One way would be that the water never really gets crystal clear. A good rule of thumb is change sand every 5 years. Of course use the correct grade of sand and use the filter manufacturers recommendations for the correct amount.
Ken
You have damaged grids inside the filter. Remove and replace. k
pull the filter out and hose it off, replace the filter, if you vaccum your pool more frequently it should help keep the filter cleaner
Small tears in the filter of your pool typically refer to small holes or openings in the filter. These tears can occur over time due to wear and tear, improper cleaning hacks, or sharp debris entering the filter system. Once you experience this issue, It's important to address and repair these tears quickly to maintain optimal filtration and prevent further issues.
Nothing if its a sand filter However if sand is coming into the pool from the filter then you may have to replace one ore more laterals in the sand filter as they have worn and are letting sand through to the pool,
pull the filter out and hose it off, replace the filter, if you vaccum your pool more frequently it should help keep the filter cleaner
you may have to prime your pump Clean or replace the filter.
If you are getting sand coming into the pool and have a sand filter you may have to replace worn laterals in the sand filter.
Worn or damaged filter grids. Replace all grids with holes and recharge filter.
There is no specific set time that you should change your filter. I would check mine on a weekly basis and if it was dirty I would replace it.
Heaters are usually plumbed in after the filter. The pool filter/pump is what circulates the heated water. Ans: The heater will not work or fire if the pump is not running.
replace it if you don't have the time to clean it.
No so long as you are maintaining the proper chlorine levels in the pool.