of the swimming area. Various types of filtering systems are currently available on the market. Which one is better for a small pool, and which for a large one? What parameters should you consider when choosing a filter pump? You will find answers to these and other questions in this article.
Advantages of regular pool water filtration
Many owners of home swimming pools face a dilemma: is a pool filter pump even necessary? The answer to this question is: yes. Regular pool water filtration is an absolute basis for its maintenance, ensuring not only aesthetics but, above all, safety and hygiene of swimming.
Here are the 6 biggest advantages of regular pool water filtration:
- crystal clear water – mechanical filtration removes fine impurities, leaves, insects, pollen, and other dirt from the water
- safety and hygiene of swimming – removing organic contaminants, which are a breeding ground for bacteria, algae, and microorganisms, significantly reduces the risk of infection;
- reduced use of pool chemicals – a filter pump and pool chemicals constitute two complementary water purification systems: physical (pump) and chemical (chemicals); chemicals alone without filtration will not remove all mechanical impurities, and the pump alone will not kill bacteria and algae; at the same time, effective filtration means we use fewer disinfectants and anti-algae preparations, which translates into savings;
- ease of use – a regularly filtered pool requires less frequent manual cleaning (vacuuming the bottom, washing the walls) and less frequent water changes;
- water and money savings – less frequent water changes and reduced use of pool chemicals directly translate into lower pool operating costs;
- longer equipment life – constant water circulation prevents the accumulation of impurities in the installation, which reduces the risk of pump failure and other components.
Types of pumps and filter media
Every filter pump operates in a closed circuit. First, it sucks dirty water from the pool. Then, it passes the water through the filter media, where impurities are retained. Finally, it pumps the water back into the pool basin – clean water returns to the pool.
Constant water movement prevents algae growth and helps evenly distribute chemical agents (chlorine and others). The pool filter, in turn, "catches" impurities from the swimming area, such as leaves, insects, sand, hair, and other organic waste.
We distinguish between different types of filtering systems. Sand pumps, where sand is the main filtering element, are very popular. Contaminated water flows through a sandbag, and then, after filtration, returns to the pool. This method allows for relatively thorough cleaning in a short time. For this reason, sand pumps are a good choice for garden pools with a capacity of 10,000 liters and more.
Interestingly, modern sand pumps allow for the use of other filter media. Besides sand, special filter glass or ecological balls made of synthetic fiber with high filtering capacity can be used interchangeably.
Owners of smaller pools (with a capacity of less than 10,000 liters) often opt for cartridge pumps, where the filter medium is a paper filter. Water flowing through the pump passes through a corrugated paper cartridge, which retains impurities, allowing clean water to return to the pool. Modern paper filters are equipped with numerous micro-holes that increase the filtration surface and improve pump efficiency.
A very modern solution, ideal for those who value ecological solutions, is an ozone pump. This type of filtration works by generating ozone and then introducing it into the water to disinfect it. Ozone, being a powerful oxidizing agent, effectively eliminates bacteria, viruses, algae, and other contaminants. This significantly reduces the need for pool chemicals.
Which filtration system to choose?
When choosing a pump and filter media, it is worth considering several factors. Here are the most important ones:
- Pool pump efficiency, which is a parameter indicating how many liters of water the equipment can filter per hour. The larger the pool, the higher the pump's efficiency should be. For example: if your pool has a capacity of 30,000 liters, you want to filter the water 4 times a day and allocate 12 hours for this, then you will need a pump with an efficiency of no less than 10,000 liters per hour.
- Appropriate filter size. The pool pump is connected to a filter. This too must have a diameter adapted to the pump's efficiency. A filter that is too small causes the water flow to be too fast and filtration effectiveness decreases. In the opposite situation, when the filter is too large, the flow becomes too small.
- Convenience and cost of use. Some filter media (such as sand, paper) require regular cleaning and replacement. Filter balls, on the other hand, are a very ecological and economical solution (they can be machine washed and reused).
- Additional accessories. Some pumps are equipped with additional accessories, such as timers, which allow automatic control of pump operation at specified hours.
- Price of the filtration system. Although price should not be the sole criterion for choice, it is worth considering when purchasing a pump. The price should mainly reflect the efficiency and quality of the filtration system (use of materials resistant to pool chemicals, corrosion, or temperature changes).
We encourage you to explore the offer of the ondaFlo online store, where you will find various types of pumps and filter media – for both smaller and larger garden pools.