How To Change The Sand In A Pool Filter

Download Article

In order to properly maintain your pond pool filtration organization and go on your pool clean, it is important to periodically change the sand in your pool filter. Over time, the sand will brainstorm to suspension downward and go saturated with droppings, preventing it from filtering properly. By knowing how to get rid of old sand, put new sand in your filter, and get it working properly, you tin take a functional filter and crystal clear puddle in no time.

1
Plow off the pump on the puddle filter. Make sure that the filter pump won't be able to turn back on while you are working on it. Locate the switch for the pool filter and turn it off. This will stop water from entering the system while y'all clean it, too as cutting ability to the area while dealing with water.^[1]
- The switch for your pool filter should be nearby the filter itself. For actress safety, or if you cannot observe the right switch, cut ability to the area from your circuit breaker box before y'all begin working.
2
Remove the drain plug and let the filter tank fully drain. Locate the drain plug nigh the bottom of your filter tank and unscrew it completely. This volition permit all of the water bleed out of the tank, so make sure it is draining somewhere away from your pool that will not be affected by a lot of water. Fully draining the tank can take up to an hour, and so requite it plenty of time.^[2]
- If your pool filter is in a pump firm or anywhere else you lot don't desire water draining, quickly attach a hose over the drain plug afterward y'all remove it. This will let the water drain elsewhere.
- Brand sure not to lose the bleed plug, or whatsoever other components you lot remove from the pool filter. Keep them somewhere safe until they are set to be reattached.
Advert
3
Take the collar off the base of the multiport valve. Locate the collar around the edge of the multiport valve, near the acme of your filter tank. Use a screwdriver to loosen the bolts on either side of the collar until y'all can remove them completely. Pull apart the ii sides of the collar to remove them.^[3]
- The collar on the multiport valve is used to clench it in place, so may also exist referred to as a "clench."
4
Unscrew the unions holding the pipes to the multiport valve. Any pipes continued to the valve will brand removing information technology much more difficult. Carefully unscrew the unions near any pipe attached to the valve and disconnect the pipes.^[4]
- If the pipes attached to your valve do not accept unions to allow them to be removed, you will have to use a saw to cut the pipage instead. As you'll need to supercede the sand in your pool filter regularly, install union fittings on the piping then that you can easily connect and disconnect the pipes in future.^[5]
5

Remove the multiport valve by twisting slightly and pulling upwardly. Firmly grip the top of the multiport valve and begin wiggling it as y'all lift the valve off of the tank. Carefully remove the valve and so as to foreclose dissentious it or anything inside the tank.^{[half dozen]}
6

Embrace the standpipe with tape or a safety plug. This volition prevent any sand from getting into the pipe and working its way into your pool while removing or adding sand. Duct tape or any potent record will work, as volition a rubber plug that fits, only brand certain it is easy to remove when you're finished.^[7]
7
Use a store vac to remove the one-time sand. Lower the nozzle of a shop vac or like tool into the opening of the tank and begin removing the old sand from the bottom. Every bit you remove sand, exist conscientious to avoid direct touching or hitting whatsoever components or laterals at the base of operations of the tank. These can be fragile and difficult to replace.^[8]
- If you lot do not have a shop vac, you tin utilize a large cup or scoop to remove the sand from the lesser of the tank. This will have longer, and every bit the sand has been filtering everything in the pool, can be unsanitary. If you choose to do this, always wearable gloves and be conscientious.
8
Clean the tank thoroughly. Once y'all have removed the bulk of the sand from the tank, use a garden hose to thoroughly clean it both inside and outside. Spraying water into the tank should help clean out any terminal $.25 of sand left inside the tank.^[9]
- Make certain any fittings on the tank are dried fully before reattaching anything to them. The moisture can get trapped inside the threading on your tank and may impairment the components over time. Keeping the tank dry volition besides assist in detecting a leak when the pump is turned back on.
Advertising

one

Reattach the bleed plug to the base of the tank. Before adding whatsoever new sand to the tank, you'll need to reattach the bleed plug. Screw it back in place at the base of the tank, making sure to tighten it in lodge to foreclose leaks.^[10]
ii
Pour new pool silica sand into the tank. Position one corner of a handbag of pool-grade silica filter sand over the oral fissure of the tank. Make a small cut in the corner of the purse to let sand to slowly fall into the tank. Work slowly and advisedly to prevent whatsoever sand from spilling. Repeat until you take added the amount of sand needed for your filter.^[11]
- If you are worried most damaging the components on the inside of the tank, add a little bit of water to the bottom of the tank earlier pouring in the new sand. This will cushion the sand as it is added but may misalign the standpipe.^[12]
- Equally yous add sand, make sure the standpipe in the center of the tank stays correct in the middle and at the right height. It volition need to reattach to the base of the multiport valve when y'all are finished, then yous tin can line the two up to cheque if you're unsure.^[13]
- The amount of sand needed volition vary between pool filters. Cheque for stickers along the side of the tank or in your tank's manual to find out how much your tank needs to operate.^[xiv]
3

Fill the tank with water upward to the level of the sand. Use a garden hose to add water to the tank until it only begins to cover the sand. This will give the tank plenty water to clean the sand and get the pump functional earlier you lot start filtering your pool water.
iv
Lubricate the O-ring on the valve with a multipurpose lubricant. Locate the rubber "O-ring" effectually the top of the multiport valve where it will course a seal with the rima oris of the tank. Apply a small corporeality of lube to your finger and rub it around the O-ring. This volition make reattaching the valve to the tank easier, as well as workout the rubber seal.^[15]
- If the O-ring is damaged, you might need to replace it rather than just lubricating it. These should be available from hardware and pool supply stores in the size you demand.
five

Reattach the multiport valve. Remove the tape or plug from the peak of the standpipe and position the multiport valve over it. Carefully connect the opening in the valve to the top of the pipe, and firmly push button the valve into the top of the tank. Wiggle it around slightly as you push information technology into identify to make certain it is secure.^[sixteen]
vi

Screw the neckband and pipes dorsum in place. Position the collar effectually the border of the multiport valve and use the two bolts to tighten it into place. As y'all exercise so, alternate between bolts to ensure the pressure is as distributed effectually the collar. Reattach the pipes and spiral the unions on as tightly equally you lot can to foreclose leaks.^[17]

Advertizement

one

Make sure your backwash hose is connected to the backwash valve. Backwashing volition affluent muddied water out of the organisation, then it is important it has somewhere to become. Attach a backwash hose to the aftermath valve if needed, and make certain the other end feeds out somewhere away from your pool.^[18]
2

Turn the filter to backwash. Push button down on the lever on summit of your multiport valve and rotate information technology until it is in the backwash position. This will allow the filter to clean out any excess dust or impurities in the new sand before it starts filtering into your pool.^[nineteen]
3

Plough the pump on for 2 minutes. One time the filter is gear up to backwash, turn the pump on to begin backwashing your filter. Get out it running for at to the lowest degree two minutes to fully clean out the filter. Check the sight glass in the side of the valve, or the water coming out of the hose to make sure it is immigration upwardly.^[20]
iv
Rinse the filter for 1 infinitesimal. Turn the handle on the meridian of the multiport valve to the "rinse" position, and let the pump run for another minute. This will clean the h2o further, and then use the sight glass or hose to make sure the h2o inside the tank is articulate.^[21]
- Ever make sure you have turned the pump off before switching positions on your multiport valve.
5

Turn the valve back to filter and turn on the pump. In one case the water is running clear, your sand has been replaced successfully and the filter is ready. Turn the handle on the valve back to the "filter position" and turn your pump back on.^[22]

Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

Do I use the same filter when going to a DE arrangement? Is DE better than sand?

Joseph Hendren

Community Reply

If yous want to movement over to a diatomaceous earth (DE) system, you will demand to get a new filter organization designed for it. DE can filter much smaller particles than sand but will demand to be cleaned more than often.
Question

I changed the sand filter per the instructions. The hoses are hooked up correctly. Merely when I clean the pool, everything I clean comes back out the exhaust. What can I do?

Back out the exhaust? If you mean that it discharges to sewer, then the trouble is probably the spider gasket in the multi-port valve. One of spokes has failed. If you mean the vacuum just blows right back into the puddle through the return inlets, then make sure yous have the multi-port valve on "filter" not "recirculate" or "featherbed". After backwashing, you should "rinse" for a infinitesimal or so. Never turn multi-port valve handle with the pump running. If none of this helps, and so you probably have to reopen the filter. Either the water has blasted channels through the sand so that water travels through the filter without actually going through sand or the lateral or standpipe knocked loose when you added new sand.
Question

Is it okay to raise the middle pipage and rinse information technology out after I have vacuumed the sand out of the sand filter?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

Absolutely! Be careful not to damage the pipe or the laterals attached to its base of operations as you clean it, but giving it a good make clean volition only aid your filter work more efficiently.
Question

How much sand for a TR 140 Pentair pool filter?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

The Pentair Triton 2 TR140 pool filter needs 650 pounds of sand. This should be listed in the transmission or on the side of the tank. Check online if y'all can't discover the specific amount listed anywhere else.
Question

How much does it cost to change the sand?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

The cost of changing the sand volition vary based on how much sand is needed for your pool filter, and the price of sand in your surface area. Changing the puddle filter is ane of the many costs of owning a pool, then take it into business relationship when taking responsibility for a pool.
Question

How high should I have my standpipe before I put in my sand?

Joseph Hendren

Customs Reply

The standpipe should exist resting on the bottom of the tank when you start calculation sand. If yous add h2o to cushion the sand beingness poured in, brand sure the standpipe doesn't bladder also loftier. As long equally information technology can comfortably fit into the base of the multiport valve, you should be OK.
Question

Can I use one 25-pound bag of filter sand instead of three 25-pound bags of filter sand?

Joseph Hendren

Community Respond

The filter will still role with less sand, simply won't work as well. Less sand will allow more debris to get through, pregnant you'll need to make clean the pool and supplant the sand more often. Use the amount of sand recommended for your filter for the best results.
Question

How much h2o must I put in a filter afterwards replacing the sand?

The filter volition fill once connected to the pump. Here in the northeast, we accept to winterize the filter and drain all of the water out. In the spring, close the drain plug and turn the filter on and it fills it upwardly and eventually all of the trapped air is removed via the tube.
Question

How often practise I need to alter the sand?

Yous should replace the sand every 2 years. The longer you lot wait, the more than probable the sand will plough to stone.
Question

Can I change a sand filter to a new drinking glass filter?

You might desire to consider a diatomaceous earth (DE) filter. I institute sand very dull to clean the pool water, just DE is much amend! It was worth the toll to upgrade.

Encounter more answers

Inquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Bank check the pressure gauge on your valve once everything is working properly. The force per unit area it is at immediately afterwards is the normal pressure for your individual filter. If the pressure goes around 10 psi over this normal pressure, you lot should backwash the filter one time once more.^[23]
Supersede the sand in your pool filter every 5 years for best performance.^[24]

Cheers for submitting a tip for review!

Advertizing

When calculation the new silica sand to the tank, exist careful not to breathe in any dust. This is silica grit and tin be unsafe if inhaled. To be absolutely condom, vesture a ventilation mask.
Information technology is normal to have some sand dorsum into the puddle or out through the waste material line when you lot modify your filter sand. Some of the sand that you lot received will be smaller than #20, and this smaller sand will somewhen work its way out of the filter. The long initial aftermath that you practise when you alter the sand volition assist to minimize this.

Things You'll Demand

Screwdriver
Saw
Tape or safe plug
Store vac or scoop
Garden hose
Dry fabric
Puddle filter silica sand
Lube
Backwash hose

Nigh This Article

Article Summary 10

To change the sand in a puddle filter, start by turning off the pump on the puddle filter and draining the tank. Then, remove the multiport valve and use a shop vac to remove all of the old sand inside the tank. Side by side, clean out the inside of the tank with a hose and pour new pool sand into the tank. If yous're not sure how much sand to employ, check the sticker on the side of the pool filter or look in the manual that came with it. Finally, when you've added plenty sand, reattach the multiport valve. To learn how to backwash a puddle filter after changing the sand in information technology, curlicue downward!

Did this summary aid you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 372,943 times.