Quote Originally Posted by CarlD View Post
Hi Mike!

Your pump and filter are probably mismatched. You can always have too big a sand filter for the pump, but not too small. Too small means you can damage the filter at worst or push through too much water to be able to filter at best.

I don't know the brand but I'm guessing your full speed pump in 1 hp and "full-rated" (IG pumps are usually full-rated and AG pumps are "up-rated"--this means they aren't as powerful for the rated HP).

I would suggest, for the moment, when you vacuum, you vacuum to the WASTE setting on full power. Yes, you'll lose water but the junk will not be pushed through the filter. If it's a used filter, you may have damaged laterals--it's like an upside-down umbrella frame in the filter--and they'll need repair.

You may have a damaged spider gasket too, that's why water is going to waste, or your positioning handle may not be going down all the way. I hope by "Silicone" you mean gasket lubricant, not sealer--NEVER use sealer. Lubing gaskets with O-ring lubricant is always a good thing to do.

Also did you get actual filter sand in sealed 50lb bags? Any other sand could well give you the problems you describe (other than the leak).

Hope this is a start. Once you get a sand filter worked out you'll never look back.


I changed the laterals and bought the middle grade sand from to pool store. It was Mystic White sand from US silica. The pump is a hayward but actually AO smith. Says 1 hp High .16 hp low. 3500 rpm high or 1700 low

I am going to get a new spring and try that, I already changed the spider gasket. and just placed it in there. The pool store said to cement it, or silicone it in but I did not do that..

Frustrating, With the pump I have what is the recommended filter size? 15x21 AG.

Carl I would figure I could run on low and get good results 12 hours a day with this filter.