Is there any way to pressure test laterals

I'm about ready to throw my filter off a bridge. I've taken it apart 3 times, checked out each lateral, checked out the standpipe, put electrical tape where the standpipe meets the multiport valve and yet still there is fine sand/dust making it's way into the pool. Even changed over to Zeosand and now instead of the sand being a dark color it's a light color.

I'm planning on taking it apart again one more time this weekend and inspecting the laterals yet again...is there a way I can pressure test them with either water or air to see if there is just some sort of crack that I can't see and then when the pressure hits it, it opens up. Looking over each lateral 3 times now I don't see any obvious cracks.

My DH says no big deal he'll vacuum the pool daily but it really truly drives me insane.

I also get sand in the pool from who knows where. Let me know if you figure it out.:)

Me too as I posted on the other thread. I'd like to hear other comments.

I just noticed your signature line Nicole. You've got a 1.5hp pump. What size is your filter?

I put a ball valve on the return line that should cut down on the hp of the filter. Also the package was sold as a set and I'm told that this filter/pump combo is ok. And also the first year that I had the pool the pool was sparkling clean. I would only vacuum once a week. Then the following year the standpipe had some problems so I replaced that and have had problems every since. The filter is a 150lb Astral Millenium 17"

you can only pressure test things that are sealed, since laterals consist of a bunch of small holes, you can't.
You just switched your zeo over, likely what's happening is that crusehd zeo dust (happens during shipping/handling) is making it's way through the filter and back into the pool - 2 ways that should be able to eliminate that - vac it to waste, or, add DE to the filter, let run for 1/2 hour, vac on filter and backwash.
Nicole - the dirtier you allow your filter to get, the better it performs - I have a felling you backwash a lot and never allow your filter to collect a nice fine layer of dirt on top of the medium which adds to the filtering capabilities....

We had about 2" of rain yesterday so the pool is very full so today I'm going to vac to waste to get the water level to where it needs to be. I have added DE.

I agree that I backwash often and don't go by the pressure, I feel if it's been a couple of weeks and don't see the pressure rise that I must need to do it anymore. I'm not going to do that anymore. I'm going to wait until the pressure rises 6-8lbs.

Matt is right about testing. As for cracks in the laterals, any crack big enough to let sand thru, you will see and it will be obvious. You mentioned that 'tape on the standpipe' trick so you must have been reading the archives. I think I mentioned that a couple years ago. For those that haven't seen the post, it is my suspicion that Hayward (my filter) designed the fit between the center pipe from the laterals and the top mount valve pipe to be a very loose fit. This lets air trapped in the top of the filter to bleed back to thr returns quickly. I added a few layers of black vinyl electrical tape to the top of the pipe to reduce the clearance but not seal it. It now takes a little longer for the returns to stop bubbling when I get air in the filter....from the vacuum hose when I connect it...but so what? I never had a sand blowby issue so I don't know if it did any good. But it didn't hurt things either.
Al

Again today I took apart my filter, very, very carefully inspected each lateral, the standpipe. Everything is in PERFECT condition. The filter for some reason is still letting in a very fine dust. When I vacuum it up I use the scum bags and it resembles pollen it's so fine. I'm hoping that maybe once my media gets dirty it will start to filter out the fine stuff.

My numbers are perfect so I know it's not algae, just took them today:

FC 14
CC 0
CYA 80
ALK 80
PH 7.6

Also when I put a panty hose on the return it catches it all.

I'm just at my wits end.

Nicole.. I have the same problem.. I read some of your posts from last year (I think).. Maybe I backwash too much too.. not sure.

I have had the pool up for about 4 years.. only vac once a week or less.. Then this year.. I could vac everyday. The extra fine stuff gathers in the wrinkles and crevasses on the floor. If I vac... then turn the pump off.. the pool floor will be clean the next morning.. but when I turn the pump on.. the stuff appears again in a couple of hours.

It's driving me nuts!

Yeah I still have the same problem. It's very aggravating. I didn't backwash for almost the past month and it didn't change a thing, well I shouldn't say that after I backwashed the stuff at the bottom of the pool was just lighter in color :)

If you don't mind putting a panty hose on your return it does catch the dust. Just looks ugly and also it doesn't allow my pool to whirlpool when the filter is running then the real stuff that should collect in the middle for easier vacuuming doesn't collect.

Nicole, have you looked at this thread? I was having the same problem as you, but I would have never found the cause..

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=7857


janet

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nicole12

If you don't mind putting a panty hose on your return it does catch the dust. Just looks ugly and also it doesn't allow my pool to whirlpool when the filter is running then the real stuff that should collect in the middle for easier vacuuming doesn't collect.

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I'll try the panty hose.. but if we keep catching sand everyday.. that can't be good. The more sand it blows through.. the less sand in the filter.