How Basket Strainers Protect Pool Recirculation Systems
Pool recirculation suction systems are important parts of any commercial pool installation. They remove debris and impurities from the pool water and keep it moving. If set up and maintained properly, a pool recirculation system will guarantee a clean pool and happy swimmers.
While regular maintenance is crucial to maintaining your pool recirculation suction system, selecting the right equipment is also important for ensuring that your system works correctly and remains fully functional.
Why Strainers Matter for Pool Recirculation
One of the most overlooked pieces of equipment in a pool recirculation suction system is the basket strainer. Aquatic basket strainers are incredibly important because they protect the pump — arguably the most crucial and most expensive piece of equipment in any pool recirculation suction system.
As water is being sucked into the pump, it passes through the strainer, which removes any debris that made its way into the system through the skimmer. Items captured can include small plastic toys, plastic pieces from swim gear, woodchips from nearby landscaping, or, more often, hair and lint.
Keeping these sorts of objects out of the pump provides two benefits:
- Helps maintain requisite pressure — tangled hair can reduce impeller speed and larger objects can impede flow
- Prevents damage to the pump — no one wants a foreign object to get lodged in their pump impeller
Strainers are Required for Pool Recirculation Systems
Aquatic strainers provide clear benefits for pool recirculation suction systems but it’s also important to note that they are legally required for all commercial pools except for those that use vacuum filter systems.
According to the Department of Public Health’s code covering swimming facilities (Section 820.210 Swimming Facility Water Treatment System) section b6:
Hair and Lint Strainer. A hair and lint strainer shall be installed on the suction side of the pump except on vacuum filter systems. The strainer basket shall be easily removable. Valves shall be installed to allow the flow to be shut off during cleaning, switching baskets, or inspection.
What Sort of Basket Strainer Should You Get?
When selecting an aquatic basket strainer for your commercial pool recirculation system, there are two primary options: metallic or non-metallic.
How do they compare? One way to get your head around it is to think about the persistent debates in the trades between steel vs. PVC pipe for plumbing and electrical conduit. While metal outperforms PVC in some cases (e.g., extreme temperatures), PVC continues to gain converts thanks to its cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and resistance to corrosion. Comparing metallic strainers vs. non-metallic strainers, you’ll essentially reach the same conclusions.
Specifying Your Aquatic Strainer
An aquatic strainer should be designed to take abuse so your pool recirculation system’s pump doesn’t have to.
Considering the conditions that most strainers have to endure in commercial pool installations — which are relatively light in comparison to those that industrial strainers have to put up with, for instance — non-metallic strainers are clearly the best option. Installation is easy, they resist corrosion, and they will last for a long, long time, meaning they have a lower true cost of ownership.
To browse our complete selection of aquatic strainers, please visit our aquatic basket strainers page.
And if you need more information about these types of products or have additional questions, please feel free to call us at 888-551-9115 or contact us.
