When Should You Change the Sand in a Pool Filter?
Changing the sand makes the water sparkle
Change pool filter sand every three to five years to maintain clean water in the pool.
The sand in filters for pools used year-round will need to be replaced more frequently.
Proper filter and pool maintenance can prolong the life of the sand in the filter.
If your pool water is dirty or the chemicals aren’t working the way they should, it might be time to change the sand.
Pools rely on the filter to maintain clean water, and a sand filter is one of the more common pool filter options. The filter pulls water through a tank filled with sand, and the sand particles remove dirt, debris, and bacteria from the water before it gets pumped back into the pool. If you have this type of filtration system, you’ll need to know when to change the sand in the pool filter to keep your water swim ready.
When Should You Change the Sand in Your Pool Filter?
Determining when to change sand in a pool filter depends on a few factors, including whether you use the pool seasonally or year-round, the level of maintenance you perform, and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Plan on changing pool filter sand every three to five years for seasonal pools. For a year-round pool, plan on changing the sand more often, closer to every year and a half to two years. You can hire a local pool service to change the sand or learn to do it yourself.
Learning how to clean the pool filter properly can prolong the life of the sand. However, even with regular maintenance, sand particles in the filter responsible for capturing debris and bacteria will wear smooth over time and won’t be able to clean the pool water effectively. Ultimately, you should go by the pool filter manufacturer’s recommendations and the pool water’s condition.
Proper pool maintenance requires close attention to your pool’s water chemistry, filtration, and circulation. Test the water regularly, especially in the summer, and empty all the baskets. Run the filtration system four to six hours per day in the winter and six to 10 hours per day in the summer.
Signs It’s Time to Change the Sand in Your Pool Filter
While you should change the sand in your pool filter every three to five years, you should also pay attention to the filter in case there are signs that you need to change the sand earlier. It will also help you monitor when to change the sand within that window. If you notice these signs around the three-year mark, then it’s likely time to change the sand. If everything is performing well, you can lean toward the five-year mark.
Signs that it’s time to change the sand sooner than later include:
Dirty pool water
Sand buildup in the bottom of the pool
A change in the pressure indicated on the gauge
An increased need for chemicals to maintain the proper balance
Issues with algae or green water
Frequently Asked Questions
The type of sand you need for your sand filter depends on the manufacturer’s instructions, but you’ll need to use sand specifically for pool filters. Silica sand is a wallet-friendly, common choice that’s relatively easy to replace. You’ll choose between various grades of sand and different-sized sand grains.
Sand is made up of tiny particles that are rough around the edge. This rough texture allows the sand to grab onto unwanted particles in your pool water, trapping them in the filter. As sand is exposed to water and rubs against other sand particles, the roughness wears off, and the smoothed sand won’t capture debris as well as it once did. The sand may also get clogged from use, especially if the sand filter isn’t cleaned on a regular basis. It may also harbor bacteria over time, which can reduce water quality.
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