Every pool owner should attach quite a lot of importance to the pool being kept in a clean and safe condition. After all, it speaks directly to enjoyment and health when using the pool. This revolves around a solid filtration system, the base necessary to render water crystal-clear and inviting. Sand has, for many years, remained the most preferred filtering media in pool filters due to its excellent performance in filtering out debris and other forms of contaminants, which would lead to low-quality water.
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Introduction
However, with the various developments that have taken place in filtration technology in recent years, pool filter balls have come to be a more modern and enormously efficient alternative to traditional methods of filtering. But how, if at all, does this new pool filter ball stack up against the tried-and-true, traditional sand? Let us plunge deep into an in-depth, side-by-side comparison of pool filter balls versus sand and learn which one might be the best choice to keep your pool clean and of high quality.
What Are Pool Filter Balls?
Pool filter balls are made from a particular material – polyethylene type of plastic that is durable and very effective- and offers something new in pool filtration. Tiny particles of dirt and all other types of debris are successfully caught. While traditional sand filters rely primarily on gravity when it comes to unclean and unwanted materials and debris in the water, the delicate fibers of pool filter balls create a tight layer such that water passing through allows for catching contaminants.
The innovative, light balls come with a host of advantages, making them an attractive alternative: they are eco-friendly, can be reused several times, and require less frequent backwash, which saves not only water but also resources.
Most people commend pool filter balls for being durable, some can be used through several seasons. With such durability, they can be a worthy investment in maintaining a swimming pool’s cleanliness and general state.
What is Filter Sand?
Filter sand, or even silica sand, is now part of the pool filtration that has been around for several decades. The sand rests inside a sand filter and acts like a barrier through which water passes, catching particles in its coarser grain. No matter how effective, these filters usually require periodic and frequent backwashing, renewal of sand is usually every 3 to 5 years, depending on use. While relatively inexpensive, sand tends to have operational costs since it requires regular maintenance.
Pool Filter Balls vs Sand As Filtration Media
Filtration Efficiency
With their significant number and form, the pool filter balls make much more sense and can catch finer particles, sometimes as small as 1.5 microns. This kind of cleaning results in the water from the pool getting a genuinely professional and high-quality cleaning, and its clarity turns out impressively great.
On the other hand, sand is a more classic filtration medium that typically catches particles down to much larger sizes- as large as 20 microns- and thus often leaves many of them to swim freely in the water. For those people and pool owners who dream of ultra-clear and crystal-like water quality, pool filter balls assure much better filtration quality than sand.
Ease of Use and Maintenance
Some of their benefits include handling since they are way lighter than the standard sands, making the installation process much easier and friendlier. Unlike sand, which produces a lot of dust during installation, the filter balls eliminate the dust and are cleaner to work with. While sand requires frequent backwashing to clear blockages for efficiency, filter balls are designed to reduce blockage, reducing backwashing to a minimal number of times. Filter balls are simple to clean, they can be rinsed with water or washed in a machine for ease, eventually increasing their life cycle.
Durability and Reusability
If properly maintained, these balls can survive for several years. They are resistant to wear and tear imparted by chemicals used in pools, giving them a long life. Conventional sand filters used earlier had a very short survival time because they degraded relatively fast. The constant use of sand filters causes wearing and compacting, reducing efficiency. The filter balls are resistant to compaction, thus maintaining their shape and working more effectively for longer.
Environmental Impact
The drastic reduction in the amount of backwashing required for the pool filter balls means they are perfect for water conservation; though great for your utility bills, they help with the environment’s health. Reusing these filter balls is an addition to waste minimization, adding to the fact that they do not have the exact replacement rate as regular sand filters, which often get disposed of every couple of years.
Value for Money and Cost
While the upfront cost of pool filter balls may be higher than that of conventional sand, their longer life and high efficiency generally pay for themselves over time. Reduced backwashing means not only a significant saving of these precious resource-water-but considerable savings in electricity. The fact that they are reusable further reduces the replacement cost. Therefore, once everything mentioned above is combined, they are one of the most economical options available to the owner.
Benefits of Pool Filter Balls Compared to Sand
- Improved Filtration Efficiency: This ensures that even particles of the minutest size are effectively captured and that water is considerably cleaner and purer.
- Less Clogging: This will enable water to pass through the filter directly, reducing backwash application considerably.
- Environmental Protection: It is an environmental pollutant emission with minimal water consumption, resulting in minimal waste products.
- Easy Handling: It is lightweighted and can be handled with ease, thus making installation easier since it requires no heavy lifting.
- Resistance to Chemicals: The chemicals used in swimming pools cannot degrade filter balls so that they can last longer.
Possible Cons of Using Pool Filter Balls
While pool filter balls offer a wide range of advantages that could help enhance the general efficiency of the filtration system of your swimming pool, there are a few key things that one should consider before making the switch.
First, some older filtration systems have been optimized for sand, which could imply necessary changes to enable them to work effectively with balls.
Another important thing that should be mentioned is that since filter balls have recently been introduced to the market, some users could feel hesitant or unwilling to abandon traditional sand filters, mainly because they are used to them and thus find them more comfortable.
Conclusion
While sand holds its position in the line of pool filtration systems, serving its purposes well, just like the pool filter ball, for those searching for high efficiency, ultimate ease, and eco-friendly operation, the filter balls outshine such comparisons a long way.
Boasting an amazingly longer life span, excellent resistance to clogging, and stellar practical filtration ability, pool filter balls proudly introduce themselves as the modern way of keeping a swimming pool clean and crystal clear. For the conventionally attitudinal, though, and is dependable infiltration. Ultimately, this will depend on the specific needs, budget, and preference for maintenance that one considers in their pool.