I need help with my above ground pool...

[Palmetto Pimp]

I have a couple questions...

Moved into new home with above ground pool....

I am keeping it pretty clean but something is up with my filter

I have a sand filter and use a Polaris65 to vacuum it

The vacuum works good when the flter is pumping enough water out to it

Problem is sometime the water it is pumping out isnt much and thus the vacuum just lollygags around and doesnt do much

I backwash when Im supposed to I think(when the PSI is between 13-16 like instructions say) and sometimes that helps and some times it doesnt...also when I run the filter in the direct waste postion for a lil bit then put it back to normal it seems to pump water out better for a lil bit....when I am supposed to use the direct waste postion? lol

and one more thing...some sands gets to the bottom of my pool..I guess its from the filter...is there anything I can do about that? Is it normal??? Thanks for any help....

 

[Helen]

I have noticed with my sand filter, if that bucket (right next to the motor) isn't completely filled to the top with water the return doesn't shoot the water out very strong. I just turn it off and on a few times then it refills and the return is much stronger.

I have the same problem with the sand on the bottom of the pool. I vacuum a few times a week and can not get rid of it. There seems to be less and less each time, so I figure by the end of the season it should be gone, hopefully.

Good luck, and if you find a solution to the sand problem will you please post it. That would help me out alot!! Thanks!

 

[Stuman]

Ahhh...

I used to service commercial pools, so I think I can help you both.

njsf: You have cracked "laterals" in the bottom of your sand filter. Laterals are little plastic tubes in the bottom of the tank (buried in the sand) that let the water through but not the sand. They have little slits in them that are smaller than the diameter of the sand particles. Over time, the laterals can become cracked or broken, allowing the sand to pass right through. That is also why it is very important to ONLY use pool filter sand instead of getting it from your kid's sand box. That sand is a much finer grade sand and will clog the laterals. Try to find a model/part number from your filter tank and take it to your local pool supply store. (Not Walmart :nono: ) Tell them you are going to be replacing your filter sand and you want to replace your broken laterals as well. It might also be a good idea to replace any gaskets that will be disturbed while replacing your sand. They are cheap, and will save you the trouble of replacing them later. Also, make sure you are keeping the skimmer basket and the pump basket clean. As soon as you replace your filter sand and laterals, your pool will be as good as new. If you have any questions, the pool supply store should be able to help you, or you can ask me. I will try my best, but I will need brand names and model numbers first.

Helen: You also have cracked or broken laterals. Install new ones and replace the sand. Problem solved.

Stuman

 

[taoist]

...see Stuman, I told you all of that "pool work" (read: standing beside pool with dark sunglasses looking at all the scantily clad women) would pay off some day.


...now, you sit behind that computer all day and just fondly remember all of those hot summer days during college.


...drop me a line, you SOB. :thefinger

 

[Stuman]

Hard to forget all that poolside MOJO...

 

[Helen]

My filter is only a few months old. I thought that the sand got in my pool from the installers having the hoses connected wrong. Do you think that they could have damaged those laterals during installation? I just don't want to replace them if they aren't broken. Would the filter alone pick up the sand from the bottom of the pool? I never thought that it is new sand collecting at the bottom of the pool. I just thought that while vacuuming I just kicked up some of the existing sand, and that it would all be gone if I keep vacuuming.

Stuman~Thanks!!!!

 

[Stuman]

If it eventually goes away, you will be ok. But if sand is collecting at the bottom of the pool beneath the return next year too, then you've definitely got cracked laterals. It is possible to crack them during installation if you aren't careful while dumping in the new sand, but hooking up the hoses wrong shouldn't have hurt them.

 

[Helen]

Thanks so much Stuman!!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna keep my eye on it.

 

[Palmetto Pimp]

Thanks for the input...helpful people here as always....ill have to take my filter to pool store it sounds like...

 

[Stuman]

Sorry I meant take the model number to the pool store, not the filter! It'll weigh 200 + pounds, but if you want to take it...

Good luck...

Remeber, if you have any questions, lay 'em on us MJ'ers first!

Stuman

 

[RAYMOND]

can you swim

 

[Palmetto Pimp]

Ok barely any water is coming out of my return now..thus vacuum is barely working

I really wish I knew the prob....intake basket is kept clean and so is filter basket...seems like problem is getting worse and worse

i also just backwashed and that did not improve it at all

any thoughts?? i tried turning off and on a couple times....didnt reallyhelp

 

[Stuman]

Try this...

Try this...

What is your pressure gauge reading when the return is weak?

Put your filter in the "Recirculate" position. This bypasses the filter and pumps the water right back in the pool. If the return pressure is back to normal, there is an obstruction inside the filter, most likely, cloged laterals.

But, if the return pressure is still too low in the recirculate position, you most likely have a cloged impeller. To clean the impeller, take the pump basket out and reach your fingers up inside the hole at the bottom that feeds into the pump. You should be able to feel the impeller easily. If there is trash clogging it you will feel it. Try to pull the that crap out! Let me know. (When the pump ejaculates on your hand, you will know your work is complete. :lol: )

Oh, and uhh...BTW...Turn the pump off before you put your hand up in there. Figured I'd get that off my chest first.

Stuman

 

[Palmetto Pimp]

5 PSI stuman...pretty low....dunno if i have a recirculate option....

although today things are working good....i took the lid off the lil basket right before the motor and cleaned out the basket in there(even though wasnt much in there) and now vacuum is cruising around the pool water coming out a lot better......ive done that before and it worked...taking the lid off that lil basket and putting it back on...who the hell knows why