How do you drain your sand filter?

Answer 1

In brief: take the multi-port valve off the top of the filter dump the old sand out hose out the filter and add the new sand reinstall the valve

In detail, for Sand Dollar style filters: The multi-port valve is usually removed by just a few stainless steel bolts and nuts holding the valve body to the filter tank with two facing collar clamps. There will usually be a two inch PVC vertical pipe that the valve slipped over. This vertical pipe extends down into the tank where there will be 6-8 smaller "lateral" pipes, perpendicular to the vertical pipe, in a hexagonal or octagonal arrangment. Be gentle with the lateral pipes as they are usually more fragile. You won't see these lateral pipes until most of the sand is removed from the filter tank.

Drain the water out of the tank by removing the drain plug located low on the side of the tank. With the multi-port valve removed, it is easy to see the water level go down while looking down the throat of the tank where the valve was mounted. Allow to drain for several hours to get as much water out of the sand as possible. More time allowed to drain means the sand will be less damp and easier to suck out later.

Use a Wet/Dry vacuum to suck the sand out of the tank. Have a clean, heavy-duty trash can available to temporarily hold the sand if you are planning to re-use the sand. The sand will be damp as it is sucked out, so as the sand collects in the Wet/Dry vac, only suck up as much sand into the vac as you can easily lift to empty into the garbage can. This takes patience and perserverance as it may take 5 or 6 sucking sand, emptying vac into garbage can sessions.

The wet sand will tend to cling to the vacuum hose so shake it frequently to knock the clinging clumps of sand off the inner walls of the vacuum hose. As you get down into the wetter sand, hose clogs become more frequent. It may also require you hold the hose vertical while shaking it to get the wet sand clogged in the hose to get sucked into the vacuum tank.

The object is to get enough sand out of the tank to the point where it can be lifted or moved , laid on it's side so the remaining sand can be scooped out or washed out with a hose.

NOTE: To removed the laterals and vertical pipe. The lateral pipes simply unscrew from the base of the vertical pipe. Raise the vertical pipe to bring the laterals to the top of the tank. Unscrew each one and remove.

REFILLING: Make sure the vertical pipe and laterals are centered inside the tank. There is usually a small tube that a spike on the bottom of the vertical pipe registers into, located at the bottom center of the tank. This centers the vertical pipe and laterals and results in the laterals suspended a few inches above the bottom of the tank. Cover the top of the vertical tube with a spray-paint can lid or tin can. This is to prevent sand from getting inside this vertical pipe when pouring the sand back in. Fill the filter tank half-full of water before adding any sand into the tank. The water helps to slow down the sand as it drops to the bottom of the tank and also helps to disperse the sand more evenly around and under the laterals. Most sand filters are filled only half full or slightly less with sand. Some sort of large plastic funnel is helpful for funneling the sand into the throat of the tank. As you pour the sand back into the tank be sure to hold the vertical pipe centered in the tank throat. Once all the sand is back in the tank, trying to center the pipe then can easily break off some of the laterals. Once all the required amount of sand is pour back into the tank, remove whatever was used to to keep sand from entering the vertical pipe during refilling. Fill the tank with water until it over flows. If you are re-using the sand, you might find that disturbing the sand by removing it and replacing it back into the tank "free" a lot of dirt into the water. Push the hose into the tank a few inches and allow as much of the dirty water to flush out the top of the tank as possible. More flushing will be later. Replace the multi-port valve and secure in place, re-attach hoses to proper fitting locations and secure with hose clamps.

BLEEDING AIR OUT OF THE TANK AND DO A FINAL RINSE/FLUSH:

Locate and open the bleed valve on the valve body. Set the valve to "Rinse" position and start the pump. Wait until a steady stream of water, with no air, comes out of the bleed valve. Close the bleed valve. Run the pump on "Rinse" while monitoring the waste water outflow until it is clean. Stop the pump, place valve in "Backwash" position and run pump until waste water outflow is clean. Stop the pump, place valve in "Filter" position and start pump.

Answer 2

Most sand filters have the positions for the various settings marked Normally The backwash setting is opposite the filter setting. then there is a rinse seating as well. if you cant make out the settings check with the manufacturers of the sand filter. To backwash the pool

# stop the pump # turn the filter to backwash # start the pump # you will note a small transparent bubble will fill up with dirty water wait until the water clears up. if the clear bubble isn't there try to see the water that is going to waste and wait till it clears up. # Stop the pump # turn the filter control to rinse

# start the pump and let it run for 30 seconds or so. # stop the pump # turn the filer setting back onto filter. # resume normal filtration regime.

Answer 3

It depends on which type of sand filter you have. Most makes have a threaded plug near the bottom of the filter. It usually has a square that you can use channel locks to loosen and remove it.

It is best to backwash the sand filter. And when needed to add D.E. to maximize the filtration efficiency.