DIATOMACEOUS EARTH: The filtering
medium of the DE filter, this dry powder is the fossilized remains
of the ancient plankton, diatom.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FILTER: A
filter tank containing fabric covered grids which hold the DE
powder up against the flow of the water.
DIVERTER VALVE: Used in a twin
port skimmer, a diverter allows the operator to manipulate the
amount of flow from the main drain and skimmer to the pump.
DRAIN: Also called the main drain,
this plumbing fitting is the start of one suction line to the
pump and is usually situated at or near the center bottom of
the pool.
FILTER: A device used to remove
particles suspended in the water by pumping water through a porous
substance or material.
FILTER ELEMENT: A device inside
a filter tank designed to entrap solids and direct water through
a manifold system to exit the filter. Cartridge filter elements
and DE filter grids are two examples.
FILTER MEDIUM: A finely graded
material, such as sand, diatomaceous earth, polyester fabric
or anthracite coal that removes suspended particles from water
passing through it.
FILTER PUMP: The device that
pulls water from the pool and pushes it through the filter on
its way back to the pool.
FILTRATION RATE: The rate of
water pumped through a filter, in gallons per minute (gpm).
GATE VALVE: The type that spins
"lefty-loosey; righty-tighty".
GAS VALVE: An electronic valve
in the pool heater that directs gas flow from the meter to the
pilot and the burner tray.
GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER:
A GFCI device protects a circuit from branching off by de-energizing
the path of electricity very quickly when it senses current loss.
An important safety device around water.
GUNITE: A dry mixture of cement
and sand mixed with water at the "gun"; hence the name.
A gunite operator "shoots" the pool's rough shape,
while finishers trowel after.
