We think our pool sand filter has stopped working, are we right? If so, what can we do about it?

Question

When we backwashed our pool at the beginning of the summer, the filter spit out all of the sand for seemingly no reason. We replaced the sand, but it hasn't worked right all summer. Now we are having a problem with the water staying green and we are unable to clear it up. We have added algaecide, chlorine, vacuumed it, and backwashed it. It is still green.

It is a 21x41 above ground pool, the shallow end is 4ft and the deep end is 6ft.

Cheap solutions and options are definitely welcome! If we need to do something really expensive, we'd like to do it after swimming season is over. We only plan on keeping it open for another month anyway, if we can, and it would be a lot easier on us to do any major repairs after swimming season is over.

Thank you everyone!

Answer 1

I think TIO and D2 above are on the right track.....when you change your sand again,you may want to try an alternative media: http://www.swimming-pool-information.com...

Answer 2

Get out the paperwork that came with your filter and find the # for customer assistance.

How many hours a day are you running your filter?  The water should be turning over at least 4 - 6 times a day.   That would mean running the filter 8 - 10 hrs. daily.  

Use a lot of algaecide and shock, and watch your chlorine levels.

Green water?  Ewww

Answer 3

WHEN YOU CHANGED THE SAND , DID YOU REPLACE ALL THE SPIDER GASKETS AND MUTIPORT VALVE?KINDA SOUNDS LIKE THE MULTIPORT VALVE HAS GONE SOUTH.

ALOT OF THE TIME YOU CAN REPLACE THE SPIDER GASKET AND IT WILL WORK FINE FOR A WHILE,THIS WILL GET YOU THROUGH THE SEASON,THEN REPLACE THE MULTIPORT,ITS THAT THING THAT CHANGES ALL THE FUNTIONS OUT BESIDE THE FILTER W/THE HANDLE YOU USE TO BKWSH AND ALL THAT STUFF. COST TO REPLACE THE GASKET,$50.00 TO REPLACE THE VALVE ,$250.00 IF YOU DO IT YOUR SELF.WHEN YOU GETTO THAT PART ASK HOW TO CHANGE THE MULTIPORT VALVE,AND I'LL TELL YOU.

Answer 4

more then likely the cause of all the lost sand was due to a broken lateral they are not to expensive to replace but are a pain to do because you need to remove all the sand.over chlorinate the pool and add algaecide then next day vacuum on filter bypass so the dirty water goes right out the backwash hose bypassing the filter

  here is a pic of a filter showing the laterals

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...

Answer 5

if filter is still spiting sand into pool that means a lateral line(s) in side your filter is broken to fix this dig out all the sand in you filter pull up mast and look at each lateral line closely unscrew them and replace them once you get new ones in the pool  should clear up if you have any more problems e mail me at [e-mail] pool company owner