I'm a newbie here. I think this is a great reference site and hopefully I can get some good advice! I have a Hayward S244S sand filter which was working fine last year. This year when I opened the pool and started everything up, I noticed sand on the bottom near the returns. I changed the spider gasket since it was warped and torn, but still had sand. I then took all of the sand out of the filter and inspected the laterals. They were all intact, but the base of the lateral assembly had a hairline crack in it, which looked like it may open up further when there is pressure from the sand and the pump running. I took it to my local pool store and they agreed that is what is causing sand to get in the pool. I replaced the lateral assembly base, and the laterals just to be safe. I put new sand in as well. I'm still getting some sand in the pool (doesn't seem to be as much, but it is still there). Is it possible that there is residual sand in the return lines? I have vacuumed twice since I replaced the parts and I do see sand in the sightglass when I backwash and rinse. I vacuumed to waste tonight just in case it was fine particles making their way through the filter. Any advice would be appreciated as I don't want to pull 300 lbs of wet sand out of the filter again.