When it comes to keeping pool water clean and clear, the swimming pool industry knows that the pool filter is key. Chemicals help keep pool water clean but even chemical manufacturers agree that if the filter isn't working properly, chemicals alone can't provide clean and clear water.
It's important to get back to basics to truly understand how sand, DE and cartridge filters work. But to truly understand how filters work, pool professionals must understand how the pool pump feeds water into these filters. Understanding the relationship between the pool pump to the pool filter gets to the heart of obtaining clean and clear water. Pool professionals who understand this relationship can then incorporate filter cleaning, chemicals, variable frequency drives and automatic controllers to obtain pool water nirvana.
Pump & Filter Sizing
Filtration systems, regardless of the media being used, are designed to filter water within a particular range of water flow. One of the most common mistakes service techs see in the field is a filtration system equipped with an oversized pump. Why is an oversized pump a problem? A pool pump that pushes water through the filter too fast impedes the filter's ability to perform its job correctly. The faster you move the water through filtration media, the worse job it does. The slower the velocity the better job the filter does separating debris from the water. It is therefore extremely important to properly size the filtration system to the required pump flow to achieve efficient water filtration.
Here are the current standards for filtration:
- High-rate sand filtration: 15 gpm per square foot of surface area
- DE: 1 to 2 gpm per square foot of surface area
- Cartridge filtration: .375 gpm per square foot of surface area
To size a filtration system correctly, it is necessary to determine the required turnover rate for the pool as well as verify the proper filtration rate. A typical commercial pool of 150,000 gallons needs a 6-hour turnover rate and would therefore require 416 gpm (gallons per minute) flow rate. The challenge comes in when you encompass the clean and dirty flow rates. When the filter is dirty, the resistance to flow goes up and flow rate drops. When the filter is clean, the resistance to flow goes down and the flow rate goes up.
For example, a pump might will give you 275 gpm at 83 feet of head and 400 gpm at 60 feet of head (23 TDH change between clean and dirty filter mode). That being said, the filtration will now have to handle 400 gpm even if the needed flow rate for turnover is only 275 gpm.
There are three things that need to be taken into consideration when looking at the system.
- Clean filter flow rate: Making sure that the system will handle the extra flow when the filter is clean.
- Dirty filter flow rate: Making sure that the minimum turnover flow rate is met when the filter is dirty.
- Backwash flow rate: Ensuring that the flow rate meets the manufacturer's requirement for sand and DE filtration where backwashing is applicable. (This pertains to filter size, pump size as well as backwash plumbing size.)
So, how do we know what the system is currently doing and what it is capable of?
- Backwash the filter as prescribed by manufacturer.
- Attach vacuum and pressure gauges to the pump.
- Convert vacuum and pressure readings to TDH (vacuum X 1.13 pressure X 2.31).
- Apply TDH to the manufacturer's curve for the existing pump. (This will give you the flow rate at its maximum with a clean filter.) Make sure that the maximum flow rate does not exceed the maximum flow rate for your filtration system.
- Add 23 feet of head to your TDH and that will give you the dirty filter flow rate. (Make sure that this flow does not drop below the minimum flow rate to meet your turnover time as well as the minimum required flow for the other equipment on the pool such as heaters, skimmers, sanitizing system, etc.)
What are your options?
- Change the pump to one that better fits the flow requirements.
- Add a VFD with flow control that will allow you to hold a constant flow rate to compensate for TDH changes during the clean to dirty filter cycle.
- Add additional filtration (additional filter or larger single filter).
Note that of these three options, the addition of a VFD is the only option that will actually pay for itself over time in energy savings.
However, keep in mind that an oversized filter with a smaller HP pump can improve filtration but cause other problems. A typical example of inadequate backwash time or flow rate will show up when the system is put back into filtration mode. When a sand filter is not properly backwashed a small amount of debris (silt) will come out of the returns for the first few minutes after returning the system to normal filtration mode. Some of the silt will also remain in the filtration system working its way deeper into the sand bed. This can lead to costly service, repairs or even premature replacement of the filter.
Filter Pressure & Filter Cleaning
Once the filter gets dirty, it needs to be cleaned to continue to operate properly. Filter pressure is one of the best ways to determine if a filter is dirty and needs to be cleaned. The change in pressure differential (pounds per square inch, or psi) can help a service professional determine if a filter is dirty or needs to be backwashed. In order for this type of information to be most effective, it is helpful to keep a log of the filter pressure for each pool. Many service technicians will do this at the time of pool opening and leave the information posted near the filter in the pump room or will log it into the customer's pool chart. One of the most important figures to note is the initial psi on the gauge at the top of the filter tank. If a pool is having trouble with water turbidity or with the heater cycling while trying to maintain the proper water temperature, service techs can start their diagnosis by looking at the filter pressure reading. If, for example, the pressure reading at pool opening was 18 psi but now shows 30 psi when the trouble is occurring, the first thing to consider is a dirty filter. Begin by backwashing the filter to see if that fixes the problem. Restoring the water flow allows the filter to function properly, which should allow the water to clear and might even fix the problems with the pool water heater. As mentioned earlier, when the filter pressure goes up the water flow rate goes down. A lack of water flow through the heat exchanger allows the water to absorb too much heat and shut off on the high limit safety circuit built into the heater.
However, a newer challenge has presented itself now that variable speed pumps have become extremely prevalent. In the past, the pump was either on or off and service technicians took the psi measurement when the pump was on. But with variable speeds pumps (VSPs) they do not run constantly at full speed, making it harder to obtain an accurate psi reading. In the case of VSPs the flow increases and the pressure also increases but not necessarily because the filter is dirty. To overcome this issue, many service techs today turn up the pump to the highest preset circulation speed (not the highest speed on the pump) and take a psi reading during their weekly service. Those that aren't doing a weekly service often ask their customers to perform this task and tell them to call the pool service company if the psi increases by more than 10 pounds. Running the pump at the highest preset circulation speed and checking psi is a part of the weekly service along with cleaning the filter baskets, skimmers, etc. Cleaning the filters when there is a 10-pound increase in pressure is especially important with cartridge and DE filters as it can prolong the life of the filter. Following this procedure will help avoid compression and compaction of dirt and debris on the face of the grids and or cartridges making them last longer and easier to clean.
Cleaning Pool Filters
There are several ways to clean filters. The most common cleaning procedure is by backwashing. Below are detailed best practices and tips for each filter type.
Sand filter backwashing: First you must determine proper backwash flow rate (15 to 20 gpm per square foot). For example, a 3.1-square-foot sand filter needs no less than 46.5 gpm and no more than 62 gpm. Too much water flow and you could potentially lift the sand bed and pass it to waste. In a worse scenario, you could damage the laterals or filter tank from the sandblasting effect as the water is introduced at the bottom of the tank at a high velocity. Not enough water flow, and you will not remove the debris from the sand bed completely. As a result, the debris that is still in the filter works its way deeper into the filter. When this happens, the debris in the bottom of the filter can turn to "caliche" and the filter then must be replaced because the "caliche" that forms often cannot be removed because of its size and difficulty to break up.
Another problem with backwashing sand filters occurs when the filter is backwashed too frequently in desert or dusty environments. In some cases silt can pass completely through the filter when it is clean. This results in calls from pool owners explaining they have sand in their pool and that additional sand comes out of the pool returns when they vacuum. In order to diagnose this situation, begin by asking if when you brush the pool does the "sand" makes a pile or a cloud in the pool. If it makes a pile there could be an issue with the filter. If it makes a cloud it is not sand, but rather silt. If it is silt, the problem is that the sand filter is actually too clean and therefore should not be backwashed. When a sand filter is very clean, it allows the larger particulate to pass through the filter. This is a sign to stop backwashing the filter, and allow it to load up and then begin to trap the silt into the filter to help with this a clarifier or flocking agent can be added.
Determining how long to backwash a sand filter should not be determined by looking at the water flowing out of the backwash line. Sand filter backwashing should be done in 3 minutes. Set a stop-watch for a 3 minute backwash cycle; don't guess.
DE filter backwashing: Unlike sand filters, backwashing DE filters frequently does not affect the filtration rate. However, it does create extra work and expense for service techs. DE filters should be backwashed for the same 3 minutes, but the cycle should be broken down into a 1-minute backwash, then a 1-minute filtration for three separate cycles (make sure you shut the pump off each time you switch between backwash and filtration). This procedure helps to separate the DE coating from the grids so it can be removed from the filter. A DE filter should be backwashed at the same 10 psi increase over normal operating pressure as any other filter media. A DE filter should be torn down, cleaned and degreased at least twice a year. Body lotions and sunscreen collect on the grid material and cannot not be backwashed away. A degreasing agent should be used to complete the filter maintenance process. It's important to note that muriatic acid will permanently lock the oils and lotions into the grid material and is therefore not recommended.
DE filter recharging: When recharging the DE filter, always follow the manufacturer's recommendation as to the amount of DE used to charge the filter. The proper way to charge the filter is to use a 5 gallon bucket then add water and DE together to create a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the skimmer while the pump is running. This will ensure that the grids or elements are properly coated from top to bottom.
Cartridge filter backwashing: If you have a backwash valve on your cartridge filter, something has gone awry. Cartridge filters are not designed to withstand water flow in the reversed direction. Therefore it must be taken apart to clean. A cartridge filter is cleaned in the same manner as a DE filter teardown, hosing the surface debris off the cartridge is only the first step (if it is your only step you might as well not bother). Body oils and lotions are the number one contributor to a plugged cartridge filter. Getting the oils and lotions off the cartridge surface is the difference between frequent cartridge replacement and cartridges that last and run a longer time between cleanings. The oily buildup on the surface plugs up the pores on the cartridge that restricts water flow and it also it creates a very sticky surface. Cartridge filters trap dirt on the surface and when the filter is turned off the debris falls to the bottom of the tank to free up more surface area for the next cycle. If the surface of the cartridge is sticky the debris does not fall away causing the filter to plug up in a very short period of time.
Many pool service professionals now offer cartridge filter cleaning services. Not only do they hose off the filter, they soak the filter with muriatic acid and a filter cleaning agent, then re-soak the filter with a liquid chlorine bath to brighten and lighten the filter (making them look nicer when returned to the client). Finally, the filters need to air-dry before using them again. Allowing them to dry completely gives the cartridge time for the fibers to fluff back up, which is important because the fibers need to expand to be effective. If they can be pushed down easily, it reduces the filter cycle. Many service companies suggest the pool owner own two sets of cartridges so the client can continue to use their pool while the other set is being cleaned. The most effective system is for the service tech to take the filter media when they close the pool for the season, clean it at their shop, then return the filters ready-to-use in the spring when they re-open the pool. Since pools are typically at their dirtiest during spring opening season, those cartridges are filtering more debris than usual, some pool service professionals change out the filters after the pool startup. Once the water is clear, they then install new filters to provide a more productive filtration process over the course of the summer. This also extends the lifespan of the new filter cartridges.
Automation
On large commercial swimming pools, perform manual weekly checks. An automatic controller can be used to set a backwash schedule based on psi reading. Therefore an automatic controller can be an invaluable addition to a pool's filtration system. With an automatic backwash controller, the need for a service technician to be present to perform this maintenance procedure—although recommended—is not necessary because the parameters set in the controller will automatic the backwashing process. Most backwash cycles occur when a 10 to 15 psi increase occurs -starting with a clean filter psi reading. Controllers can also be set to backwash on specific days of the week or times of the day.
Conclusion
Understanding the relationship between the pool pump and the pool filter gets to the heart of obtaining clean and clear pool water. Using filter pressure psi readings and understanding the way in which variable speed pumps affect filter pressure readings are also key to truly understanding how the filter is performing and when it's time to clean the filter. Once you have your filters and pumps sized correctly for one another, regular filter cleaning will help ensure the cleanest, clearest water for both commercial and residential swimming pools. Be sure you have your filtration operation in full swing this summer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John "MacGyver" Watt has spent the past 25 years working for Pentair in a variety of positions, including field service technician, regional service manager, national trainer and product specialist. John currently works for Pentair's application engineering and new product development for the United States, Latin America and Canada. The nickname "MacGyver" was given to him early in his career at Pentair because of his ability to overcome challenges with whatever materials he had on hand at the moment.