How To Change Filter Sand

Efficient, cheap, low-maintenance puddle filtering is e'er the goal. Yous don't want to spend all your time and coin just making sure your filter does what it's supposed to. That'due south probably why you have a sand pool filter in the first identify. They rarely clog, they're easy on your wallet and your dorsum, and they piece of work well. You get crystal clear pool h2o, and the virtually work you have to practise is swap out the sand once every few years.

How exercise you change pool filter sand, anyhow? Get-go by deciding which blazon of sand you'll use—you lot've got a few options. Learn how to tell when it's time for a modify, then you lot won't have to constantly battle dingy, cloudy h2o. When you're ready to tackle information technology, alter your sand and become dorsum to swimming in no time.

What is Pool Filter Sand?

Dead bugs. Bacteria. Algae. Your pool filter traps these things so they can't hang around making the h2o cloudy or getting swimmers sick. The filter media is the stuff that grabs those contaminants. In this case, sand is that media.

Sand is such excellent filtration media, information technology's used in other water safety applications such as wastewater handling, septic systems, and even for drinking water.

To the untrained middle, about sand looks pretty much the aforementioned, so you might recall all sand is created equal, but that'due south non the example. Don't be tempted by that bag of cheap play sand in your garage. It volition destroy your filtration system. Always brand sure to use one of three types of sand in your puddle filter.

Silica Sand

The most commonly used pool filter sand is #twenty silica sand. It comes from ground quartz, which creates abrupt silica grains with jagged edges excellent for trapping particulates from passing water.

Silica sand is mined, not manufactured.

Glass Sand

If you're looking for filter media with low ecology impact, glass sand is an effective culling to silica. It's made from 100% recycled drinking glass and is smoothen to the touch, but withal captures particles as pocket-sized as two microns—that'south one millionth of a meter.

The glass grains are all different sizes, and then information technology minimizes channeling, which occurs when pool water cuts a path straight through the sand and slips through the filter almost unfiltered. Glass sand also has a negative charge, so it excels at capturing iron and manganese particles. This is especially helpful if your pool is filled from a hard water source.

Zeolite Sand

Created from volcanic rock minerals called zeolites, this silica alternative boasts 100 times greater surface expanse than standard filter sand because of its sponge-like honeycomb shape.

Zeolite chemically traps chloramines—the chlorine byproducts that sting swimmers' eyes—through a process called molecular sieving. That's a fancy way of saying chloramines become trapped inside the zeolite sand particles indefinitely.

If you're finding you need to shock your pool ofttimes, zeolite sand could assistance get chloramines under control without having to utilise as many pool chemical additives.

Why Change Your Pool Filter Sand?

The puddle pump pulls dirty water to the filter, where it passes through the sand, where contaminants get trapped. The clean water flows back into the pool. How exactly does the sand agree onto the icky stuff, while allowing the cleaned h2o to pass through?

Though information technology's much too small to see with the naked eye, all three types of sand have a rough surface where contaminants get caught as the water flows by.

Over time, the rushing water wears away the prickly surface of the sand, leaving it smoothen and round. When you wait at sand from beaches with intense waves nether a microscope, it'south noticeably smoother than sand from calmer beaches. The same principle applies to puddle filter sand, which has water flushed through it for several hours a day.

This smoothing is the result of a process called weathering. Ironically the same procedure that creates sand as well wears it downwardly into grit, useless for filtering annihilation.

When pool filter sand is weathered smooth, it doesn't have any jagged edges to grab and concur contaminants. Your puddle may beginning to look cloudy or crave more than frequent shock treatment every bit the filter media nears the cease of its lifespan.

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When to Change the Sand in Your Filter

Similar fine vino, pool filter sand gets better with age, but then it peaks and eventually declines. Its lifespan is rather short—just three to five years. Over the grade of a few years, contaminants build upward in the sand.

For the first couple of years, this really enhances the filtering ability of the sand because in addition the sand's own crude edges, the contaminants edifice upwards also deed as filtration for the water that passes through the filter.

But eventually, all that extra gunk builds up so much that it makes the filter prone to clogs. At the same fourth dimension, weathering renders the sand incapable of collecting more contaminants. Your filter'south efficiency drops, and your pools water quality suffers.

Two other things may happen when your sand is past its height. Pressure level tin can build up inside your filter as it becomes more hard for the water to pass through gunked-up sand. And then the water may seek a path of least resistance and cutting a channel through the sand, which may reduce some of the force per unit area, just will most eliminate filtering.

Can't I merely Clean or Backwash my Sand Filter?

You'll demand to aftermath your sand filter whenever the pressure guess climbs to 10 pounds per foursquare inch (psi) higher than the normal running pressure. You lot can also aftermath if the water is a bit cloudy, but the chemistry is okay.

Backwashing rinses the sand, flushing droppings to waste matter. It can exist washed as part of your routine puddle maintenance, and you may need to top off the pool afterwards.

If you want to give your sand a lilliputian extra cleaning, use sand filter cleaner annually. Think of this stuff every bit a degreaser for the sand. It helps wash out oils and other contaminants backwashing tin can't quite go rid of.

Both backwashing and filter cleaner help with climbing force per unit area and h2o clarity, but eventually the sand volition habiliment down and demand to exist replaced. If your sand is in the 3- to five-twelvemonth window, and pressure and clarity are ongoing problems, it'south probably fourth dimension for new sand.

The Changing of the Sand

Once you've determined your filter is the reason for your cloudy h2o, become your gear together for sand changing. You'll be amazed how like shooting fish in a barrel this is.

You'll Need:

• Hacksaw (if pipe needs to be cut)
• Store-Vac
• Screwdriver
• Garden hose
• Flashlight
• pool filter sand or filter sand substitute (check your filter's manual for the amount)
• Duct record or Rubber plug
• Utility knife
• Mask
• Aftermath hose
• Diatomaceous world (D.E.) powder (optional)

one.Plow Off the Pump and Drain the Filter

Turn off the filter and pump. Be certain the timer isn't fix to turn on shortly, then the pump won't kicking on while everything is disconnected. If the pumps kicks on while dry out, it may burn out.

Remove the drain plug from the bottom of the filter tank, and let all the h2o drain out.

Tip: Draining the filter tank may take a while, so you could do this stride in the morning, then come back in the cooler evening air to finish the rest.

2. Remove the Multiport Valve

Remove the hoses or pipes that are connected to the multiport valve. If your valve is hard plumbed with PVC pipe, you lot'll have to cut the pipage. If you're uncomfortable doing this, consider hiring a pro.

Afterwards the pipes take been cutting, y'all (or a pro) tin can install union fittings so next time around, you lot'll only have to unscrew a piping fitting—no hacksaw required.

Use your screwdriver to remove the clamp or collar securing the valve to the tank.

Gently twist then pull up on the multiport valve to remove it.

Tip: The pipe attached to the valve has laterals (similar tree roots) branching out into the sand. The combination of weight from sand and twisting can intermission the laterals, so take information technology easy.

3. Comprehend the Standpipe

Inside the tank is an open pipe where the valve was just removed. Encompass it with duct tape to preclude sand from getting inside. If it does, that sand will get flushed correct into your pool when yous showtime up the pump once again.

4. Remove the Sand

Use the Shop-Vac to suck out all the former sand. If you lot don't have a Store-Vac (or you're a big fan of back pain), y'all can scoop the old sand out by mitt with a plastic cup. This volition take forever and ever.

Brand friends with someone who has a Shop-Vac you can borrow, or just invest in i. It will take less time, and they come in handy for a lot of other jobs.

5. Rinse Out the Tank and Laterals

With most of the sand gone, you'll be able to see the artillery branching out of the standpipe. Use your garden hose to rinse whatsoever remaining sand out of the bleed hole.

Use the flashlight to advisedly inspect the standpipe and laterals for damage. Any cracks could let sand into your puddle, so make necessary repairs earlier adding fresh sand.

6. Fill the Tank Halfway with H2o

Replace the drain plug in the tank. Stick the hose down into the tank and start filling. Center the standpipe and laterals, and hold them in identify while the tank fills about halfway.

Adding some water prior to the replacement sand creates a cushion to protect the laterals from the weight of falling sand.

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7. Add the New Sand

Put your mask on to avert animate in dust. Check the duct tape on the standpipe and add more than if necessary.

Holding the pocketbook with a corner extending over the opening of the tank, slice information technology open with the utility knife. Relax, savor the Zen moment watching the sand bleed into the tank. But don't relax too much—y'all're holding a 50 lb. handbag of sand.

Add one bag of sand at a fourth dimension, letting it slowly pour into the tank so it won't spill everywhere.

Important: Merely use pool filter sand or filter sand substitute. Anything else can ruin your filter.

Tip: You lot tin further increase the filtering efficiency of sand by adding a few cups of D.East. powder forth with the fresh sand.

Pool Filter Sand

Coarse filter media for pool sand filters.

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8. Fill the Tank and Reassemble the Connections

When all the sand is in the tank, fill information technology to the top with water. Replace the multiport valve, collar, and pipes or hoses. Make sure all the fittings are snug and secure.

9. Backwash and Rinse the Filter

Attach the backwash hose and turn the multiport valve to backwash. Prime the pump, and turn it on. Backwash the filter for at to the lowest degree two minutes or until the filter's sight glass is running clear. This helps get out all of the sand dust and extra droppings from the new sand.

Shut the pump off, set up the multiport valve to rinse, and turn the pump back on. Rinse the filter for ane minute.

ten. Run the Filter

Shut the pump off, plough the valve to filter, and turn the pump back on. Now check the pressure gauge. This is your filter's normal running pressure. Recollect information technology or write it downwardly somewhere handy.

Check the guess when yous do your normal puddle maintenance. When the force per unit area is 10 psi above normal, backwash the filter. Using the force per unit area gauge as a backwash indicator prevents you from over-backwashing and removing the clay and droppings your sand filter needs to function properly.

Sand-sational Job!

Choosing which type of pool filter sand to apply is the nearly complicated part of this process, and you lot can't really make a wrong selection. It's simply a matter of choosing the one that will work all-time for your puddle, depending on factors such as whether you have hard water, or chloramines are an effect.

Once the new sand is in and the pump is upwardly and running, all you need to do go on an middle on things so your filter will run at optimal efficiency until the adjacent time you have to change the sand. With only that little flake of care, you can relax and swim with peace of heed for nearly another v years.

Happy Swimming!

Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University® and has been in the pool and spa manufacture since 1995. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub intendance easy for everyone. And each twelvemonth, he continues to help more people with h2o chemical science, cleaning, and troubleshooting.

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Source: https://www.swimuniversity.com/change-pool-filter-sand/

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