Did you know that the sand in your filter needs to be replaced every five years to ensure maximum performance? Over time, the filtration process causes water channels to form in the filter sand which means it runs less effectively.
Sand filters can be the most economical and easiest option to maintain. They have several function modes including standard filtration, backwash, re-circulate, drain and close, giving pool owners easier control over the filtration process.
When new, filter sand is very rough, and it is this roughness that makes it efficient at filtering out the particles of dirt in pool water, as the dirt is attracted to the rough surface. As the roughness smoothes out over time, like stones wear smooth in a stream, the filter's efficiency decreases. This increases the demand for sanitiser, thereby increasing chemical costs. Normal backwashing doesn't clean the filter as well, requiring more frequent backwashing. Thus it's important to check your sand filter monthly to see if it needs to be backwashed, as contaminants reduce water flow and increase back pressure.
"The sand in filters needs to be replaced every four to five years to ensure maximum performance," explains Swimart's national manager Chris Fitzmaurice. "Over time, the filtration process causes water channels to form in the filter sand, which means it runs less effectively. "Along with maintaining your pool's pH balance, changing the sand in your sand filter keeps your pool clean and in excellent shape. And winter's an ideal time to do this.
"There are a number of key processes involved in changing sand, and to ensure peace of mind, our technicians can undertake this for pool owners – and at the same time make sure the rest of the pool is checked and serviced."
To arrange for the sand in your filter to be changed, simply call your local Swimart professional. And while you're at it, ask about our great winter service deals.
Glass beads
Manufactured from 100% virgin glass, Waterco's Glass Beads offer much finer filtration than other alternatives and are therefore capable of providing outstanding water purity and clarity (filtration below 3 microns). They also require 20 per cent less water for backwashing compared to sand.
Glass beads are also easy to install, enabling a rapid start up of the media filter. Plus the high purity means very little backwashing is required to cleanse the filter media prior to commissioning the filter.
Zeolite
Swimart stocks ZeoPlus, a filter bed of ZeoPlus and Garnet, which provides superior filtration.
ZeoPlus is a naturally occurring mineral rock, and its microporous structure and ammonia removal properties will significantly improve the quality of your swimming pool water. The combination of ZeoPlus and Garnet enables effective filtration down to 5 microns, with the added benefit of ammonium reduction.
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