Your pool filter does the heavy lifting when it comes to water clarity. It catches all the stuff that your chemicals cannot handle: dirt, debris, dead algae, and everything else floating around. Picking the right filter type matters, so here is a breakdown of the three options.
Sand Filters
Sand filters push water through a bed of special filter sand that traps particles. They are the lowest maintenance option. You just backwash them when the pressure gauge gets high, which means reversing the water flow to flush out the trapped debris.
The downside is filtration quality. Sand catches particles down to about 20-40 microns, which is the coarsest of the three types. Your water will be clean, but it will not be as polished as what you get from cartridge or DE. Sand also needs to be replaced every 5-7 years.
Cartridge Filters
These are the most popular choice for residential pools in the Valley, and for good reason. A cartridge filter catches particles down to 10-15 microns, which is a big step up from sand. Your water looks noticeably clearer.
Maintenance means pulling out the cartridge and hosing it off every few weeks. It takes about 10 minutes. The cartridges last 1-3 years depending on use. No backwashing means no wasted water, which is a plus during drought conditions.
DE (Diatomaceous Earth) Filters
DE gives you the finest filtration of all three types, catching particles as small as 2-5 microns. The water clarity from a DE filter is hard to beat.
The trade-off is more involved maintenance. You add DE powder after each backwash, and the internal grids need periodic cleaning. DE filters cost more upfront and the replacement grids are not cheap.
So which one should you pick?
For most San Fernando Valley pool owners, we recommend cartridge filters. They hit the sweet spot of good filtration, easy maintenance, and water conservation. If you want the absolute clearest water and do not mind the extra upkeep, go DE. If you want set-it-and-forget-it simplicity and good filtration is good enough, sand works fine.
But honestly, the best filter is the one that fits your pool and your maintenance style. Come into the store and tell us about your setup. We will point you in the right direction.
