How Loud is a Swimming Pool's Filter System? And What Can be Done About It.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Sat, Jul 03, 2010 @ 08:56 AM
When purchasing a swimming pool, consumers are often curious as to how loud the pool's pump and filter will be. Such a question makes a good bit of sense, especially considering no one wants to be relaxing next to their swimming pool with the load roar of a motor just a few feet away.
There are 3 main factors that dictate how much noise a pool's filter system will put off:
1. Proximity: It's always a good idea to place the pool's filter system at least 20' or more off the pool. Not only does this benefit the general aesthetics of the scene, but it simply makes it harder to hear any noise coming from the equipment.
2. Cartridge Filter: Most consumers are not aware of the fact that cartridge filters are more quiet than sand filters simply because of the hydraulic design of each. Because a sand filter has a 'port' that the water has to pass through before reaching the filter, this naturally puts off more noise than a cartridge unit that does not need the additional piece of equipment to be effective.
3. Variable Speed Pump: Of all the factors that lead to a quiet swimming pool filter system, none has more impact than choosing the right pump-- one with at least two speeds. For example, all of our clients at River Pools get a Whisperflow 2-Speed pump made by Pentair. This pump is quite indicative of its name, as when it's on low-speed, it truly 'whispers', as shown on the video seen here. Along with making swimming pool operation much more energy efficient, mulitple speed pumps are a must based on their noise reduction alone.
Well I hope this helps everyone considering a pool to choose the right type of filter sytem for their back yard oasis. As always, happy swimming to everyone and have a wonderful 4th of July weekend.