Sand Filter spitting Stuff back into pool

[Alemeg]

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I'm a rookie at below ground pools but have been able to figure things out so far. My current problem is getting my pool crystal clear. Yesterday, I noticed that when I turn on the filter I get clouds bursting from my two returns in the shallow end of the pool. Pretty sure I have a filter problem. I bought the pool with the house so I don't know how old the filter is. It could be the original (aka over 20 yrs old). It is a Heyward Sand Filter. Pump is working fine but I don't have a clue what causes this. Willing to bite the bullet and replace the filter but was wondering if there was something I could do short of that. Just looking where to start trouble shooting....or do I just replace the old filter?

Any thoughts ?

[aylad]

Usually when there's sand blowing back into the pool, it's because either it was just put through a backwash and not rinsed before returning to "filter" setting, or because there's crack in one or more of the laterals. It will happen sometimes too when the filter is too small for the pump. Since it's an older filter, I'm betting on the laterals. To check them, you need to take the top off the filter, remove the old sand until you get down to the laterals, which look like horizontal fingers about 1/2 way down. Usually the "fingers" will fold up like an umbrella so that you can lift the whole center assembly out. Then you need to carefully inspect each of them for cracks or breakage. It's not a hard job, really, just kind of labor-intensive. The last time we emptied ours, we used a shop-vac to suck it all out and it went much faster that way.

I'm not the equipment expert around here, and hopefully those that are will check in soon, but I would definitely start with the laterals and go from there.

Janet

[Searcher]

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I'm a rookie at below ground pools but have been able to figure things out so far. My current problem is getting my pool crystal clear. Yesterday, I noticed that when I turn on the filter I get clouds bursting from my two returns in the shallow end of the pool. Pretty sure I have a filter problem. I bought the pool with the house so I don't know how old the filter is. It could be the original (aka over 20 yrs old). It is a Heyward Sand Filter. Pump is working fine but I don't have a clue what causes this. Willing to bite the bullet and replace the filter but was wondering if there was something I could do short of that. Just looking where to start trouble shooting....or do I just replace the old filter?

Any thoughts ?

Sure do have thoughts.

When you engage the pump, at high speed, it is rather normal to get a cloud of junk from the filter IF...

1: The filter is too small for the pump.

2: The rinse that Janet mentioned.

3: You do not back wash enough; don't forget the short rinse.

4: Your sand has a dire need of replacement OR it needs the top layer removed due to a thick layer of accumulated oils which have almost solidified.

Since you are not telling us anything about your equipment, all we can do is guess at this point. To get it nailed we need the pool size Length, Width and Average depth OR the gallons in said pool. The EXACT model number of the sand filter and the horse power of the pump.

As an example; I have a 16' by 32' vinyl pool with an 8' deep dive hopper which holds about 22,000 gallons.

My filter is a Hayward S-200 <-- Great filter, it is 20 years old and never a lick of trouble.

I push the water about with a Hayward Super Pump, 220 volt, dual speed, one HP and 1/6 HP which I run 24/7 365 days a year at low speed.

With my method, my water is brilliant, my electric bill is minuscule and I never have to deal with what you are seeing. I back wash and vacuum on high speed, rinse and back to low speed for another 3 weeks or so.

Believe it or not I get 50% of the flow while running at 1/6th the speed and yup, I tested it with a 55 gallon drum. :)

Ever try to tip a full 55 gallon drum? LOL

Do not go by "the pool store said" when giving info, a lot are as reliable as a snake. :D