Sand filter allowing bugs to enter pool

I had a thread a while back about my sand filter allowing fine dust into the pool. I've been dealing with it all season basically by putting panty hose on the return. It's taken me most of the season to try to get a new spider gasket for the pool and I still won't have it for another few weeks. At that point the pool will be closed so it will be installed next year.

This past week the pool was loaded with little flies/gnats on the surface. I had taken off my skimmer sock to clean it out and forgot to put it back on. That next day the panty hose was loaded with all the little bugs. It seems that my filter is letting out what "floats". The panty hose on the return will be filled with the dust and bugs, small leaves. Would that be a classic sign of a bad spider gasket? I just can't visualize how those bugs (some pretty big), leaves, etc can get past the gasket. I've looked at the gasket it has some questionable spots but overall looks good. I'm replacing it anyway but if there is something else that should be replaced over the winter (besides the whole stupid filter :) ) I would like to do that.

The other theory is that there is a gap in the lateral pipe and the selector valve, would that make more sense than the spider gasket?

Nicole,
As silly as it may sound, since you have taken the valve apart, are you sure you lined up the two halves right? If you rotate them from their correct position you get the functions messed up. FILTER may actually be RECIRCULATE or BYPASS. What kind of valve and filter do you have? You probably mentioned it elsewhere but I don't feel like hunting.
Al

I have an Astral Millenium Filter. I did have that valve assembly off at the beginning of the year also, maybe I did put it back on wrong. But I'm sure that would be wishful thinking. I'm closing my pool in 2 weeks, I'll post back what I find.

I took the top off the filter today to see if I had the spider gasket lined up right with the holes. Not sure what I'm looking for. Right now my "filter" is at 12 o'clock and the valve opening on the spider gasket is on 12 o'clock, is that correct? Here is a picture of my gasket and inside my filter. Can someone explain how it should be. Looking at the picture of the inside of my filter the biggest whole (1/2 of the pie) is the filter setting. Recirculation is 10 o'clock. Should the biggest opening of the spider gasket line up with the biggest opening on the filter? If so I do have it backwards. I have the biggest opening set on the recirculation side of the filter and that small opening on the "Filter" setting. My other functions backwash and waste work at they should with the way I have it set up now.

You can also see the spider gasket on the table is one that I ordered, it lines up perfectly with the filter but not with my valve assembly. So I have a new one on order. I hope the fact that the valve assembly doesn't match with the filter isn't a problem in itself. That's how it came, I bought the filter/pump as a package.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../gasket001.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../gasket003.jpg

Not clear what is what but I'll give it my best shot. I assume the piece in the top pic is what you call the valve assembly and the bottom pic the filter. Cannot tell what ports are connected for what function. If the gasket mounts on the 'valve assy' (top pic) then it is probably the wrong gasket. In the pic it looks like the old gasket is still stuck to it. On the bottom pic it doesn't look like there are grooves for the gasket to sit in. As for what position the handle should be in for each function you may have to trace out the paths of flow.
Al

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Poconos

If the gasket mounts on the 'valve assy' (top pic) then it is probably the wrong gasket.Al

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Did you mean if it "doesn't mount on the 'vavle assy'"? then it's the wrong gasket?
The 'valve assy' has the grooves in it that the gasket fits into. I have only 4 sections in my current gasket and in the new gasket it has 5 sections. Notice the filter also has 5 sections. I did look up some diagrams at the Astral website and it does look like it's on right, however in the panty hose I took off tonight had grass, bugs, etc. I really feel like taking down the whole pool and being done with it, this whole season has been a battle on trying to find out what is wrong with the filter. I never counted down the days to closing the pool before like I've been doing this year.

Yes...looks like you have the wrong gasket. The gasket must exactly match to whatever it seats. If all but the one web (spoke) at about the 2 o'clock position seats properly you can just cut that web out.
Sorry...got interrupted by a coal delivery. Yes, I take an active role in my Winter heat. A simple check on the valve position can be to check pressure when you're in the 'recirculate' or 'bypass' setting. This bypasses the filter. Then switch to 'filter'. The pressure should be at least several psi higher on 'filter'. Something else to verify is you should not get any flow out the waste line. That should onl occur in 'backwash' and 'rinse'.
Al