Sand Pool Filter Troubleshooting & Repair Guide
The sand style swimming pool filter can be found on many above ground and in ground swimming pools. There are also many different brands and models of swimming pool filters on the market these days so all the parts will not be interchangeable but many of the things you will need to repair on any sand filter will done basically the same way. The difference between most sand filters is size and brand. Most sand filters these days are equipped with multi-directional flow valves also known as multi-port valves.
Common repairs like replacing the multi-port directional valve, changing the sand inside of the filter, replacing broken laterals and you will need to learn how drain the filter for winterization and for these repairs listed. Knowing how to properly repair and troubleshoot your sand swimming pool filter can save you a lot of money and time in the long run, leaving you to spend that time enjoying the pool rather then working or spending money on it.
The Swimming pools sand filter troubleshooting and repair guide below will help you diagnose and repair the most common problems on almost all brands of sand filters. You can repair your sand filter with a basic socket set and some standard hand tools. Always be sure to only work on your swimming pool filter when the filter system is off. It is also a good idea to shut the pool timer and disconnect the pump from the power source if possible when working on the filter. This will prevent the pump from kicking on when you are working on the filter.
How To Change The Pool Filter Sand
If your sand is getting old in your sand filter you are going to have to replace the sand. To replace the sand in your swimming pool filter you will first have to shut the filter system off. Once the filter is off you will have to either start unbolting the bolts around the center of the filter tank, which is most common on older Hayward S-series sand filters. If you have a newer sand filter or one with the multi-directional valve called the multi-port on top of the filter you will want to remove the band that clamps around the base of the multi-port.
Now that you have the filter tank open and you can see the filter sand, you can remove the sand three different ways. The first way is to take a small plastic scoop and manually scoop all the sand from the filter. If you have a large sized sand filter this took take a while. The second way you could remove the sand from the pool filter is to lay the sand filter on its side and dump the sand out. This will normally only be able to done with smaller sand filters like the Hayward S-160 models since they are smaller.
If you do not find any of the two methods above to be something that you can do then you can use the third way of removing the sand from the sand filter. You can use something called a swimming pool filter sand vacuum. This is a special vacuum that is made to connect to a garden hose and create a Venturi effect and will suck all the sand out of your pool filter. This is by far the best and easiest way to remove sand from pool filters.
How To Drain The Sand Filter Tank
If you need to winterize or change the sand in your swimming pool filter you will need to know how to drain the filter tank correctly. What you will want to do is to look around the base of the sand filter tank for the drain plug or screw. On Hayward S-Series models the drain plug with be a white or black cap that will almost resemble a soda cap. Turn the cap to the left until it screws all the way off the threads and then remove it. Open the air bleed screw on top of the filter dome to allow some air into the filter so it can drain better.
On other models of pool filters the drain plug will be located somewhere on the bottom of the tank. On Sta-rite sand filters you can find the drain plug in the center of the bottom of the filter tank. The drain plug will be white and around 2″ inches in outer diameter size. Oh Pentair Filters you will see the drain plug either underneath or on the side of the tank.
How To Add The New Sand To The Pool Filter
Once you have emptied all of the old sand from your filter you are going to have to add new sand. Before you add the new sand you will want to inspect all the filter laterals to make sure they are not damaged. Sometimes the laterals will crack from age and when then do they can allow sand to bypass them, which will result in you having sand return into your pool. Once you have inspected all the laterals and they all look OK you are going to want to fill the filter tank up with some water. You will want to fill the tank with water to about 4″ above the laterals. This is to protect the laterals when you start to pour the new sand in.
Once you have the water in the tank the last thing you will want to do is to put something over the manifold pipe that will be sticking straight up in the filter tank. A plastic cup or laying an old rag over the opening of the pipe will prevent sand from entering. Once you have done those two things you can now start to pour the amount of sand you need into the filter. Once all the sand is added to the filter tank you will to reassemble the filter.
How To Change Sand Filter Laterals
If you are getting sand back into your swimming pool and you have a sand filter then chances are your laterals are bad. Laterals can be found on the bottom of the filter tank. Their job is to allow water to flow through the sand and the filter but to keep the sand inside of the filter tank at the same time. The laterals are just small tubes that have slits in them that allow the water to pass through. You will find them connected to the bottom of the filter collector or manifold pipe that runs vertically in the center of the filter tank.
From time to time these laterals will break from a number of reasons and you will start to get filter sand back into your pool. To change the laterals you will have to shut the filter system down and drain the filter tank. You then will have to remove the multi-port or unbolt the filter tank so you can then remove all of the sand.
Once you remove all of the sand from the filter tank you can remove the laterals and the manifold assembly from the filter tank. To replace the filter laterals you will either have to replace the entire lateral manifold system unless your laterals unscrew from the manifold. On some model sand filters the laterals will unscrew from the manifold near the base. If you have tried to un-spin the laterals and they do not move you will have to replace the entire lateral assembly.
Once you have changed the laterals and replaced them with new ones you will want to fill the filter tank up at least 1/3 of the way and then pour new pool filter sand into the tank. Once you have the new sand in the tank reassemble the rest of the filter, which will include the multi-port and anything else you removed while working on the filter. Next you will want to run your swimming pool filter when everything is all back together to make sure there is no leaks or sand returning back into your pool.
Testing The Sand Pool Filter After Replacing The Sand
Once you have everything all back together you will want to prime your swimming pool pump and get your filter system going. You will want to make sure that the belly bands and multi-port gaskets are not leaking. You will also want to backwash the new sand for a few minutes as well to wash small debris off of the sand that might have been mixed in while the sand was being added to the filter. After you have back washed the new sand for a few minutes you will want to run the filter for a few minutes to make sure everything is OK while walking to the pool to make sure that you are getting no sand back into the pool. If everything looks good you will want to run your sand filter for 6 – 8 hours a day depending on weather conditions and how much the swimming pool is used. Make sure to always backwash your sand filter once a week.
We cant get the pressure down on the sand filter, can you suggest something to do
Did you open up your sand filter and check out your sand? I had a similar problem, despite backwashing what seemed like every 5 minutes, the pressure was constantly in the yellow zone. Upon inspection of the sand, I noticed a lot of slimey goop on top that was filtered out from my pool. After scooping the goop out, my sand filter was back to normal.
Any idea why sand is leaking back into the pool?
Hi kevin,
Most likely you have a broken lateral inside of your filter,
joseph
what do I need to do about the sand going back into the pool or the steps to repair the broken lateral?
Hi Joseph
I’m still trying to get the pressure down to normal on my Hayward sand pump. I’ve made sure the water is to the right level, Ive backwashed. The pool is clean. Nothing but clean water comes out when I backwash. My Husband put the dial to recirculate and the pressure went to normal. But when I move it to filtration the pressure goes back to 21. Whate is the recirculation for anyway. I ask a person who runs a poolparts. He said it was just an extra not needed. Will it hurt if I leave it on recirculation?
Thanks
Linda
Hi Linda,
If your pressure is strong out of the return and your pressure is at 21 PSI then you should be okay, but if you turn it to filter and the pressure is 21 PS1 and you have a weak from from the return then at this point I would recommend changing the sand.
Now, as to the question you asked about the “re-circulate” feature.
The “re-circulate” feature is NOT just an extra option is actually has a purpose. When you set the multi-port to “re-circulate” you are now by-passing the filter, which means the water will go into the pump, out of the pump and then directly out the pools returns. The water will NOT go through the filter when the dial is set to re-circulate.
This feature is great for when you want to add powered shock or other chemicals. You can put the filter into re-circulate and then put the powered shock in the skimmer and it will break down and go into the pool.
Please let me know if you have any other questions,
Joseph
Help!
A mouse (or some other animal) apparently chewed a notch into the threaded drain pipe of my Hayward S-244T sand filter. I tried using a rubber plug (with the cap to be screwed on later to hold the plug in place) to seal the drain, but there are ribs on the ID of the threaded drain that prevent complete contact!
Does anyone have any good ideas on how to repair this within replacing the filter body? The threaded drain pipe is molded to the filter body.
= Joe
I just recently changed the sand in my Hayward filter and I am having trouble keeping the pressure up in the pool. When you turn on the pump and the pressure on the return to the pool is high for about 10 minutes and after that its like a trickle. I have backwashed the the filter and then put it to filter and the pressure from the return runs high again for a couple of minutes and then it dies down. When we changed the sand, we checked the laterals and they appeared to be in good condition. At this point I am not sure what else to do to solve this problem. Does anyone have an idea on how to solve this issue?
The pool pump was replaced last pool season and its in working order. I changed the sand to the filter because we were having this problem to begin with and we thought it would be a good idea since we’ve had this pool for about 4 yrs and the previous owner to the house had it I believe 2 yrs.
Thanks
Denise
I am getting sedament back into the pool after it is filtered or vacuumed. The pool is clear and the water is clean. It is just spal particles that seem to have gone through the filtration system and back in the pool through the jets. The filter is defonitely set to filter. I have been told to NOT backwash to solve this. Any ideas? Maybe the sand is uneven? Thanks.
Hi Jeffery,
I would suggest changing the multi-port valve, it sounds like spider gasket inside is no good.
Let me know if you need more help,
Joseph
does anyone know how to change a spider gasket and what kind of lube to use
i was told not to use glue or anything and put the flat serface down.. rounded edge up and i did but im still leaking out the backwash side.. on filter..
I WAS TOLD TO PUT MINES ON THAT WAY AND I DID . BUT NOW WATER IS COMMING OUT AROUND THE HANDLE AND DONT KNOW WHY. I HAVE A SHUTOFF VALVE AT MY RETURN SO WHEN I BACKWASH I CLOSE IT OFF.TO KEEP THE WATER FROM GOING BACK INTO THE POOL.DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE LEAKING AROUND THE HANDLE.
There are 2 o-rings comming up to the handle part inside. Those could be cracked or got pinched reinstalling. As for the leaking out back wash, as long as everthing inside is clean, rollers, o-rings to handle part lubed and clean it could be your spring has worn and not pushing the the spider assy back down with a good pressure. If you press down on the handle and you feel it ‘seat’ and it stops leaking out the backwash it may be a weak spring, or dirty calcified valve assy that need a good cleaning and lube.
Okay so i can figure that we have a lateral broken in the filter because we have sand going into the pool. We will begin the process to fix that tomorrow. But after that is fix, how do we get the sand out of the “system’? We have a care taker, in ground cleaning system, and the pressure sky rockets when we turned it on (that is how we figured out the sand was going into the pool. My concern is the caretaker is clogged. Help!!
I have an older above ground Muskin pool, pump and tank. First off when I turn the pump on water started coming out the back wash valve, so I took it apart cleaned everything out of it checked the spider gasket it’s not flatten, torn, or showing and ware. I put the system back being extremely cautious of the handle positioning and water stopped leaking out of the back wash valve. So I tried to back wash the system and nothing happens. But I noticed the pump wasn’t working like it should, it was sucking air through the back wash port, when I put my hand over the port the pump works great? What else can be changed? Oh cant tell you what the pressure gauge is reading, I will be picking up a new one, but the broken one has been broke for 3 or 4 seasons and the system worked fine so I wasn’t concerned with it. Thanks Mike
okay, lol, Cleaning all the crud out of the Tank valve was very valuable, put I kinda, sorta, oh what ever lol, I put the hoses on backwards! pump and tank working great. Still can’t find an owners guide for Muskin pool’s though???
What does it mean if I have no pressure on my sand filter gauge when operational. Is the water circulating too fast through the filter??
Thanks
Hi Debbie,
This means one of two things:
1) Your gauge is stuck
Solution: Tap forcefully on the gauge a bit to see if the needle frees
2) Your gauge is broken and needs to be replaced.
Solution: Buy a new gauge and install it.
Let me know if you need any other help,
Joseph
Where can I buy spider gaskets and repair kits for an old Muskin system?
Hi Kevin,
Google the model and make followed by “parts” and see what you come up with. if all else fails and you can’t find one, let me know I have a place that can get most things that are hide to find, BUT depending on how old the filter is depends if you can even get the part,
Let me know if you need more help,
Joseph
Green green, my pool is green. I have super shocked the pool – 7 gallons and the pool is now cloudy instead of pea green, and water is supposedly balanced. Do you think the sand in the filter needs to be changed? How can I tell?
Hello
My pool pump isn’t sucking any water through my sand filter and no water is comming out. My presure gauge is on 0 any ideas to whats gone wrong? Many Thanks.
Hello,
My Filter is consistently draining water out of the “Waste” line, which is lowering the level of my pool down below the filter entrance.
It’s also pumping water out of the filter through the Waste line when I have it set to Filter or Whirlpool?
I’m a little new to this, but any help would really be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.