You’ll want to make yourself a cup of tea for this one. As simple as it sounds (how difficult can changing sand be?), it needs a few steps. Or maybe 11. And you have to do them every 2-3 years.
You’ll know that your filter needs new sand when it becomes more difficult to clean than be-fore. Another sign is when it requires more filtration, backwash, and rinse cycles to get the pool back to crystal clarity.
Here’s how to do it, in (gulp) 11 simple steps!
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- Turn off the filter and pump. You don’t want the pump to roar into life while you’re in the middle of changing the sand in your media.
- Once the multiport is off, cover the standpipe with some duct tape or cloth fastened with string to prevent sand from entering it.
- Carefully scoop out the sand with a plastic cup. Yes, this can take a long, long, time.
- Once you’re able to see the laterals sticking from the standpipe bottom, the sand should be all but gone. Thoroughly rinse to be sure.
- Inspect the inside of the filter tank for any cracks and damages. If they’re good, reattach the drain plug and fill the tank about halfway with water.
- Once the pool filter tank is half filled with water, you can now start filling it with sand.
- Once all of the sand is inside, fill the tank with water and reassemble the connections to your pool filter.
- Backwash and rinse the filter to get rid of any excess sand in the system.
- Once backwashing is done, run the filter, and check the pressure valve.
That’s it! You’ve successfully changed your pool filter sand. And spent valuable hours doing so.
