While most solar covers are available in standard round, oval and rectangular shapes, not all swimming pools match these basic structures. Thankfully, it does not require any fancy equipment to get the perfectly-shaped solar cover for your pool. In fact, a simple pair of scissors is all one needs to...

Pool filters are your primary line of defense when it comes to keeping your swimming pool water clean. Water temporarily leaves your swimming pool through the pool’s skimmer, being moved by the pool pump into your filter. Dirt, hair, grass, body oils, and other impurities are all removed by this process, leaving you with clear, inviting water that is pumped back into your pool for when you’re ready to swim.

There are three major types of pool filters: sand, cartridge and DE. While the basic principle behind each is quite similar, each filter type offers its own unique pros and cons.

Sand Filters

Pool water is pumped into the filter tank and through a bed of filter sand. Impurities in the water get caught up in the sand as the water passes through to tubes at the bottom of the filter and returned to the pool.

In order to clean the debris out of the filter sand, the filter must be backwashed, a manual process which removes the particles and debris. Backwashing is necessary to maintain the filter’s effectiveness, as well as prevent the pressure in the tank from building up to unsafe levels.

There are also options for filter media besides sand that work with sand filters. Alternative media include recycled glass and Zeo-Clear, which can improve filter efficiency. Just make sure to use an alternative media that is designed to be used with a sand filter.

Pros

• Lowest maintenance compared to cartridge & DE filters
• Filter sand is inexpensive and easy to replace
• Effectively traps particles between 20-100 microns
• Alternative filter media can inexpensively improve filter efficiency

Cons

• Manual backwashing required every few weeks
• Can allow for smaller particles to pass back into the pool

Cartridge Filters

Cartridge filters work similarly to an automobile’s air filter, in which your pool water passes through a filter element. Pool filter cartridges are plastic-framed cylinders of pleated fabric. The sizes of these cartridges vary from model to model, so it’s important to get the right size cartridge for your filter.

As the water runs through the filter, particles are caught by the fabric while the water passes through and back to the pool. In lieu of backwashing, the filter cartridge can be removed from the filter and hosed down to remove the collected debris.

Pros

• No backwashing required
• Less water is used cleaning the filter
• Filter cartridges typically last 2-3 years

Cons

• Hosing off filter cartridge can be time consuming
• Filtering is not as efficient against smallest particles, compared to DE filters
• Replacement cartridges must match size & specs of filter

DE (Diatomaceous Earth) Filters

Fossilized algae known as diatoms are ground up into a powder, forming what we call Diatomaceous Earth (or DE for short). The DE powder is mixed into the filter and coats a filter “grid”, which then collects particles when your pool water is run through the filter. This powder is finer than sand, meaning that a DE filter can filter out smaller particles than a sand filter is able to collect.

A DE filter is cleaned out by backwashing, just like a sand filter. Small amounts of DE powder can remain in the filter after backwashing, so an annual cleaning of your filter is recommended

Pros

• Filters the smallest particles—as small as 5 microns
• Cleanest looking, “polished” water

Cons

• Generally most expensive filter systems on the market
• Backwashing is labor intensive
• Used DE powder can be difficult to dispose of in some regions

Unlike above ground pools, inground pools come with a lot of variables in construction which can make the task of getting a replacement inground swimming pool liner a daunting one. However, with the right knowledge and patience, properly measuring for a new inground pool liner can be a simple process.

Solar covers provide more benefits to the average pool owner than one may initially believe. When used safely, a solar cover does a lot more than add a bubble wrap aesthetic to your backyard. The number of advantages these covers off is quite plentiful. 

As with swimming pools themselves, safety is an important factor when dealing with solar covers, especially for families with small children or pets.By following a few tips, you can ensure that your solar cover provides your pool with benefits instead of risks. 

Once your pool is closed up, most pool accessories tend to hibernate along with the pool until the spring. However, the almighty pool noodle has proven to be not only a fun pool accessory but also a versatile base for craft projects year-round.

A solar cover’s heating power comes from the air bubbles lined along the lower surface, which collect the heat from the sun’s UV rays and transmits it into the swimming pool. While many consumers may believe that all solar cover bubbles are created equal, bubble shape can have a big...

At PoolSupplies.com we try to make opening up your swimming pool easy with our Spring opening pool chemical kits. Whether it’s your first time opening up your pool or you’re an experienced owner, we wanted to break down what’s included in our most popular kits.