Difference Between Pool Pump & Filter

The short answer is, your pool pump and filter work together to keep your pool clean by maintaining its circulation. 

What do pumps do?

Your pump is the heart of your pool and the heart of your circulation. Circulation is the process of moving water around the pool via your pump, which allows it to pass through your filter, which removes dirt and debris. Circulation is crucial to your pool because it helps:

• remove contaminants from the water

• Pump the heated water back to the pool (if a heater is being used)

• and diffusing pool chemicals throughout the water more efficiently.

The pump consists of the pump basket (which collects debris and leaves), the impeller (a fan-like mechanism) and the water discharge. The discharge is the connection point that pushes the water from the pump into the filter’s housing. In general, pool pumps in Australia and New Zealand should be run for approximately:

• 8-10 hours per day in summer 

• 4-6 hours per day in winter

Why do we filter?

The purpose of the filtration system is to ensure that all water is passed through the filter in order to remove those contaminants you can’t see and help to ensure the pool is safe and healthy. It also ensures that the sanitiser is well mixed and evenly distributed and the water temperature is kept constant.

With the filtration in good repair and adequately sized it removes debris from pool water helping to reduce hazy or cloudy water. 

Filtration works by passing the water through a medium that captures the solids but lets liquid pass through. At Zodiac we focus on 2 types of filters:

1. Cartridge filters: Cartridge filters use the surface filtering method and are both energy efficient and cost-effective. A cartridge filter is generally a cylindrical tank that houses a removable pleated filter element, which is what the water is filtered through. Cartridge Filters can remove particles as low as 10 microns, and because of the large surface area, it enables better flow rates performing at slower speeds. 

2. Media filters: Media Filters use the depth filtering process and are perfect for people wanting to spend less time maintaining their pool. Media filters are circular tanks that can accommodate different types of filtering media. Water from the pool is pumped into the media filter which traps microscopic particles but still allows the water to pass through and return to the pool. 

Regardless of the pump and filter that are chosen for the job, it's vital that they are well maintained to ensure they consistently work to their capability and extend their service life.