Got a pool questions for all you pool techs?

Question

I have an above ground pool and I have a sand filter. My first question is, how do they work? Can you give me a website or picture that shows how they work? Also, why is there sand in the pool after this was installed? I'm guessing this isn't normal.

Answer 1

Simple. They work by pumping water through the sand from the top of the filters and out the bottom through small plastic filters, another word for the filters is fingers. These fingers are your problem. At the bottom of the filter are these fingers that the sand is packed around and filled above. Either you have a cracked one or the filter wasnt filled to the right hight inside the filter. If there isnt enough sand in the filter, the agitation of the water will stir up the sand and cause the sand to pass through the fingers. It is possible to get some sand through at start up. So, if you continue to have problems you need to open the filter, check the level, (about 3/4 full). If it is filled to the right level, you need to scoop out the sand and inspect the fingers at the bottom of the filter. They can be unscrewed and replaced.

Good Luck!