The philosopher Aristotle in his work implied that man will always aspire to be the ultimate version of himself. He will always want to attain that which he does not have. Human nature is mostly centered around the pursuit and acquisition of wealth – and that is ok. We display our wealth like the majestic peacock. After all, we do work hard for it, don’t we?
One way in which wealth is prominently displayed is with the construction or purchase of lavish houses. These houses are usually adorned with swimming pools, perfectly complementing the overall atmosphere. Now, onlookers may pass and think that only the affluent can own a swimming pool. After all, does it not take a lot to maintain such an amenity? This is a very common misconception, however. The truth is, in the case of swimming pool maintenance, technology has made it so that they are surprisingly easy and inexpensive to maintain. Pool pumps and filters have come a long way, practically doing most if not all, the work. So, in essence, anybody who aspires to own a pool can do so with ease. Here is how a pool pump and filter works to keep your pool clean.
What are Pool Pumps? What are the Filters?
In order to understand the pool pump, it is important to understand what water should not do. Water should never remain stagnant. It should always be flowing. Stagnant water provides an optimal environment for the growth and development of harmful bacteria and parasites. When it flows, water does not allow these things to develop. Look at a river, versus an unmoving body of water. You will never find mosquito eggs in the flowing body of a river.
A pool pump is basically an apparatus that serves the purpose of keeping the water flowing. Pools are man-made bodies of water. The pump creates the artificial movement of this water to stave off the bacteria mentioned above and parasites. This motorized device is usually located in a pump house, adjacent to the pool.
The filter stands as a companion to the pump and serves the purpose of catching the leaves and other large debris that fall into the water.
The objective of this combination is to keep the water pure enough for human recreation.
How The Pool Pump and Filter Combination Works
A pool pump and filter system work as a ‘closed loop.’ This means that the water which enters the filtration system is the water that is expelled into the pool. In essence, it is a cycle. Let us look at the steps involved in this filtration process.
➢ Water is drawn from the pool and into the pump.
Always remember the concept of water still flowing. This is the cycle in which the pool operates. The process begins with water being pulled from the pool and skimmer. This is then delivered to the pump and motor.
➢ Water passes through the initial filter.
The water that is pulled from the pool and skimmer is passed through an initial filter dubbed ‘the strainer pot basket.’ This removes the large pieces of debris from the water.
➢ Water moves to cartridge filters.
After the initial filtration, the water then moves along the pump housing, through the motor, and to the cartridge filters. These cartridge filters basically remove any smaller pieces of debris and contaminants that were not removed by the initial filters.
➢ Water moves to the heater.
The water then moves to the heater portion of the filtration system. Here, it is heated to the appropriate temperature.
➢ Water moves to the chlorinator.
After being heated, the water moves to the chlorinator, where the appropriate level of chlorine is added.
It is then returned to the body of the pool, and the cycle continues. As stated before, the water would, in essence, be constantly moving.
Types of Filters
The filtration process that we just explored is that of the cartridge filter, which is the most commonly used. As we have seen, it uses the combination of pump and cartridges to remove debris. However, there are two other types of filters.
➢ The Sand Filter
The sand filter can be used for swimming pools. However, it is more commonly used in industrial water treatment facilities. The premise of the sand filter is that it is more meticulous in the removal of dirt.
➢ The Diatomaceous Earth Filter (DE Filter)
These filters utilize the concept of backwashing. This is a filtration process where water is pumped backwards through the filtration system. It usually utilizes compressed air.
Common Pool Pump and Filter Misconception
Now, remember earlier when we spoke about the perceived expensiveness of maintaining a swimming pool? The reality is that pool pumps like most machines utilize electricity. Now here lies the misconception. Most people assume that a pool pump must always be running. This is not true. You do not have to run your pool pump all day.
The recommended running time for a typical pool pump is four to five hours per day during the summer and two to three hours per day during the winter.
You can even use a pool pump timer. Setting it to run in non-peak hours (10 PM to 5 AM) can reduce the amount of electricity that the pump consumes.
Notes and Recommendations
➢ It is important to keep your drains as clean and as clear as possible. Naturally, the more debris that finds their way into your pool, the harder the filtration system has to work. This uses more energy. It is recommended that these are cleaned often.
➢ You should periodically inspect and clean your pool’s filters. Grime builds up over time and periodic cleaning helps to prolong the life of the system.
➢ Consider using a pool cover. When the pool is not in use, you can cover it, thus reducing the amount of debris that the system will have to contend with.
Yes, having a pool is an amazing thing. It is a good source of recreation and even serves to increase your property value. Now that you know do not be daunted by the implied maintenance of these wonderful things. Go forth and get your pool. Invest in your pump and filter systems and enjoy it!