Swimming Pool Filter Parts Overview

Sand Pool Filter Parts

OK, let's start here as they are the most popular in the European market: Laterals are slotted pipes at the bottom of the tank that allows water to push through minuscule slits, but not the filter sand.

They attach into a hub, or manifold, with a number of fitment connections being available - threaded, push and twist or ball and socket. The hub is connected to a standpipe, which runs straight up and is connected to a top-mounted multiport. If yours is side-mounted valves, then it turns 90 degrees and connects to the bulkhead assembly.

Sand filters are more complicated than cartridge or DE filters in terms of Drain Assembly, as Sand Filters need to drain water only whilst keeping the sand in the tank.

You may need, however, to remove the entire assembly, flush out remaining sand during a sand change, for instance, or repair a leaking or damaged drain assembly.

D.E. Pool Filter Parts

DE Filter Grids, different designs have been used over the years, 'fingers', the more standard curved grid arrangement, and the vertical grid arrangement used by Sta-Rite. Grids do develop holes or become clogged with minerals or oils. During your annual cleaning and maintenance routine replace any broken or torn grids.

Manifolds force water in certain directions. Manifold design helps to ensure a good flow and pressure through the filter and forces the water to go through the DE grids before it exits the filter.

Most manifolds have an air bleeder assembly, which allows air in the tank to be pushed out to the pool. So if you find DE powder in your pool, the primary cause will be a torn grid but always keep a cracked manifold, or missing air bleeder screen in your mind as an alternative cause. Another possible issue may be loose through-bolts - if the assembly is not tight, pulling the grids fully into the manifold, little gaps where DE can leak through to the pool can occur.

Cartridge Pool Filter Parts

A cartridge has a pleated material (polyester - white are standard blue are microban) wrapped around a PVC core and capped with heat-welded plastic caps. When the cartridge is connected to the pipe out of the filter, the water enters through the pleats to make its way out of the filter. Common failures are due to debris and oils building up and clogging the filter and sometimes they can fail by developing holes, cracks or separated end caps.

Manifolds are used when there are multiple filters in the system, these manifolds direct the water out of the filter tank after it has been pushed through the filter cartridge. Manifold cracks or not pushing the cartridge down firmly enough into place cause water to bypass the filter cartridge.

Parts Common to all Pool Filter Types

Pressure Gauges

Pressure gauges tell you how the filter is operating. Whatever your start-up pressure is, the filter needs cleaning when the pressure reading is 5-10 lbs higher than normal. Gauges are cheap and do break often, so always suspect them first. A good way to ascertain the gauge is it should return to zero when the pump shuts off. A bent face or dial will distort the reading, as can rust inside the gauge. We recommend giving them a polite fingernail flick, to sure the needle bounces.

Bulkheads

A bulkhead is a flanged assembly around a hole in a pool filter tank. Under high pressure, the pipes entering and exiting the filter tank must connect to a sturdy flange design. Bulkheads are not usually troublesome, but if you see cracks or leaks, replace the parts as required.

Clamp Bands

Some pool filters have a split tank design with a heavy-duty clamp band used to hold the tank halves together whilst under high pressure. If you see a crack, a weld joint loosens or if the clamp bolt becomes stripped replace it immediately. Top mount sand filters use a smaller clamp and flange arrangement to hold the valve to the top of the tank.