It happens to all of us: Sand Filter Problems

So...last night I come home to a 90 deg crystal clear pool and I hear something....the drain cap on my sand filter has broken and is leaking--the threaded section is pulling away from the cap portion...

What to do?

I shut off the 6-way filter, then shut off the valves from the low drain and the skimmer, figuring all I'd lose would be the water in the filter tank. I tried to find a pool store that was still open but the only one doesn't carry Hayward parts. I was too tired to think further, just saying "Nobody in the pool tomorrow". That's a pity as we are at or close to triple digits today already.

But, instead, this morning, I tossed in my robotic cleaner realizing that one robot cycle will turn over the water just as well as the filter! That way, everyone can still swim.

Meanwhile I found a pool store near work that carries the cap (it's my FAVORITE pool store--Sun Pools in Green Brook, NJ) and the guy there had a GREAT suggestion: He said if you put the 6-way valve in recirculate, it bypasses the tank and will keep the water moving and the skimmer going--I wish I had thought of that before I left!

It's a GREAT idea for the situation!

Excellent bit of advice for all the sand filter people. Something so simple but yet something you don't think about. Reading your post, never brought "recirculate" to mind.

TKS for the post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good tip.

I broke my drain on my sand filter when opening this year. The only way to "properly" fix it would have been to remove all the sand and replace the drain assembly.
Too much hassle, so instead I went to Lowes, picked up a small rubber cork shaped plug, drilled a hole into the rubber cork, inserted a stainless screw and wing nut and a couple of washers, made it like the plugs you put in the return lines over winter. So far so good, but I will have to fix it properly, because when I remove it, the sand pours out.

PS: I see lightening, I hope this ends these 100 deg temps!!!!