Re: Pool Sand problem

Is the pool supplied by well water with no city or county water supply going to the pool?

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I have city water...what does that have to do with sand returning into the pool from the filter? This wasn't much help....

Ma'am it was an info request. Something to obtain needed information to supply a correct answer. And it would have been relevant had you been on a well vs. City or County Water.

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Edited by 4ren6 on June 13 2006 at 3:25pm

Thank you for your time.........

Are the lines to the Filter from the pool underground or exposed. Have these lines been the same since the installation of the pool and have they remained in the same location since the installation of the pool. How much sand--a quarter cup, half cup, or are we taking about a huge volume on the amount of sand. Does the filter have problems priming to start on initial start ups after emptying the filter of water. I can better ascertain an answer with these questions answered.

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The lines are underground, except where they connect to the filter of course. Same location, never changed anything. The pool did fine for the first few years. Let's say the amount is at least two or three cups a day. It does cover the complete bottom in spots, not like a beach or anything. I turn the pool off at night and can see what was left during the daily operation. I don't vacuum every day, though I should to get the sand out....but it gets tire some. I have never had a problem starting the pool in the spring or any other time...I prime with a water hose first...no air shows in the glass top on the pump either...seems to run smoothly. Not noisy at all.

Ok. With this amount of sand coming into and being retained in the pool would indicate that the underground line has over time cracked and is drawing sand into the returning water source for the pool.

Your comment of:

The pool did fine for the first few years.

This would indicate that very possibly the initial installation went wrong. This is not as uncommon as you may think. It just takes a small shift in the ground to crack the line and cause this. I have seen it occur frequently here in Florida.

I checked the Hayward filter system and they appear to be of high quality.

It just appears that the above scenario is going to be the problem. These filters will only filter so much out until the remainder overflows back to the pool.

Ruling out other source's of sand entering the pool such as blowing wind driven sand, then this could be the only cause.

A test could be done to decide this. Clear pool of all sand. Clean out the filter system completely and leave filter out. Run your system for about 10 mins and check to see if a quantity of sand is back in the filtration system. If this is the case then you have a crack sucking sand in from underground. The pool itself could have an unknown leak or crack in it allowing the sand to enter into the pool and then the filtration system. It can only be either of these problems.

I would suggest a complete check of your pool for this cause. It may require the emptying of the pool itself to examine for cracks or cracked liners. If it is a underground pipe that is cracked this will be much harder to locate and repair short of digging the line up and replacing it.

I hope this has helped you somewhat.

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I just had the liner replaced year before last, this problem was with me before the new liner was installed, so don't think this is the cause. I had the installer check everything at this time. Also, all my pipes are under the concrete. We have clay ground here...no sand at all...this isn't clay in the pool, it's filter sand. I'm not saying one of your solutions isn't it, just hard to believe it could be....no commercial pool person has been able to solve my problem...I will ask them about this and get back with you soon....Thank you

That will be fine. I do still believe this to be the problem. Especially if there are no other means of sand in the amounts described coming into the pool itself. Often times during the installation fill dirt is used. The pipes under concrete may have non clay fill. The replaced liner could also have a hole in it.

Also, bear in mind that chlorine will in itself wash and bleach clay to a almost white sand. This technique is used often in sand pits to provide what is called "washed sand". Most any colored sand can have this done to it.

Feel free to re-open and or contact me on this.

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It's not white sand, it's the beige color of the filter sand. I know this because of just having put in the new filter....still, I'm open to your suggestion and will consider it and will get back with you soon.......Thank you again

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