How To Change The Sand In A Hayward Pool Filter

Efficient, inexpensive, low-maintenance puddle filtering is always the goal. You lot don't want to spend all your time and money just making certain your filter does what it's supposed to. That's probably why yous take a sand puddle filter in the showtime place. They rarely clog, they're piece of cake on your wallet and your dorsum, and they piece of work well. You get crystal clear pool water, and the nigh work yous take to do is swap out the sand once every few years.

How do you change pool filter sand, anyhow? Offset past deciding which blazon of sand you'll use—y'all've got a few options. Learn how to tell when it's time for a change, so you won't have to constantly battle dirty, cloudy h2o. When yous're ready to tackle information technology, change your sand and get back to swimming in no time.

What is Pool Filter Sand?

Dead bugs. Bacteria. Algae. Your pool filter traps these things then they can't hang around making the water 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 first-class filtration media, it's used in other water prophylactic applications such as wastewater treatment, septic systems, and fifty-fifty for drinking water.

To the untrained center, virtually sand looks pretty much the same, then yous might think all sand is created equal, but that'southward not the case. Don't be tempted past that purse of cheap play sand in your garage. Information technology will destroy your filtration system. Always make sure to use one of three types of sand in your puddle filter.

Silica Sand

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

Silica sand is mined, not manufactured.

Glass Sand

If y'all're looking for filter media with depression environmental impact, glass sand is an effective alternative to silica. Information technology's made from 100% recycled glass and is smooth to the touch, merely yet captures particles every bit small as ii microns—that'southward one millionth of a meter.

The glass grains are all dissimilar sizes, and then it minimizes channeling, which occurs when pool water cuts a path directly through the sand and slips through the filter most unfiltered. Glass sand besides has a negative charge, so it excels at capturing fe and manganese particles. This is particularly 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 area than standard filter sand because of its sponge-similar honeycomb shape.

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

If you're finding yous need to shock your pool frequently, zeolite sand could help get chloramines under control without having to use every bit many pool chemical additives.

Why Change Your Pool Filter Sand?

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

Though it'south much likewise small to see with the naked heart, all three types of sand have a rough surface where contaminants get caught equally the water flows by.

Over time, the rushing water wears abroad the prickly surface of the sand, leaving it smooth and round. When you await at sand from beaches with intense waves under a microscope, it's noticeably smoother than sand from calmer beaches. The same principle applies to pool filter sand, which has water flushed through it for several hours a mean solar day.

This smoothing is the event of a procedure chosen weathering. Ironically the same process that creates sand besides wears information technology down into dust, useless for filtering annihilation.

When pool filter sand is weathered smoothen, it doesn't have whatever jagged edges to catch and hold contaminants. Your pool may start to expect cloudy or require more frequent shock treatment as the filter media nears the end of its lifespan.

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When to Change the Sand in Your Filter

Like fine wine, pool filter sand gets better with age, only and then it peaks and eventually declines. Its lifespan is rather curt—just 3 to five years. Over the course of a few years, contaminants build up in the sand.

For the outset couple of years, this really enhances the filtering ability of the sand because in addition the sand'southward own crude edges, the contaminants building up as well human action as filtration for the water that passes through the filter.

Just somewhen, all that actress gunk builds upwards and 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's efficiency drops, and your pools water quality suffers.

Ii other things may happen when your sand is past its peak. Pressure can build up inside your filter as it becomes more difficult for the water to laissez passer through gunked-upwardly sand. And so the water may seek a path of least resistance and cutting a channel through the sand, which may reduce some of the pressure, but volition virtually eliminate filtering.

Tin can't I just Clean or Backwash my Sand Filter?

You'll need to backwash your sand filter whenever the pressure gauge climbs to 10 pounds per square inch (psi) higher than the normal running pressure. You can besides backwash if the water is a bit cloudy, merely the chemistry is okay.

Backwashing rinses the sand, flushing droppings to waste. It tin be done as part of your routine puddle maintenance, and you may need to pinnacle off the puddle afterward.

If you desire to give your sand a picayune extra cleaning, use sand filter cleaner annually. Think of this stuff as a degreaser for the sand. It helps launder out oils and other contaminants backwashing tin can't quite get rid of.

Both backwashing and filter cleaner help with climbing pressure and h2o clarity, but somewhen the sand volition vesture down and need to be replaced. If your sand is in the three- to five-year window, and pressure and clarity are ongoing problems, it's probably time for new sand.

The Irresolute of the Sand

In one case yous've determined your filter is the reason for your cloudy h2o, go your gear together for sand irresolute. You'll be amazed how easy this is.

You'll Demand:

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

1.Turn Off the Pump and Drain the Filter

Turn off the filter and pump. Be sure the timer isn't set to turn on presently, and so the pump won't kick on while everything is disconnected. If the pumps kicks on while dry, it may burn out.

Remove the drain plug from the lesser of the filter tank, and let all the water drain out.

Tip: Draining the filter tank may take a while, so you could do this step in the morning, then come up back in the cooler evening air to terminate the residuum.

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 piping, you'll have to cut the pipe. If you lot're uncomfortable doing this, consider hiring a pro.

Afterward the pipes have been cut, you (or a pro) can install union fittings then adjacent fourth dimension effectually, you'll just have to unscrew a pipe fitting—no hacksaw required.

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

Gently twist then pull upwards on the multiport valve to remove information technology.

Tip: The pipe attached to the valve has laterals (like tree roots) branching out into the sand. The combination of weight from sand and twisting tin can break the laterals, so take it like shooting fish in a barrel.

3. Cover the Standpipe

Inside the tank is an open up pipe where the valve was just removed. Embrace information technology with duct tape to forestall sand from getting inside. If it does, that sand will go flushed correct into your puddle when you starting time up the pump again.

iv. Remove the Sand

Employ the Shop-Vac to suck out all the onetime sand. If yous don't have a Store-Vac (or you're a big fan of back pain), you tin can scoop the onetime sand out past manus with a plastic loving cup. This will take forever and ever.

Make friends with someone who has a Shop-Vac you tin infringe, or just invest in 1. 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 exist able to encounter the artillery branching out of the standpipe. Use your garden hose to rinse any remaining sand out of the drain hole.

Use the flashlight to carefully inspect the standpipe and laterals for damage. Whatsoever cracks could allow sand into your pool, then make necessary repairs before adding fresh sand.

6. Fill the Tank Halfway with H2o

Replace the bleed plug in the tank. Stick the hose downwardly into the tank and start filling. Eye the standpipe and laterals, and concur them in place while the tank fills most halfway.

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

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7. Add together the New Sand

Put your mask on to avoid breathing in grit. Check the duct record on the standpipe and add more if necessary.

Holding the bag with a corner extending over the opening of the tank, slice it open with the utility knife. Relax, enjoy the Zen moment watching the sand drain into the tank. Just don't relax likewise much—you're property a 50 lb. bag of sand.

Add 1 bag of sand at a time, letting information technology slowly pour into the tank then it won't spill everywhere.

Important: Merely utilise pool filter sand or filter sand substitute. Annihilation else tin ruin your filter.

Tip: Yous can further increase the filtering efficiency of sand by adding a few cups of D.East. pulverization along 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 it to the superlative with water. Supercede the multiport valve, collar, and pipes or hoses. Make sure all the fittings are snug and secure.

nine. Aftermath 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 least two minutes or until the filter's sight glass is running clear. This helps go out all of the sand dust and extra debris from the new sand.

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

x. Run the Filter

Shut the pump off, turn the valve to filter, and plow the pump back on. At present bank check the pressure gauge. This is your filter'south normal running pressure. Retrieve information technology or write it downwardly somewhere handy.

Check the judge when you do your normal pool maintenance. When the pressure level is x psi in a higher place normal, backwash the filter. Using the force per unit area gauge equally a backwash indicator prevents y'all from over-backwashing and removing the dirt and debris your sand filter needs to part properly.

Sand-sational Task!

Choosing which type of pool filter sand to apply is the well-nigh complicated part of this procedure, and you tin't actually make a incorrect choice. It's simply a thing 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 issue.

Once the new sand is in and the pump is up and running, all you need to do keep an eye on things so your filter will run at optimal efficiency until the next time yous have to alter the sand. With simply that little bit of care, you tin relax and swim with peace of mind for about another five years.

Happy Swimming!

Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim Academy® and has been in the puddle and spa industry since 1995. Since then, his mission is to brand puddle and hot tub intendance easy for everyone. And each yr, he continues to help more people with water chemical science, cleaning, and troubleshooting.

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