Every 5 - 7 years you will have to replace the sand in your sand filter. The sand actually wears out. The sharp edges of the sand particles become worn and rounded and don't capture the contaminates as well. Also, the sand will start to ball up or the water will create channels through the sand. You will notice that your pool water is not as clean or the interval between required backwashes is shorter. This guide shows you the steps required to replace the sand in your pool filter.
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Anonymous Posted: 6/15/2017
Great instructionsReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/12/2017
Anonymous (changing sand) - I would guess that your sand filter is not your problem. You may have low water flow. Check for a clogged impeller. See our guide on "How To Clean Out a Pool Pump Impeller". If that is good, you may need to be more persistent with shocking your pool See our blog on "How to Clean a Green Pool".Reply
Anonymous Posted: 6/10/2017
My husband replaced the sand in our filter a few weeks ago, but I don't think he rinsed the sand to waste before turning the filter on. Our water looks terrible after 2 weeks of chemicals and running filter non-stop. Could this be the problem? Also, we added sand just based on the number of lbs it needs and going by the number of pounds per bag of sand. Is this right or should we be going by the actual sand level in the filter? Thanks. It's mid-June and we haven't been able to get in our pool yet, so are very frustrated - help would be appreciated.Reply
Oz Posted: 6/9/2017
Very helpful thank you for your timeReply
Justincredible Posted: 6/4/2017
Thanks for the simple, yet thorough, instructions. Just the right amount of information for a novice like me to follow along and not screw anything up! Had my previous home owner installed unions this project would have been quicker. At least now they're installed so next time there'll be no cutting or pvc cement involved.Thanks again!
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/1/2017
Anonymous (no flow) - Even if one lateral was up, that should not prevent flow. With an above ground pool, your pump does not have to pull water from the pool. Water will fall from the pool to the pump at the bottom of the pool through gravity. So it the tube between the pool and the pump is open, you shouldn't have a problem there. Now the pump has to push the water through the filter. Check to make sure your pump's impeller is not clogged. If the impeller is clear and the tube to the top of the filter is clear you should be getting water into the top of the filter. Now check the spider gasket in the filter's multiport valve. If it is damaged, it may be blocking flow out of the filter. Generally, though, you would have flow, it would just be going out the wrong port.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 5/29/2017
I have a Dream line high rate sand filter .I had to take the pool down for because we moved .I bought the pump last summer worked wonderful , put it back together did everything it said in the instructions it wont suck the water from the pool and it dont have any pressure. If one of the laterals are not flat at the bottom could this be the problem. The pump is coming on and sand tank is filled with water and the scimmer has water no line are blocked or cloggedReply
Topher Posted: 5/26/2017
This is well done and very user friendly. Thanks for taking time out to provide this for everyone. Kudos and God Bless.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/15/2017
Gary - No, your pool does not have to be filled up to normal operating level before you change your filter sand. But you will have to fill it before you turn on your pump so the pump will prime.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/15/2017
glenncz - Good point and thank you for your input. I will incorporate your comment into our guide.Reply
Gary Posted: 5/15/2017
Do my pool need to be filled up to the normal pool level before I can change the sand.Reply
glenncz Posted: 5/13/2017
Article was super helpful for amateur first time sand change. But you left one super impt thing out!!!! I got to the point of washing the filter out and emptying it on side. Then I hosed/cleaned pad and "sort of" put it back where it was. Of course after putting 300 lbs of sand in it the hoses didn't line up. i think good advice would be to do a dummy fit of cap and hoses to make sure filter is back in same spot and much easier to move it empty. Then fill it up with sand.Reply
Bradwho Posted: 3/13/2017
My in ground pool is only 3 years old, last year I installed a heat pump. My problem is that my filter develops too much back pressure and shuts down my heat pump after only a few days from backwash. I backwash and rinse again, and it works fine for a few days then shuts off again. My question is my sand already bad?Reply
Anonymous Posted: 8/15/2016
Awesome guide, thank you. Much easier than I thought it might be. This was the answer to weeks of cloudy pool water and endless chasing of chemicals. My filter was about 7 years old. I overpaid on Amazon prime for #20 silica sand but got it in 2 days and it arrived while I was already taking the multi port valve off.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/19/2016
Edwin - Check the spider gasket in you multiport valve to make sure it is not damaged and letting water into the wrong ports. Then remove the sand in your filter and check for cracks in the laterals, the lateral hub, and the standpipe.Reply
Edwin Posted: 7/17/2016
When I vacuum my pool, some of the dust comes out of the jets even though I backwash four or five times.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/1/2016
C-Ray – I’m assuming that you have a Waterway Carefree Sand Filter that looks like this. Waterway bought out Proline. To determine the diameter of the filter tank, take a string and measure around the circumference of the tank at its widest point. Divide that measurement by 3.14 to get the tanks diameter. If it is 22" you will need 150 lbs of sand. If 26”, you will need 200 lbs of sand.Reply
C-Ray Posted: 5/31/2016
Great article. Very thorough and helpful. One question- how can I figure out how much sand to use in my filter? It's a Proline sand filter from 2007. Label on the filter is worn out and tattered. No clue on the model number. Only thing I can make out is P25121 on the label, but my internet search shows nothing related. I'm guessing the filter is a 22 or 26 inchReply
Lori Posted: 5/29/2016
My husband changed the pool filter sand as instructed with no issues, and when he was finished he first attempted to backwash. Nothing happened. No water came out of the waste line at all. What could be the issue?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/4/2016
Princess - Some sand has very fine sand in the bag that gets through the laterals. Try vacuuming up the existing sand with a suction vacuum. If you get more sand, you may have a broken lateral or standpipe which means taking the sand out again to inspect the pipes.Reply
Princess Posted: 5/2/2016
Changed sand in my filter now we have lots of sand in the bottom of our pool. What did we do wrong?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 11/3/2015
H Abed - I would guess that you have a broken lateral or standpipe. You will have to change the sand in order to find out.Reply
H Abed Posted: 11/2/2015
Hi,When I backwash as usual for 2-3 minutes, I get a hand-full of sand from the waste pipe, does that mean something wrong in the sand filter or it is normal to get some sand out with the water?
Thanks
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 11/2/2015
square - I do not know what the plug is for. Maybe to partially drain the pool or to add a small light?Reply
square Posted: 11/1/2015
At point of refilling pool from being replastered! There is a white screw-in plug, when filling pool, water leaks from the plug! It's a early '80's pool, Anthony Pool I think! The plug is at end of pool near steps! Do you know what it is for?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 10/12/2015
adding filter sand - When you pour sand into your filter, you might want to first fill the tank half way with water to protect the laterals from the sand pouring in. When you turn the pump on to go operational, the pump will fill up the tank the rest of the way.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 10/11/2015
hi I purchase this dynamo pump and sand filter, how much water do I have to put with the sand ?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 9/22/2015
George - The bigger the better. Wet sand is heavy so a more powerful vac will get the sand out faster.Reply
George Posted: 9/22/2015
Enjoyed the article on changing filter sand. I am going to be purchasing a new wet dry vac and was wondering what size works best for getting the sand out? ie 6.5 hp with 2 1/2" hose or 5hp with 1 1/2" hose? thanksReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/19/2015
glen4cindy - It sounds like you may have a damaged spider gasket in your Multiport Valve. If you are vacuuming the dirt to the waste port, a damaged spider gasket might allow that dirty water to also divert back to the pool through the valve's recirculation port. See our guide on "How to Replace a Spider Gasket on a Multiport Valve". If you are vacuuming in the "Filter" mode, you might have a broken lateral that would pass the dirty water unfiltered back to the pool. See our guide on "How To Replace a Lateral in a Pool Sand Filter".Reply
glen4cindy Posted: 7/18/2015
Hello, This is only the 3 year we have had our sand filter. At this time, when we vacuum, the dirt from the bottom of the pool will come back into the pool through the returns. We can have a crystal clear pool. After a short time of trying to vacuum, our pool is so cloudy we can barely see the bottom. It has been suggested our sand might be dirty and might need to be changed. But, so soon? Please help. Thanks.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/12/2015
huggy bear - It's not clear what you are asking here. "White or brown sand?" doesn't matter but you have to purchase sand made for pools. And are you trying to fill the 9" gap to get more filtering? You can't. Your filter needs that gap for effective rinsing during backwash.Reply
huggy bear Posted: 7/10/2015
White or brown sand in my jacuzzi 9" gap of free space now can I use scrap piece pvc pipe to extend above stack and fill tank then remove and install rest of filterReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/2/2015
changing sand - Reasoning sounds good. Sand isn't going to wear out or clump if it's used less than average. Of course our 5-7 years is an average across the country. As long as your pool is clear, you shouldn't need to replace your sand, but sounds like you are getting close.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 7/1/2015
Good Video. I live in Wisconsin, where we are lucky to get a good 3 month swimming season. So I'm guessing that there are about 3 or 4 swimming "years" here to equal one southern swimming year, where the pool is open near year round. So should my sand last 3 to 4 times longer than the 5 to 7 years that you have listed? My current filter sand still seems to be doing well after 17 years.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/17/2015
Greenpoolguy - You may have a lot of algae trapped in your filter sand. Try shocking the pool again. Then repeat a backwash - rinse cycle 3 or 4 times in a row to loosen up the sand/algae. If that doesn't work, change your sand. It should be changed every 5-7 years.Reply
Greenpoolguy Posted: 5/15/2015
Hey !Thanks for all the advice. Quick question, just started my pool last week for the 1st time (new owner of the house)and I cant get the water to clear out. It's now swampy green. I did a shock treatment, backwashed once / twice a day, raised chlorine, dropped the ph, etc. Same result. I had the water analysed at the pool shop and all seems ok (PH level, chlor, etc.)
They said that it's probably my sand that isn't filtering well (it's 6 years old). Could that be it ? When I backwash, water does come out green for a minute then turns clear afterwards.
Any help will be appreciated !
Thanks
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Anonymous Posted: 5/13/2015
Very informative. Thanks.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 1/12/2015
JT sand filter novice - Unfortunately it sounds like the pipe assembly has been lifted off of the bottom when you replaced the sand. The only way to fix this is to remove the new sand and replace the pipe assembly on the bottom of the tank. On the positive side, you are now an expert. After doing this twice, you will be in a real good position to help a neighbor replace his sand...Reply
JT sand filter novice Posted: 1/12/2015
Really good article. Wish I'd read it before tackling this task. No problem getting the sand out but when i refilled it the pipe had obviously not stayed down the bottom - i can't get the multi-thing back on fully - it's about an inch away. Is there anything i can do?..beyond taking alot of the sand back out?Reply