Pool water purification: how to choose a pump, filter, skimmer

Recommendation points

• Skimmer design, compact and efficient
• Circulation unit – which pumps to use
• Serviceability: choosing a filter valve
• Mechanical filters
• Service during operation

It is possible to keep the water in the pool clean not only with the help of chemistry, but also thanks to a variety of technical devices: pump, filter, skimmer. We want to help you navigate a wide selection of pool equipment and tell you how to choose it for your needs..

Skimmer design, compact and efficient

Truly, the skimmer is the key node in the water treatment chain. For inflatable and frame pools, this is the only option for water withdrawal, because there is no way to organize an overflow system. However, users often forget that the skimmer not only serves as an overflow regulator, it must perform a number of other functions..

Thanks to the movable flap, the skimmer can collect large floating debris. Usually, this baffle is made of lightweight plastic and acts like a valve when there is a slight wave of water. Some models have void baffles or float mechanisms, which work more efficiently.

Debris caught in the skimmer is collected on a fine plastic or nylon mesh and held onto it by the suction water flow. The convenience of removing the contaminated mesh depends on whether large debris will enter the filtration and circulation system. The diameter of the suction inlet determines whether you can easily connect a vacuum cleaner and other equipment.

For collapsible pools, skimmers are made in a removable version, they are simply attached to the side of the pool and regulated by the water level. In large pools, several skimmers are used, approximately one for every 20-25 m² water mirror. In stationary systems, it is also difficult to install all skimmers at the same level and fine-tune them. Sometimes thin and compact skimmers are used to fight for the aesthetics of the pool, usually made of stainless steel..

Circulation unit – which pumps to use

Small pools are equipped with one single pump, which is supplied complete with a bowl and a filter unit. But there is also an impressive number of individual projects where the circulation system has to be designed from scratch. To begin with, remember that the performance of the pumping unit should contribute to the complete renewal of water in the pool in 4-5 hours..

The number of pumps is also determined by the width of the mirror. With a distance between the sides of more than 6 meters, there will be at least two skimmers, they are installed in opposite corners of the pool with a slight indentation and connected to different pumps. The essence of this venture is to create a balanced counterflow for a more even distribution of cleaning chemicals and lifting dust from the bottom..

For private pools, self-priming pumps with a capacity of 0.15 to 3 kW are installed. The characteristic comes from the fact that in a filled state the pump is able to raise water up to 3 m above the pool mirror, which means that the pumping station does not require a buried installation.

On the other hand, the lower the pumping station is located, the less electricity the equipment will consume, remember this. And also that two pumps in parallel are better and cheaper than one powerful one. At least if one fails, the pool will not bloom the next day.

Of course, the pump must be reliable. Avoid products that use steel housings. Due to the abundance of active chemicals in water, it is allowed to use in casings and impellers only:

• plastic, which is afraid of mechanical damage;
• cast iron, which is very heavy;
• non-ferrous alloys such as bronze or duralumin, pumps of which are more expensive than others.

Serviceability: choosing a filter valve

There are not so many wisdom in choosing a valve for a filter, but this is where you should start. First of all, the method of connection to the filter tank is of interest: lateral or through the neck. The latter is more reliable due to getting rid of two extra fittings, but this is not always allowed by the height of the caisson.

The valves are characterized by their capacity and working pressure and must be suitable for the type of pump used. Six-position valves are preferred because of two additional modes that are not available in some types of equipment for complete pools.

The internal structure and principle of operation of different models are not much different, often only by the price you can judge the quality of the product.

Mechanical filters

In 90% of cases, the water in the pool is purified with a sand filter. There are many reasons for this: simplicity of the device, availability of filtering material, low price. Its device is very simple: in the upper part of the barrel with fired quartz sand there is a water supply pipe for cleaning. When passing through a layer of sand, impurities settle on grains, and the purified liquid is squeezed out through a system of tubes with mesh filters – chamomile. By supplying water in the opposite direction, you can loosen the sand and wash out most of the settled dirt from it, pouring it into the sewer.

Sand filters are not devoid of disadvantages. At a minimum, it is necessary to constantly replenish the sand content, some of which is inevitably lost during flushing. The flow rate directly depends both on the quality of the valve (the presence of a pressure regulating reducer in it) and on the quality of the filter itself, its form factor and overall reliability. In addition, the sand must be completely changed periodically at least once every 2 years. Ordinary sand is not suitable, you need to buy special sand for filters in bags.

A typical mistake when choosing a filter is also the discrepancy between its capacity and the circulating flow. In this case, the filtration quality deteriorates, and the filter loses sand even faster..

For small pools, diatomite filters are well suited, in which water is filtered not only from mechanical impurities, but also sorption absorption of heavy metals and toxic substances is performed. The disadvantage of these filters is their low resistance to mechanical contamination, they must either be washed frequently and manually, or organized preliminary filtration through sand.

Service during operation

If the pool is outdoors, the bowl should be cleaned every two days. The deposited dust, leaves, insects and sunlight have a very detrimental effect on water quality. It is advisable to remove accumulated debris from the skimmer daily and backwash the filters.

Pump prefilters need to be revised as often as possible, because this is the first mechanical filtration barrier in which large objects can trap if the skimmer is faulty. By the way, this is where you need to start your search for lost jewelry..

In general, we can say that if a specific equipment configuration recommends itself well within a few days, no problems are expected in further operation. And vice versa – various failures at first most often serve as a signal that some elements of the station are incompatible with others..