3 Reasons Why There's Sand in Your Pool and How to Get Rid of It

During the lifetime of your pool, you will encounter a number of maintenance items that will need to be addressed. One likely scenario that you as a pool owner will encounter is finding sand in your pool. There are several reasons that sand could be in the pool and it is our job to do some detective work to see exactly what it is (yes it could not be sand) and how to prevent it from happening again.

What to Do When You See Sand in Your Pool

Unless the pool is near a beach or another sand feature, sand should not be in the pool. This would mean that most likely something has failed and must be investigated further.

Check That It's Sand

The first step in determining where the sand came from is to determine if it is actually sand! The most conclusive way to tell this is to actually slowly put your foot on top of it and feel if it is sandy. Also, does it look like sand? Another great thing to observe is where exactly is the sand? These are all clues that could help us narrow down where exactly it is coming from.

Check Your Filter

Do you have a sand, cartridge, or D.E. filter? If the sand or sand-like substance is found near the pool returns then there is a very good chance either a linear failed (Sand) or a screen ripped (D.E. or Cartridge) and is allowing debris to escape.

Check your filter for condition by opening up the housing. For a sand filter, try to backwash the pool and replicate the sand loss, otherwise vacuum up the sand and see if it comes back. For D.E. and cartridge filters, the filter element inside must be inspected for tears by opening up the housing and physically checking inside.

Consider External Factors

Did you find sand near the main drain or stairs? It is possible then that the sand was brought in by an external source such as the beach or a sandbox. This is especially common with children or after a windy day if you live in a more arid environment.

Sand could also come from the surrounding area and get blown into the pool by the wind. This is one of the reasons that it is a good idea to take note of where the sand is located to help determine if it is coming from the pool itself or from the area around the pool.

How to Fix a Sand Pool Filter

After determining that your sand filter is the culprit, it is now time to fix the problem. What happens when a sand filter starts to lose sand is that either the standpipe or a linear pipe inside the filter has cracked. This usually happens after the filter is moved or damaged in some way.

The easiest way to replace these components is through the multiport opening. The first step to do this is to remove the multiport gently so as to not damage anything internal further. Once removed, use a shop vac to vacuum up all of the sand around the standpipe and linears while feeling and inspecting for the crack.

Once found, simply remove and replace the damaged part. After, gently fill back up the filter with sand and re-attach the multiport and backwash for 2 minutes while the new sand settles.

How to Get Sand Out of a Pool

The best and easiest way to get sand out of your pool is to vacuum it up. But, know that this is only temporary and will eventually return and get worse. Once vacuumed, you can also brush down the pool to help the filter catch the rest of the sand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it bad if I am getting filter sand in my pool?

Finding sand in your pool, if determined to be from the filter is a serious issue. This means that your filter has lost the ability to clean the water effectively and has an internal failure. In time, the failure will get worse and must be taken care of immediately before it gets worse.

How often should you replace pool filter sand?

Generally, you should replace the sand in a sand filter every 3-5 years. Factors that can affect this duration are the amount of run time and the length of season where the pool is.

What is the easiest way to get rid of sand in a pool?

The easiest and quickest way to get rid of sand in your pool is to vacuum it up. However, this is only a temporary measure and the filter must be repaired properly to have the sand stop completely.

Read the original article on The Spruce.