What Size Cartridge Filter For 15000 Gallon Pool

Picking the All-time Filter Size for Your Pool

I've never understood why people purchase the biggest pump they can afford, and then go pocket-size on the pool filter. I call it the "V-viii mentality." They want the biggest engine, in the smallest car.

To salvage you fourth dimension in your valuable day, I'll give you the moral of the story upfront. The main point of this post is to"GO BIG."

Choosing a larger pool filter makes sense, and it has many benefits:

Longer filter cycles, or time between backwashing
Less bypass of fine particles
Greater filtration of the h2o
Faster cleanup of water issues
Longer-lasting filter media

Sizes of Residential Pool Filters

Filters are commonly sized by the foursquare footage of surface expanse. It makes sense: The more square anxiety of filter media y'all have, the better the filter performance volition be. But it gets tricky when you endeavour to compare the 3 different types of pool filters to each other.

That'southward because they all trap dirt and droppings in different ways — they're like apples and oranges!

Don't let this confuse you, though. Within each filter type, there are typically four or five sizes.

Of these sizes, the smallest are suitable for aboveground pools, the mid-range ones tin be used for pocket-sized pools effectually 15,000 gallons, and the big filters work best for pools above 25,000 gallons.

To add to the confusion are the manufacturer's listed turnover rates for their pool filters. These are usually listed on product information pages, and they show the maximum period rates for the filters.

This snippet below, from our Hayward Star-Clear filter page, seems to suggest that a 25-square-foot filter can take intendance of a 12,000-gallon pool, and I tin can tell y'all that is not the case. Non fifty-fifty shut.

Sand Filters

For sand filters on in-ground pools, I like to apply a xxx-inch tank diameter, which has a four.9 sq. ft. filter surface area and holds 600 pounds of sand. For small-scale pools (nether xx,000 gallons), I might advise the next size downwards (24″ tank) if the budget is tight. But never go smaller than this for an in-footing pool.

Cartridge Filters

I take a rule of thumb for cartridge pool filters: 100 sq. ft. of filter surface area per ten,000 gallons of pool water, as a minimum. I similar to come across the 400 sq. ft. models on in-footing pools higher up 25,000 gallons. These can go an entire season without cleaning in most cases.

DE Filters

Because diatomaceous earth filters offer the most superior type of filtration, people tend to go modest and buy a 24 or 36 sq. ft. DE filter. Ugh … no, GO Large! Don't use anything below a 48 sq. ft. filter, and if your pool is over 25,000 gallons, go with the big option (the 60 sq. ft. filter).

For the average in-basis pool, if money is bachelor, purchase a large DE filter and exist done with it. If your budget is squeezed thin this year, buy the 30″ sand filter.

Pump Size to Filter Size

With a large pool filter, in that location's no worry almost the pump existence too large for the filter. Too, don't worry if your pump seems undersized for a larger pool filter — this is rarely the case. When the pump is besides large, however, it can mean all sorts of problem. Dirt can be pushed through the filter, internals tin become crushed or cracked, and high pressure makes for a slow, inefficient and potentially hazardous state of affairs.

Filter Size to Pool Size

Another rule of thumb I have for pool filter size is to look at the swimming puddle size in gallons. If you've never calculated this before, take some measurements. The formula isLength x Width ten Average Depth x 7.5, for rectangular pools.For oval pools, change the multiplier from 7.5 to 5.nine.

NSF Standard 50

Filter manufacturers size all iii systems in accord with the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Standard 50 "Circulation System Components for Swimming Pool."

High-rate sand:Max flow charge per unit 25 GPM per square foot of surface area, normally sized between 15 and 20 GPM per sq. ft. A minimum menses charge per unit of 11 GPM per sq. ft. is required to utilize the torturous path filtration of depth type filter media. Flow rates over 25 GPM can lead to channeling.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE):Max flow rate two.5 GPM per square foot of surface area, unremarkably sized at 2 GPM per sq. ft. Proper flow rate and force per unit area are essential to assure a uniform cake formation on the support grids.

Cartridge:Max menstruation rate i GPM per foursquare foot of expanse; can be sized between 0.25 GPM and 1 GPM per sq. ft.

Here's some pool filter size recommendations by type. Match your pool size in gallons (or less) with the filter model number. And, don't exist afraid to become ane size bigger!