Reusing filter sand yearly?

Any suggestions or thoughts on the reuse of the filter sand for the filter.I buy 3 new bags for my pool filter yearly ,this year it cost $36.00.A friend of mine said that he has used the same sand for 4 years now (he puts it in plastic double bags every fall when he closes his pool)and reuses it in the spring.Any suggestions or thoughts on this would be appreaciated.

I drain my filter, cover it, and leave it. In the 4th season now. Poconos does the same and he's in the 9th. As the sand gets dirtier it filters better. Aging is a GOOD thing for sand unless it gets gummed up with something.

3 bags cost your $36????? If those are 50# bags you are getting RIPPED OFF! Here, the going rate is $5 to $6/bag.

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Originally Posted by CarlD

I drain my filter, cover it, and leave it. In the 4th season now. Poconos does the same and he's in the 9th. As the sand gets dirtier it filters better. Aging is a GOOD thing for sand unless it gets gummed up with something.

3 bags cost your $36????? If those are 50# bags you are getting RIPPED OFF! Here, the going rate is $5 to $6/bag.

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I agree with CarlD. In 14 years of running a sand filter, I have changed the sand once and I really didn't need to do it then.

Drain the filter when you close the pool, leave the sand in the filter because there is no reason to remove it over the winter. Next season put the plugs back in the filter and away you go!