Looking for a good sand filter

[MaxxFusion]

Thanks for the link.

What is the up keep on the sand filter? I know you have to back wash one a week or so but what exactly is backwashing on a sand filter?

Thanks,
Frank

[Watermom]

You don't necessarily have to backwash every week. You just watch the pressure on your filter's guage and when the pressure rises 8-10 psi over your clean filter pressure you backwash. Backwashing is a simple process that involves turning a handle on your filter from the "filter" setting, to the "backwash" setting and letting it run for a minute or two until the water is no longer muddy looking. You then turn the handle to the "rinse" setting and let it run for about 15 seconds. Then, back to the 'filter' setting. That is it. The whole process takes about 2 or 3 minutes. Can't get much more simple than that. (Reminder --- always turn the pump off before turning the handle from one filter setting to another.) Sound easier than cleaning a cartridge filter??

[CarlD]

Thanks for the link.

What is the up keep on the sand filter? I know you have to back wash one a week or so but what exactly is backwashing on a sand filter?

Thanks,
Frank

Actually, you don't. You backwash when the pressure goes up too much--it can be a day or a month. My filter's been on since late April and I backwashed today for the first time.

Backwashing is literally that. The six-way valve on the top or side of the filter is set so pool water is pumped in the opposite direction it normally flows--like sticking your shop-vac hose in the output to blast it clear when something's stuck. It knocks all the dirt off the sand that's been collecting.

The water is re-directed to the the waste outlet. There's usually a little glass and you watch the water start clear, go brown with dirt, and then go clear again. Then, when you set the valve back to filter, the pressure drops. Today, it dropped 6 pounds.

The hardest part of backwashing (for me) is unrolling and rolling up the backwash hose. The rest is just rotating the valve handle and watching the sight glass. One day I'll sink a pipe into one of the gutter drains that runs to the French Drain in the back that runs across everyone's property and be able to backwash without the hose as well!

[MaxxFusion]

Thanks for all the great input. I think I am going to take the plung and invest in the Hayward sand filter. I found it on ebay for $230 shipped and I found the sand locally for $5.99 a bag.

My question is since I already have the filter hooked up what would be the best way to swap this out? I have a shutoff valve already installed on the pump so I can close that. I just need to be able to stop the water somehow from the skimmer.

Thanks

[bdavis]

Get a skimmer Gizzmo to close off water from there. http://www.pools.com/catalog/above_g...850-14290.html Get a plug for the return. Standard winterizing stuff you could have already.

Which Hayward filter did you decide on?

Cheers

[MaxxFusion]

Thanks. I ended up going with the Hayward S210T.

[MaxxFusion]

I finally got my sand filter piped in last weekend. Its been running for about 2 weeks now and I coulnt be happier. I have yet to put any de in the filter but still planning to do so. When taking apart my cartridge filter I couldnt believe how dirty it was with pollen. My water actually seems clearer. Maybe its just my imagination but thats ok.

Thanks to everyone.

[CarlD]

I finally got my sand filter piped in last weekend. Its been running for about 2 weeks now and I coulnt be happier. I have yet to put any de in the filter but still planning to do so. When taking apart my cartridge filter I couldnt believe how dirty it was with pollen. My water actually seems clearer. Maybe its just my imagination but thats ok.

Thanks to everyone.

I have that filter as well--6 years now. The only things I've done is lube the spider gasket, replace the gauge, and this year, replace the drain cap.

I haven't been using the DE much as I have been using the skimmer socks and running my Blue Diamond once a week so my water has been super-clear--and I've been lazy about it.

[tonyl]

I've found that a sand filter does a better job filtering if left "a little" dirty; sort of like adding DE which also coats the sand and raises the pressure. I've had good luck by backwashing about 10-15 seconds which removes most of the buildup and leaves me with a few psi over "totally clean". The improvement in clarity as viewed with goggles or with the light on at night is obvious. Not to mention saving some water.

Hope this helps, Tony

[CarlD]

I've found that a sand filter does a better job filtering if left "a little" dirty; sort of like adding DE which also coats the sand and raises the pressure. I've had good luck by backwashing about 10-15 seconds which removes most of the buildup and leaves me with a few psi over "totally clean". The improvement in clarity as viewed with goggles or with the light on at night is obvious. Not to mention saving some water.

Hope this helps, Tony

Now THIS is a cool idea worth trying! If it doesn't work, just backwash normally! I like it! I'm trying it next backwash!

What I REALLY like is the fail-safe--I can backwash completely.