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Best Swimming Pool Filters
To help you save some time, we have compiled a list of our top five swimming pool filters that all boast of great functionality and squeaky-clean performance.
1. Hayward W3C3030 SwimClear Cartridge Pool Filter
The Hayward W3C3030 is a top-notch cartridge pool filter that offers exceptional filtration with reduced operating costs. It comes with cleanable, reusable cartridges, is highly durable, and is also easily accessible for maintenance. It is the ideal heavy-duty swimming pool to handle large flow rates and comes with a quick-release air valve.
- Exceptional filtration with reduced operation cost.
- Easy to clean and maintain, and is reusable.
- Heavy-duty performance and highly durable.
2. Intex Type A Filter Cartridge for Pools
The Intex Type A cartridge filters come in a twin pack and are a customer favorite. They are made from easy to clean Dacron fiber material, offer up to two weeks of cleaning action, and are very affordable for easy replacement. They fit seamlessly into Intex pumps and any other type-A-rated filters and remove impurities effectively.
- Impressive reviews and come in a twin-filter pack.
- Affordable and easy to replace.
- Compatible with Intex and type-A pumps.
3. Dicalite DE25BOX D.E Filter
The Dicalite DE25BOX comes in a 25 lb. pack of diatomaceous earth that will last you all through the summer. It is great for both above-ground and in-ground pools and boasts of superior filtering action of up to 3-5 microns. Its formula of fossilized remains of diatoms is eco-friendly and filters without clumping up.
- 25 lb. DE filter economic pack.
- Exceptional filtering of both in-ground and above-ground pools.
- Eco-friendly and clump-free.
4. Aitsite 1.5 lbs Pool Filter Balls
The Aitsite pool filter balls come in a 1.5 lbs. pack and boast of filtering capability on par with 50 lbs. of sand. They are very lightweight, highly efficient and stain-free, and boast of high filtration speed and strength. They are also highly durable, reusable, and are extremely to maintain.
- Superb filtration efficiency and low weight.
- Stain-free and easy to maintain.
- Reusable and highly durable.
5. Future Way Pool Filter
The Future Way type-C pool filter sports a high-density trilobal structure for the most effective filtering and a high flow rate design. It is made from eco-friendly materials for swimmer health and safety, is very affordable, and helps save filtering time. It is compatible with a wide range of type C pumps and is very easy to replace.
- Good filtering with max flow rate design.
- Eco-friendly and affordable.
- Type-C design and easy replacement.
Swimming Pool Filter Buying Guide
Swimming pool filters ensure the water coming into your pool is clean and free of impurities that may otherwise discolor the pool and be unhealthy to you. They are the first stage in pool sanitization before a more thorough microscopic-level sanitization is done with chlorination and algaecides.
Our buying guide reviews the best swimming pool filters on the market based on their specified features and customer feedback to give you the best options to choose from. We then take it a step further and guide you through your purchase as we outline the factors you should consider before you commit your money to a product.
Pool Filter Type
Pool filters generally come in three major types – sand filters, Diatomaceous Earth filters, and cartridge filters. Cartridge filters are generally the most common types of filters in home-size pools and are very easy to use. The filtering cartridge is often replaced after a week or two of use and they are very affordable. Sand filters are generally used for finer cleaning and use sand to sieve out impurities. They are cheap, reusable, but are the least effective in filtering. Diatomaceous Earth filters are the most top-rated filters and are the most expensive of the bunch. They also filter out water to the highest degree and are highly durable.
Pump and Pool Size (Flow rate)
Choosing your swimming pool filter will depend directly on the size of your pool, and consequently the size of the pump. The larger the pool, the larger the pump for faster filling, and thus the larger the swimming pool filter should. In general, it should large enough to handle the flow rate from the pump without lagging behind and causing pressure to build in the pre-filtration stage.
Filtering Medium Fineness
Hoe efficiently you want the filter to separate solid particles is another consideration to make. As stated above, sand filters filter out particles to about 20 microns, cartridge filters up to 10 microns, while DE filters can filter particles as small as 5 microns in size.
Easy Maintenance
The ease of maintenance is another important factor to consider. If you want the most hands-free operation, then cartridge filters are the way to go and will just need you to replace the cartridges once dirty. Sand and DE filters, on the other hand, will require you to often backwash them before they can be reused but save you the cost of having to buy any extra filtering media like cartridge filters.