Why – And How – We Change the Sand in your Pool Filter
Proper maintenance of your swimming pool’s filtration system is an important part of keeping your pool clean, fresh, user-friendly, and available when you need it. Manufacturer’s recommend that, with normal use, the sand be changed every 3 to 4 years. For heavy-use pools, we suggest changing the sand every 2 to 3 years.
Sand does an excellent job of filtering out organic debris such as skin, hair, and oil. Used, or dirty, sand actually filters this debris better than brand new sand but, after enough time – or use – the sand becomes so saturated with detritus that it no longer does an effective job. It’s at this point that the sand needs to be changed.
Changing the sand in a pool filter can be a difficult and messy job. We recommend contacting a pool-care professional such as those at Pink Dolphin Pool Care in Glendale, Arizona. These professionals have the tools and the experience to make sure the job gets done quickly and correctly the first time.
So you have an idea of what the process involves, we’ve outlined the steps below.
1) Remove the sand.
This is perhaps the most difficult and time-consuming step in the process. As mentioned, a pool care professional knows the quickest and most efficient way to get this done.
2) Add warm water to the tank.
This serves to minimize the impact of the falling sand on the pipes and what-not in the tank.
3) Add sand.
The type and amount of sand may be different depending on what model filter you have. Don’t put in the wrong sand or overfill as these can cause your filter to function improperly.
4) Backwash and rinse.
Once the filter head is reinstalled, backwash the system for 3 to 5 minutes and then rinse for 60 seconds before moving the filter to its standard setting.
Please keep in mind that this is just a very brief overview and does not take into account sand type, sand volume, position of sand pipe, and tightness of filter head. As you can see, it’s advisable to hire a pool service expert to do the job right so you can get the most out of your clean pool.
Pink Dolphin Pool Care is proud to offer everything from pool installation to pool draining to inspections, cleaning, and repair. If you’re a resident in the Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, or Sun City area, give Pink Dolphin Pool Care a call for all your pool needs.
