Pool Sand Filter Problems

Pool Care & Troubleshooting

If the pool filter media is bad or there's a broken lateral, you can't know simply by opening the lid on the swimming pool sand filter and looking inside. If things need replaced in the sand pool filter there's gonna be alot of scooping and scraped-up forearms.

Due to the nature of a swimming pool sand filter, caution needs to be taken in order to stay safe.

First, turn off the filter pump and relieve the pressure through the air-relief valve or the pump lid before servicing the sand filter.

Sand Pool Filters Troubleshooting

Here's a list of pool sand filter problems that can occur:

1. Problem: Pool Sand (Pool Filter Media) Is Bad
Your swimming pool may experience clarity problems.

Your pool filter sand may look good, but it's not doing it's job at filtering out debris from the pool water. First, check your pool water chemistry with a good water testing kit to be sure the water is balanced correctly.

Next, backwash your sand filter, check the backwash valve to be sure it's working properly, and be sure you have an adequate flow rate.

If everything checks out and you don't find any pool sand filter problems and the water is still bad, you probably need to change the pool filter sand in your sand filter.

2. Broken or Bad Lateral
When your sand filter has a broken or bad lateral you will usually have sand returning back into the pool.

If you have any pool sand filter problems, here's where the fun begins.

You'll probably need to remove all of the pool filter media and replace the lateral. The actual replacing of the lateral is like screwing in a light bulb, about 10 seconds.

Getting to the lateral means much bending and scooping.

You might also check the air relief tube. This can be done without remove much, if any pool filter sand.

3. Dirty Or Greasy Pool Filter Sand
When you have shorter back-washing cycles, oily or greasy sand could be the problem. This is one of the reasons we require people at the YMCA to take hot soapy showers before entering the pool.

The pool filter sand basically becomes like sandy lard which causes "channeling" down the side of the sand pool filter. This is when the water doesn't get pressed through the pool filter media, it forms an actual channel down the side of the filter and is returned to the swimming pool as dirty water.

There are some degreasers and pool filter cleaners on the market you can use but they may only buy you a few months. Your best bet is to replace the sand in the sand filter.

4. Short Backwash Time
Most of the time a good 2-3 minute back-washing will do the trick. Normally the water will run clear or a sight-glass will help you see when the water turns clear.
5. Keep The Water Properly Balanced
Using the best pool tips and proper pool water maintenance is vital to the health and well being of your pool. Be sure you have the swimming pool chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and cyanuric acid level adjusted.
6. Wrong Size Pool Filter Sand Or Type
Too big or too small pool filter sand will cause bad filtration and the sand filter may clog up. Most manufacturers recommend No. 20 grade silica pool filter media. Check with your owner's manual for the correct size of pool filter sand.
7. Over-Sized Filter Pump
Having too big of a swimming pool sand filter may break up sand particles which may allow them to pass through the underdrain or laterals.
8. Under-Sized Filter Pump
Having too small of a pool filter pump will cause the pump to work harder and it won't be able to filter the dirt out of the swimming pool. Normally a residential pool filter pump should turn over the water at the most every 6 - 8 hours. Commercial pools may do it a little faster.
9. Damaged O-Rings or Gaskets
The gasket or O-ring on the bottom of a multi-port valve might be damaged. If you have a push-pull piston type backwash valve, the O-ring may need to be replaced.

When an O-ring or gasket becomes worn, water will go right past the filter and back to the pool.






Your pool sand filter problems don't have to be a headache. If you stay on top of your pool water chemistry and check your equipment weekly, you'll be able to keep your pool sand filter problems down to a minimum, or maybe none at all.

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Swimming Pool Sand Filters From Pool Sand Filter Problems
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What Other Visitors Have Said

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