Pool Filter is Shooting Sand – What’s the Problem?
March 18/2020 Having a pool is suppose to be a lot of fun, right? There will be maintenance things that pop up from time to time that will require your attention, such as sand shooting back into your pool. We can explain why this happens and help you to find the culprit before an even bigger mess occurs!
Why this can happen
It’s important to know why this can happen in the first place, so that we can find the problem and prevent it from coming back again. There are usually one or two ways that sand can enter the pool (when it’s not suppose to!) The main culprit is your sand filter, but what area is causing the actual issue? We know that it’s not the pump or motor or the hoses that are causing this issue, which leads us back to the sand tank. Sand can enter the pool when either the laterals which are attached to the stand pipe have cracked or the holes have elongated or when the gasket that diverts the water for your control head has malfunctioned. These two things can occur simply with age or due to improper usage of the filter system.
How to find the problem
To find the problem, you will need to remove the head of the sand filter and carefully set it aside. Without removing the stand pipe that runs the length of the sand filter, you will need to carefully remove the sand from the filter system by using a shop vac or a plastic cup. For further reference, check out our previous blog on “How To Change The Sand In Your Pool Filter” for more guidelines. Once the sand has been removed (and it’s important to NEVER tip the sand filter over to dump out the sand), you are ready to start checking out the laterals. You should see a set of usually 6 or 8 laterals which look like fingers coming off the stand pipe. Each one of these simply pull out or unscrew by less than half a turn (depending on the style) and can be easily removed. Inspect them carefully to insure that the holes have not expanded, cracked, or become larger. If you find any differences between them, set the questionable ones aside and plan on replacing them. It is recommend if you find 1 or 2 of them that have a defect, to replace the entire set. These laterals age at the same rate, so if something has happened to a few of them, you can guarantee (Murphys Law) it won’t be long until the rest will need replaced. If you do it now, it will save you lots of time and the cost of putting new sand back in the filter as well. If you have found irregularities in the laterals, this is more than likely your culprit for the sand in the pool. By replacing the laterals, you will solve the issue. If all the laterals look fine we will need to be looking in another area.
The other area that could be causing issues is the control head. This is where the lever is to switch the water flow from filter to backwash, among many other functions. There is a diverter valve molded inside of the control head assembly which has a gasket in place. If this gasket has worn down, become lodged outside of its groove or has a tear in it, this would allow sand to shoot back into your pool as well. The main statistic that has been found as to why this item “goes bad” is either due to (1) not turning your filter system off before rotating the handle or (2) not rotating the handle in the same direction each time. To solve this issue, you would need the brand and the model of the sand filter that you have and would need to find a local dealer to purchase a new complete control head from.
To find the problem, you will need to remove the head of the sand filter and carefully set it aside. Without removing the stand pipe that runs the length of the sand filter, you will need to carefully remove the sand from the filter system by using a shop vac or a plastic cup. For further reference, check out our previous blog on “How To Change The Sand In Your Pool Filter” for more guidelines. Once the sand has been removed (and it’s important to NEVER tip the sand filter over to dump out the sand), you are ready to start checking out the laterals. You should see a set of usually 6 or 8 laterals which look like fingers coming off the stand pipe. Each one of these simply pull out or unscrew by less than half a turn (depending on the style) and can be easily removed. Inspect them carefully to insure that the holes have not expanded, cracked, or become larger. If you find any differences between them, set the questionable ones aside and plan on replacing them. It is recommend if you find 1 or 2 of them that have a defect, to replace the entire set. These laterals age at the same rate, so if something has happened to a few of them, you can guarantee (Murphys Law) it won’t be long until the rest will need replaced. If you do it now, it will save you lots of time and the cost of putting new sand back in the filter as well. If you have found irregularities in the laterals, this is more than likely your culprit for the sand in the pool. By replacing the laterals, you will solve the issue. If all the laterals look fine we will need to be looking in another area.
The other area that could be causing issues is the control head. This is where the lever is to switch the water flow from filter to backwash, among many other functions. There is a diverter valve molded inside of the control head assembly which has a gasket in place. If this gasket has worn down, become lodged outside of its groove or has a tear in it, this would allow sand to shoot back into your pool as well. The main statistic that has been found as to why this item “goes bad” is either due to (1) not turning your filter system off before rotating the handle or (2) not rotating the handle in the same direction each time. To solve this issue, you would need the brand and the model of the sand filter that you have and would need to find a local dealer to purchase a new complete control head from.
Preventing a re-occurrence
Broken laterals are usually caused from either age, which causes them to become brittle and crack with the weight of the sand on top of them, or due to tipping the filter system over when emptying it. Even if you only tipped the filter system over once, that could have been enough pressure with the weight of the sand shifting to crack the laterals. It is always recommended to use a cup or a shop vac to remove the sand properly out of the tank.
Control heads become worn in many different ways, but one of the most common ways are by not shutting off the flow to the filter system (by flipping your on/off switch or unplugging it from the outlet) before rotating the handle. This causes a backflow of pressure when you are trying to divert the water from one position to another. When you are trying to rotate the valve around with 35 – 60 lbs of pressure, you will indeed blow the gasket out of place, which will cause sand to end up back into the pool.
The other way is due to not rotating the handle always in the same clockwise or counter clockwise direction, which causes wear spots. When these wear spots occur, it will cause the gasket to not seal completely around the valve, which will create an access point for sand to enter the pool. Both of these instances would require a brand new control valve to be installed for your particular sand filter in order to solve the problem.
Call Aqua Palace Today (712) 329-4180!
Want more information? Contact us Aqua Palace is family owned and operated, offering above ground and in ground pools, hot tubs, spas and saunas specializing in pool design, installation and repair to local (Omaha and Council Bluffs) and long distance residents (within the US). We are the only Marquis dealer in the Omaha Metro Area with the largest showroom east of the continental divide. Not located in Omaha? No worries, check out our online store for pool and spa chemicals, supplies and accessories.
Broken laterals are usually caused from either age, which causes them to become brittle and crack with the weight of the sand on top of them, or due to tipping the filter system over when emptying it. Even if you only tipped the filter system over once, that could have been enough pressure with the weight of the sand shifting to crack the laterals. It is always recommended to use a cup or a shop vac to remove the sand properly out of the tank.
Control heads become worn in many different ways, but one of the most common ways are by not shutting off the flow to the filter system (by flipping your on/off switch or unplugging it from the outlet) before rotating the handle. This causes a backflow of pressure when you are trying to divert the water from one position to another. When you are trying to rotate the valve around with 35 – 60 lbs of pressure, you will indeed blow the gasket out of place, which will cause sand to end up back into the pool.
The other way is due to not rotating the handle always in the same clockwise or counter clockwise direction, which causes wear spots. When these wear spots occur, it will cause the gasket to not seal completely around the valve, which will create an access point for sand to enter the pool. Both of these instances would require a brand new control valve to be installed for your particular sand filter in order to solve the problem.
Call Aqua Palace Today (712) 329-4180!
Want more information? Contact us Aqua Palace is family owned and operated, offering above ground and in ground pools, hot tubs, spas and saunas specializing in pool design, installation and repair to local (Omaha and Council Bluffs) and long distance residents (within the US). We are the only Marquis dealer in the Omaha Metro Area with the largest showroom east of the continental divide. Not located in Omaha? No worries, check out our online store for pool and spa chemicals, supplies and accessories.
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