The Right Above Ground Pool Filters For Your Pool

A pool filter is a vital piece of equipment for any swimming pool. It helps to keep the water clean and clear by trapping debris and impurities.

If you value your own, family, and other people's health, then you need a pool pump. You never what kind of junk is floating around in the water besides just leaves and dirt. Heater, pool type, and filter type are quite important as well.

Without a doubt, a cartridge filter system is best suited for above ground pools that are small to medium-sized.

Compared to sand and D.E filters, cartridge filters are relatively cheaper and easier to set up. In addition, while a sand filter can only filter down to 20 microns, cartridge filters can filter down to 10 microns, so you are getting cleaner water without breaking the bank.

While D.E filters do clean water really well, it costs quite a lot, and maintaining/cleaning it requires more effort. For an above ground pool, such filters are not the most suitable.

For larger above ground pools of more than 15,000 gallons, the best choice is a sand filter.

While it doesn't clean as well as a cartridge filter, it is the most efficient and optimum choice given the circumstance. A sand filter can take a bigger workload while requiring less maintenance and upkeep.

If you have the money and the budget to get the best set up however, you can opt for a D.E filter. You will get the cleanest water as it can filter up to 1-6 microns, but it is quite expensive and cleaning D.E filters are usually a bit more complicated to clean, and the essential part of a ground filtration system is a heater to maintain a higher flow rate.

As mentioned, this will mostly come down to the size of your pool and your preference.

While I highly recommend a cartridge pool filter, if you prefer something low maintenance and something that will last longer, or if you have a larger swimming pool, then a sand filter system will be better suited for you your needs, or in the case you prefer the best possible filtration, then a D.E filter could be a better choice for you.

Up to 5000:

You really can't go wrong with a 1000 GPH cartridge filter for above ground pools that are up to 5000 gallons. If you want to save money, you can even get a 500 GPH filter for kiddie pools that are up to 3000 gallons.

5000 - 10000:

For a medium-sized above ground pool, 2000 GPH is preferable, but you can also make do with 1500 GPH. Whether you want to choose between a sand filter or a cartridge filter is up to you as long as you know what to expect from a particular type of pool filters.

10000 - 15000:

Now we are talking! For a medium-large above ground pool, you definitely want a filter that can clean 2500 GPH. The Intex 28633EG is the perfect choice for such pools.

More than 15000:

At this point, you should seriously consider 2000+ sand or D.E filters. They are able to run longer than a cartridge filter and the size of the filter tank allows for more workload without having to constantly clean your filter.

You could get away with Intex 2500 GPH filter as a budget-friendly option up until 18,000 gallons, but you would be really pushing its limit, so my best recommendation is to fork up some cash and get 3000 GPH sand or D.E filter if you prefer a smooth and efficient operation.

We've answered this question in great detail in our "How to clean a pool filter" article, but here is a short summary.

Cartridge filter:

Depending on how dirty your swimming pool filter is, it might depend, but generally cleaning it with a garden hose every 1-2 weeks is recommended, and deep thorough cleaning of the free dirt, ground debris, and small particles every 1-2 months. If you take good care of a pool cartridge filter, it can last up to 3 years or even more.

Sand filter:

In general, it is best to backwash your sand filter every 3-4 weeks. However, if your swimming pool is small and not used very often, you may be able to go longer between cleanings as long as the pressure gauge is not much above 10 PSI.

You can go about three to five years before you need to replace the filter sand. If the pressure gauge is constantly above 12 PSI, then probably it's time to change the sand.

D.E filter:

Depending on the size of the pool or hot tub, the filter should be backwashed every two to four weeks. Make sure to add some D.E powder whenever you clean the filter.

The D.E grid or fingers should be cleaned two to four times per year.

It's not really necessary as long as your swimming pool filters are strong enough to handle the workload within six to eight hours.

Most people don't recommend running ground pool pumps for more than eight hours a day. You are not only saving electricity but increasing the lifespan of your filter system and pump. Heater, pool type, and filter type are quite important as well.

An above ground pool should have the pump running for at least six to eight hours a day to ensure that the swimming pool water is circulated and filtered properly. This will help to keep the water clean and clear, and it will also help to extend the life of the pump.

If you have a lot of people using the swimming pool, you may also want to increase the pump's run time to ensure that the water is properly circulated. This is different from what is mentioned above, because ground pool and the ground pool pump are unlike the above ground pool pump, as it requires sand filters or diatomaceous earth to trap particles, free roaming harmful bacteria, and other contaminants to maintain a healthy pool, function properly, and leave your swimming pool sparkling clean.

You don't necessarily have to run the swimming pool pump for 6-8 hours straight; only when it makes sense to. So you can run the swimming pool pump in the morning or the afternoon for a few hours, turn it off, then turn it back on during the evening for a few hours.

It comes down to a few factors. Some countries/areas have peak electricity usage hours, which is mainly during the day and evening.

If you are looking to save on your electricity bills, you could run it during the night or early morning.

However, practically it makes more sense to run the pool pump when the sun is the strongest and when the swimming pool is in use.

A pool filter is a piece of equipment that filters and cleans the water, but a pool pump sucks in the water from the pool and circulates the clean and filtered water around.

Although there are so many different types of ground pool filters, such as smaller pool filters , a larger pool filter with pool pumps, you want a pump that is strong enough to circulate enough water in your above ground pool pump. It's better to get a bigger and stronger pump rather than the other way around.

Most pool filters that you buy come with their own pumps, but if you want better performance or want to save money on electrcity bills, you can get a pool pump with variable speed, or just consider that the essential part of a ground filtration system is a heater to maintain a higher flow rate.

Variable speed pump allows you to control the speed of your pump, so you can adjust between high or low volume.

When you are not using the pool, you could set it to low speed because there won't be much to clean anyways, but when the pool is in use, then you can have it on high for the most optimal performance. Heater, pool type, and filter type are quite important as well.

While a variable speed pool pump is more expensive, if you use it efficiently, over the long run, you do save more money compared to a single speed pool pump.

Depending on the size of your above ground pool, the pool pump size will vary.

Less than 10000:

Depending on the size, somewhere between 0.5 to 1 HP is enough to get the job done for smaller pools.

10000 - 15000:

When it comes to somewhat medium-sized pools, you definitely want a swimming pool pump that is more than 1 HP.

More than 15,000:

At this point, you need to consider the appropriate size of tubes and bigger pool pumps. Usually bigger tubes and plumbing are recommended along with 1.5 HP.

However, it does not warrant huge pool pumps above 2 HP, which are more suited for in-ground and significantly larger pools. Getting a variable speed pool pump would be a good idea. You can run it at higher speeds when the pool is in use, and lower speeds during early mornings or evening when you don't need to run the pump as much.

Usually, 1 Horse Power (HP) is enough for most above-ground swimming pools, so if you have a smaller budget, then a single-speed pump closer to 1 HP is a good choice.

Yes, usually bigger pumps are better and yield better results than the other way around, however, if you don't have a variable speed pool pump, it can be overkill for your system.

You will not only rack up energy bill costs, but your filter might not be able to handle the workload of cleaning the free dirt, ground debris, and small particles for extended periods of time, which is why a variable-speed pool pump is recommended.

Tubes and plumbing are also important. If you have smaller tubes, getting a bigger pool pump with a single speed won't necessarily make things run more smoothly.

But if you have the choice between a bigger pool pump and a smaller one, go with the bigger pool pump as long as the filter, plumbing, and tubes can handle the higher volume. OR if the bigger pool pump comes with a variable speed functionality, in which case you can lower the speed during non-peak swimming hours.

Usually above ground and in ground pool pumps can be interchangeable, but you want to make sure that there isn't a significant difference in horsepower and Rounds Per Minute (RPM) with the motors. As long as the other specifications with plumbing, tubes, and filter compatibility, it should be good.

However, it's always best to stick with the recommended specifications for your swimming pool if you wish to get the best results.

In the case there is a pump leaking, there can be a few factors. From, a worn-out O-ring, broken seal, broken drain plugs, unfitted clamps or screws, to sealants, etc. You can read a more detailed guide here.

It would be best to open up the pump and inspect the parts to determine where the leak may be coming from.

You can consult a professional, but you can easily find replacement parts and fix everything yourself for much cheaper.

There can be a variety of reasons why your pump is not sucking any water or it's not working as well as it used to. We'll try to go over some of the most common reasons your pool pump is not getting enough suction to clean the free contaminants, dirt, ground debris, and small particles.

Skimmer or pump basket: You may have leaves or some large objects clogging up the skimmer or pump basket which results in less water being sucked in.

Pump impeller: Maybe your pump impeller is not working or is damaged. You will need to open your pump to inspect whether it is or not.

O-ring: The O-ring may be damaged or is not sealed properly. Check for any cracks or loose fitting with the clamp.

Leaky pipes: Maybe your pipes have small cracks that are not visible to the eye. Try wrapping it with plastic wraps to see if it collects water somewhere.

Clogged pipes, tubes: Somewhere along the plumbing, you may have clogged pipes. Inspect the valves and tubes if anything is stuck.

Not primed correctly: You may not have primed it correctly and not getting enough pressure.

Dirty filter: In a lot of cases, it may just be time for you to be cleaning your filter. You will need to either backwash your sand/D.E filter or get the cartridges cleaned.

With proper maintenance and care, you can expect at least 5 or 6 years of life expectancy for a pool pump. Higher quality brands can even last more than 10 years.

In the case your pool pump does stop working, instead of throwing it out and getting a new pump, it's a good idea to have it inspected. Sometimes you may just need to replace the motor or some parts for it to work perfectly normally like it used to. Heater, pool type, and filter type are quite important as well.