Sand Filter Maintenance

Just occured to me that we have done nothing to our sand filter since we built our pool in 1999.

We have a good bit of sand in our pool thanks to our dog that loves to run across the steps to cool her belly and take a drink and evidently wash her feet at the same time.

I have used Pool Buster with some success in getting it out but I wondered after feeling the texture of the sand and seeing it, if some of it was coming from the filter...

Also a PoolBuster question...do they make a filter that will capture sand? I have used batting in the one I have but you can still see it blowing out the side.
Thanks!

1) Someone else may be able to tell if the sand is filter sand or dog-foot sand! But it may be that you have a broken lateral in your filter that needs to be repaired. If so, you'll need to empty the sand to get at the laterals. At that time you should replace it with new filter sand. If you see sand coming out a return you need to check the laterals. You could put a filter like a "skimmer sock" or panty hose in front of the return to see if you get sand.

2) PoolBuster DOES sell a finer filter that's a drop-in replacement and will catch the sand. I got that and never used the original filter again. I heartily recommend it (and the PoolBuster as well) For even finer filtering, they have disposable paper filters, but I have not tried or needed them. If you need a "right-now" solution, try putting a handful of cotton balls in the filter and that will trap a lot of the sand.

Don't forget about the RINSE step in the backwash process. What this mode does is run the filter in the normal direction for filtering but the output goes to waste instead of the returns. After backwashing you should rinse for only maybe 10 seconds or so just to blow any stuff that got stirred up out the waste line rather than letting it get to the pool.
Al

Thanks guys..
We are rinsing after back flushing so I will try panty hose in front of the return.

I love my Pool Buster...I look for the sand filter today!

If its not the laterals, you could also make a slurry with a LITTLE DE and add that to the skimmer. This can help your sand filter trap smaller particles.

There is much debate about this approach, so if you do a search you'll find much more info about it.

J

Greetings--

Not meaning to hijack the thread-- but this year, we've noticed a lot of sand on the bottom of the pool. I brush it to get it in suspension and hopefully to the filter-- but every day its back.

As asked in the thread--how can one tell if its just earth dirt being blown in or sand from the filter ?

How can I get rid of it ?? We dont have a vacum hose as we just use a Polaris to clean things up.