Do You Know How To Tell If Your Sand Filter Is Bad
If youre a pool owner, then you need to know how to tell if your sand filter is bad. Knowing what signs to look for is going to help you keep your sand filter running as smoothly as possible.;
Now that you know the signs, you can work towards keeping a clean and safe pool, but sometimes you need help from the professionals. Here at Sahara Construction and Custom Pools, were dedicated to servicing and maintaining your pool correctly.
See what services we offer and contact us to see how we can start helping you maintain your pool today!
How To Tell If Your Sand Filter Is Bad: 7 Common Pool Filter Issues
by Katy-TX-Pool-Builder Katy-TX-Pool-Builder | Nov 20, 2019 | Pool Care
If youre a pool owner, then you know just how important regular maintenance and proper upkeep is. Theres a lot of work that goes into keeping your pool functioning properly, and one important task is to ensure that the sand filter isnt malfunctioning. To know whether its functioning or not, you need to know what signs to be on the lookout for.;
Knowing how to tell if your sand filter is bad is one of the best ways to keep your pool clean and safe. If youre not sure what signs to look for, then youll want to keep reading below. Weve created a list of the top 7 common pool filter issues that you need to know about.
Here are the problems that you need to keep an eye out for!
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Why Is Dirt/sand Passing Through My Sand Filter
- A lateral could be cracked or broken, the multiport valve may need servicing, or air may be passing through the filter, causing a channeling effect, which permits dirt to get by the filter.
- There may be a broken or cracked lateral located on the manifold of your filter.; You will need to inspect these laterals and replace them if necessary.
Making Things More Efficient
A MultiCyclone is a pre-filter that water passes through before it gets pumped into your filter. The unit creates a vortex that spins out dirt and debris and retains it in a sediment chamber that can be easily emptied using very little water. Less dirt gets to your pools main filter so it needs to be backwashed less. As much as 80% less.
Triogen UV water treatment destroys organisms in your pool water by passing it through a chamber where it is dosed with UV light. The compact units have been designed for quick and easy fitting, so that installation is inexpensive.
The main benefit of switching to UV disinfection is improved water quality, as the Triogen TR2 unit controls algae, chlorine-resistant organisms and other unwanted life forms without having any harmful residual effect or leaving any by-product in the water.
Waterco Micron Bobbin Wound Filters are an innovative and efficient alternative to the traditional pool filter. The filter features a fishtail configuration that offers superior filtration by eliminating the dead areas commonly associated with a traditional star design.
This highly efficient design reduces the amount of water used during backwashing by up to 30%.
Waterco Micron Bobbin Wound Filters are manufactured from the highest grade of non-corrosive materials and are designed and built for many years of trouble free operation. The filter tank has a 10 year warranty on residential installations.
We hope that this article has been useful to you.
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Pool Sand Filter Not Filtering Algae
No pool man can deny the fact that algae are insidious. Even pools that are regularly maintained and have balanced pool chemistry can be infested with algae. High temperatures, moist air, and a lot of precipitation to name just three factors that you cannot influence encourage algae infestation.;
Algae, even when dead, can be stubborn. During maintenance, after the scrubbing, cleaning, and filtering routine, many pool masters who use sand filters often discover that the filter doesnt filter out the dead algae.
Then you end up having everything returned to the facility. One of the ways to remove dead algae from the pool is by emptying the vacuum to Waste. In this article, well tell you how to get rid and how to filter out algae in a pool filter.;
Reduce The Need To Backwash
As we mentioned earlier, leaves and other debris can lead to you needing to backwash your pool sand filter more often or even dump the water out if the water gets too dirty. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is to invest in a good pool cover. We have a guide on how to buy and fit a pool cover and we think it’s a good read for anyone who wants to reduce the need to backwash their pool sand filter.
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Follow These Steps To Clean A Cartridge Pool Filter:
Vacuuming A Pool Using Sand Filter
There are several steps used in vacuuming a pool using a sand filter. Sand filters have quite many functions when maintenance of the pool is in question. Significantly, understanding how it works contributes towards cleaning of the pool. Plus, having the ability to choose a vacuum, and the right one is crucial.
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Sand Pool Filter Cleaners
A sand pool filter uses specially graded sand that is about half a millimeter across, known as #20 silica sand. When matched with the right sized pump, sand filters are very effective in trapping dirt and oils.
Backwashing a sand filter is not as effective at releasing trapped dirt and oils however. Smaller, lighter debris and dirt is flushed out, but heavier minerals and oils coagulate together in clumps that fill the top few inches of filter sand.
You could replace the top few inches of sand every year, or use our Sand Filter Cleaner, to remove oils, minerals and metals that make your filter much less efficient. When mud-balls and calcification occurs, the water creates;well-worn channels that funnel the pool water through the filter, without much filtration.
To use pool sand filter cleaner just add it through the skimmer, with the filter valve on the backwash position. After the cleaner is sucked into the filter, shut off the pump and allow the chemical to work overnight. Start it up again the next;morning on rinse, to flush out dirt, oils and minerals. Use annually to rejuvenate your filter sand, and keep your filter operating at full effect!
For questions or comments about cleaning and rejuvenating your pool filter media, Leave a Reply below, or send us an !
Keep Filter Sand Moving Freely With Decalcifier
Regardless of how much you stay on top of sand filter maintenance, there will eventually come a time when your sand stops swishing around how it should.
Not due to a lack of water, but a lack of movement altogether.
As the calcium from your pool water builds up in the filter, it gradually dries out your sand, causing it to harden.
Although this process isnt 100% avoidable, theres a really good way to deter it. And thats by using a decalcifier.
If that sounds familiar, it should. Youre probably already using a decalcifier as part of your regular pool maintenance.
So you want to keep your pool filtration smooth and reliable, add some decalcifier to your sand filter.
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Reasons You Should Choose A Sand Filter For Your Pool
In the U.S.,;swimming ranks as the fourth;most popular exercise activity. However, did you know that swimming in contaminated water can get you sick?
Contaminated water can happen in a swimming pool that is not properly filtered.
Do you own a pool and want to know the best tips for;maintaining your pool? Are you interested in the different types of pool filters, and youre wondering which type to choose for your pool?
A pool filter will keep your pool water clean from contaminates and microbes that can make you sick.
There are two general types of filters: cartridge filters and sand filters. We think sand filters are the best choice.
Want to learn more about sand filters and how they work? Read on to see our 9 reasons why you should go with a sand filter and how they work to properly clean your pool.
Set The Valve To Rinse
With the pool pump off, switch the multiport valves position from Backwash to Rinse.;
Rinsing the filter is needed because the sand gets moved around during backwashing and needs to be reset.
Additionally, the filter tank still has backwash and sand sediment in it that needs to be removed so its not returned to the pool.
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Signs Your Pool Filter Needs To Be Backwashed
08 August 2017 Tommy
One of the simplest and most reliable ways to maintain healthy pool water throughout the year especially in the busy summer season and keep your filtration system clean is to backwash regularly.
Not exactly sure what that means? Well, as the name suggests, backwashing involves reversing the flow of water through your filter media, be it Zeoplus, sand, glass pearls or diatomaceous earth . This dislodges dirt and debris that may have become trapped, and flushes it out through your multiport valve waste line.
Knowing when to backwash your filter is really important in keeping your pool water clean and filtration equipment in peak condition. The good news is that there are three common signs that indicate if and when your pool filter needs to be backwashed. They include:
How often should I backwash my pool filter?
FloVis Flow Meter
How To Clean All Types Of Pool Filters
One of your only jobs as a pool owner is to keep the water safe for swimming.;
This, of course, means doing everything you can to prevent accidents, but it also means keeping the water germ-free and healthy.
That can sometimes be an awfully big job if youre doing it by yourself.
One of the things that makes it a little easier is a clean pool filter. If your pump system is working right, that filter will do a lot of the dirty work for you.;
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Decrease In Water Clarity
If you notice your pool water getting a little cloudy or see debris floating in it that the filter doesnt seem to be removing, it could mean the filter isn’t working as well as it should. You’ll also notice high TDS levels when you test your chemistry levels if this is the case.
Both of these things could mean you have a dirty filter and need to backwash it ASAP.
When To Clean It
Do sand pool filters need to be cleaned? How do you know when its time to clean it? There are two main indicators that the time has come, so heres what to look for:
If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, then its definitely time to clean out your sand pool filter. The cleaning process is known as backwashing, which reverses the flow of water, sending the debris out of the pump through a waste house rather than back into your pool.;
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Skimmer Basket Cleaning Procedure
When Should I Backwash My Sand Filter
Some experts say that you should backwash it at least once a week and some say to only clean it when it is dirty.
I personally dont think it hurts to take care of it once a week when you are checking your pool chemicals, but there are certainly instances when you should clean it more often like when you’re battling algae, after a storm and when you see obvious signs that its dirty.
And here are a few ways to know if your sand filter is dirty:
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Changing The Sand In A Pool Filter
The sand in a sand pool filter wont need changing very often; perhaps once in every five years or so.
If you do need to change the sand then you will need to buy special pool filter sand. It may be an idea to seek advice from your local pool professional as new and more efficient forms of filter media are available.
Turn the pump off and turn the Multiport selector to Close.
Open the lid on top of the filter. If the Multiport sits on top of your filter, this will mean disconnecting the pipes attached to it first.
Your filter instruction manual should show you how to do this for your particular make and model of pool sand filter.
You can then either scoop out the old sand from the filter or use a swimming pool filter sand vacuum that connects to the end of your garden hose and uses a Venturi effect to suck out all the sand.
Before you start to add new sand, you need to drain the filter by opening the drain plug and then check the filter laterals.
Laterals are finger like pieces of plastic that are pierced by small slots and distribute the water through the sand.
If any of the laterals are damaged or broken filter sand can get back into the pool. If you see sand on the pool floor below the outlet pipe, thats a sign that the laterals may need replacing.
How To Backwash A De Filter
A DE filter uses uses Diatomaceous Earth instead of sand to catch contaminants. D.E. is a much finer medium than sand and therefore does a better job at filtering your pool water. However, there is some extra maintenance required when backwashing.Backwashing a D.E. Filter is similar to a sand filter with one extra step of topping up the diatomaceous earth.
Important: before you start, make sure you have some D.E. powder on hand as youll need to top up the filter after backwashing. DE gets washed out when backwashing.
Heres how to back wash DE filters:
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