How To Change the Sand in your Sand Filter

What You’ll Need:
Shop Vac or large cup that will fit inside the filter

1.    Make sure you remove all of the hoses from the sand filter so that the sand filter is completely by itself.

2.    Remove the multiport valve on top of your sand filter. Note : If it’s been a while it may be tricky to get off.

3.    Inside you’ll see a sand filter standpipe that leads down into a large pile of old filter sand. DO NOT move this filter standpipe while the sand is still there. Remove all the sand by using your industrial shop vac or a large cup and scoop out all the filter sand.

4.    Now you should see that the filter standpipe has a number of laterals sticking out of it. Use your hose and rinse out the rest of the filter sand.

5.    Now it’s time to put the new filter sand in. First cover the top of the standpipe with plastic or duct tape to prevent the new filter sand from entering into the standpipe. Note: if filter sand gets into the standpipe, when you turn on your sand filter on it will blow into your  pool, not good.

6.    Then fill your sand filter up with water about half way and start to slowly pour the new sand in. The water will help the sand gently to the bottom of the sand filter protecting your laterals.

7.    Once all of the sand is in your filter fill the rest of the filter up with water and place the multiport valve on securely.

That’s it! Make sure you do not move your filter around too much or the weight of the sand will crack those laterals sending sand back into your pool.

Only use filter sand! There are different types of sand out there including bar sand and play sand, but only your local pool company offers the correct coarse filter sand or filter sand substitute.