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Knowing Filters: Your Perfect Allies Against Water Dirt
A water filter is very necessary if you want to make sure that your waters safe from any biological or chemical impurities. These filters are normally used in aquariums, drinking water, irrigation, and swimming pools, to name a few.
Types of Spa Filters
There are three known types of spa filters. These are sand filters, D.E. filters, and cartridge filters.
Sand Filter
The sand filter contains silica sands that can trap particles with ranges of 20 to 100 microns. The more it can collect dirt, the better it functions in trapping a lot of dirt.
Many people are saying that the sand bed must be changed at least once every 7 years. However, its efficiency loss is very hard to detect. There are many reasons that can cause its deterioration. One is water balance. You can include a little amount of alum, or aluminum sulfate, in the skimmer. It will build into a gelatinous layer over the sand bed, which can help in cleaning the terrible water condition. You may also sprinkle a little of other forms of filter media.
Cartridge Filter
This type of filter is the common choice among spas as well as little above-ground swimming pools. The filter element in these is more like the air cleaner installed in automobiles. It can trap up to 25 to 100 microns of particles. You can remove the cartridge from the tank then thoroughly hose it using a high-pressure hose so you can take away the dirt. This is usually done when the pressure gauge read 8 to 10 lbs.
There are a number of individuals who will bring their cartridges to carwash centers. However, there is reduction in its filtering ability every time it is cleaned. Thus, it should be replaced at least every 2 to 5 years to avoid any more damage. If the filter proves to be somewhat smaller and that there are lots of tree debris and algae, it can only be useful for 1 to 2 years.
DE (Diatomaceous Earth) Filter
Among the filters, this is considered to be the most effective kind. It can trap dirt with size of 3 to 5 microns small enough for you to actually see it.
For a DE filter to work, you must sprinkle DE powder all over the filter grids, which are found within the filter tank. This powder isn't hard to find and, in fact, very affordable. These are actually diatom skeletons that look like little sponges. These sponges are the main reasons why the filter can trap the dirt.
Backwashing Filters
When it comes to water treatment, backwashing refers to the water pumping reversal. This is done because filters can also get dirty and they must be maintained to ensure that they can still function properly.
There are several steps involved in backwashing. These are the following:
1. You remove the filter from the line and drain the water into the filter bed.
2. A process called air wash cycle begins. This is when the air is being pushed up into the filter bed so that it appears as if its boiling. This process will break up the compressed filter bed and will force the particles accumulated to be suspended. This will last for around 3 minutes.
3. Once it stops, the backwash phase begins. Water will then start to flow up passing through the filter bed.
4. Clean water passes through the filter bed to remove the accumulated particles present in the media and to clean the media. This doesn't stop until the backwash water appears clean.
There are two known types of backwash valves. These are the push pull valves and multiport valves. The push-pull valves, or slide valves, are usually mounted in bulkhead fittings located at the sides of the DE or sand filter. They are very convenient to use, contain lesser parts and are more lenient to water flow. The multiport (MPV) valves can be found in the same area where slide valves can be attached. Their main advantage is that they have multiple ports, which gives you more choices when it comes to filtering and backwashing. Normally, they contain 6 positions. Exceptions include Jacuzzis, which have 7. They are called filter, rinse, backwash, recirculate, waste, and closed.
Dealing with Leaking Filters
Sand filters don't leak as much as others. However, it can occur around the multiport interface. Usually the problem lies on leaks coming from the multiport valves backwash port. To solve the problem temporarily, you may perform minor adjustments to the handle. However, if it means more permanent repair, you may have to replace the spider gasket located within the multiport valve.
If you want to keep yourself safe when you're enjoying the luxury of spas, tubs, and baths, then you better ensure you have the best filters installed in the system.
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