Swimming pool sand filter maintenance

Rick O · 04-30-2004, 09:13 PM

I didn't have much luck with a Google search and since you guys are the greatest source of information in the net I thought I would look to y'all for advice.

I have a 7 year old Jacuzzi sand filter that has never had a sand change. The LPS says it needs to be changed every 3-5 years. They charge $260 plus materials for the job. It doesn't look like it can be that difficult of a job so I thought I would do it myself. Has anyone got any experience with this that can offer any advice or warnings?

How about zeolite as a substitute for sand? It is supposed to to filter a much smaller micron but costs about twice as much as sand.

TIA.

RWD · 04-30-2004, 10:05 PM

Hi Rick,
Sorry, I don't know anything about sand filters, I use a earth filter on my pool. Check out this forum:
http://www.poolforum.com/cgi-local/dcforum/dcboard.cgi

RWD · 04-30-2004, 10:09 PM

ok here's some more info about 1/3 page down:
http://www.poolcenter.com/filter.htm

cyberchef · 05-01-2004, 12:37 AM

Rick, I've rebuilt about 6 of them in the past, back when I was in high school. Not that difficult at all. Basically the top comes off and you have to scoop out the sand. Hopefully it's not calcified, i which case you have to carefully break it up and remove it in pieces. If any of it will not break up or sticks to the PVC tubes on the inside, use vinegar to soak it (Hydrocloric acid will eat the brass drain valve on the bottom). Also mark the top piece and the ring it mounts to so that you install the top back on in the position it came off. Helps to keep the pivot handle on top aligned for setting it to filter or back flush.. etc.

The last ones I rebuilt were brass on top and PVC inside so you have to be careful not to break any of the PVC on the inside. I believe the newer ones are a plastic of some sort on top. Get a copy of the manual, it should have a diagram showing all of the fittings and connectors, exploded view, so you can use that as a guide for what to remove and how to put it back together. Take your time and don't play king kong and you should be fine.

I would just use sand for refilling it and change it ecery couple of years. Heavy use of suntan oil will turn the sand into muck and if your water is heavy on minerals (well water) it can cause the filter sand to calcify, much in the same manner as a sand bed does. I used to use regular silica sand that you could get at the local HD or construction supply place. I had to rebuild my parents every year due to heavy mineral content in the water. If I waited every other year the sand looked more like mortar than sand...

Junkzoo · 05-01-2004, 02:54 AM

Rick , saw this post while at work (i lurk, so i can't post) along with what you already have so far for help,,,i asked a co-worker that uses a filter such as yours,,,he said, piece of cake on doing a sand change,,his response to the price you said to have it done was,,,

Rick O · 05-01-2004, 07:45 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Bob I knew there must be a forum out there somewhere but I couldn't find one. Thanks for the link.

Don I wouldn't be surprised if my sand is calcified, it isn't filtering very well now. My Leslies generic pool maintenance manual has an exploded diagram of my filter. I understand that the PVC laterals can be very fragile over time. Thanks for the advice.

Jeff I thought $260 was kinda pricey but after I'm finished it may seem like a bargain.

Junkzoo · 05-01-2004, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick O

Jeff I thought $260 was kinda pricey but after I'm finished it may seem like a bargain.

Depends Rick,you gonna use Southdown?, or the LFS brand? LOL

Good luck, keep us posted

Rick O · 05-01-2004, 02:35 PM

Now I know why they charge so much (little). It wasn't real easy but I'm glad I did it myself. I started at about 10:30 and finished at about 1:30.

cyberchef · 05-01-2004, 04:27 PM

Was it calcified? The worst one I ever worked on belonged to a freind in Detroit. It hadn't even been backflushed since they owned it. There was so much suntan oil residue that removing the sand was like scooping up sludge from the chicago river...

Rick O · 05-01-2004, 08:59 PM

It wasn't calcified. It wasn't even all that dirty. But I'm sure the sand was worn down pretty good. I'm anxious to see what the water looks like tomorrow. I've been running the filter for two weeks straight and the water is still cloudy and slightly green.

RWD · 05-01-2004, 09:01 PM

Well at least you opened the pool. I still have another month

at least the ducks are using it LOL

Rick O · 05-01-2004, 09:02 PM

LOL Bob. great pic. I just have a dog in mine.

You're a better man than me for building your own pool.

ricksreef · 05-04-2004, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick O
the water is still cloudy and slightly green.

sounds like your PH is off (cloudiness) & if it's green,
you may have had metals in your fill water or your heater is melting from an acidic PH. if it's a cloudy green, it's just algae
& a little more chlorine should clear it up.

Rick O · 05-04-2004, 09:23 PM

Yep it's algae. I'm over shocking now. I have this trouble at the beginning of every season.