Tried to deep clean my sand filter first time ever....think I messed up bad :( What are my options

[crocop]

So I was in the process of closing my pool, and figured I have never cleaned my sand filter (deep clean), in the 5 years I owned it, plus god knows what the previous owners did.

I watched a few videos before attempting, and when I went to open the top, the Dang white pipe came out with it, and it feels like the laterals are there...I did not fully pull it out yet.

On the videos I've watched, the white part always stays in...but I had no idea what I was pulling.

Attached is a pic of where I left everything for now...the water is still draining from filter as I type.

What are my options? How to proceed? Will I need to replace the sand?? Thanks!

 

[Eauclaire]

To reseat and centre the pipe, you will have to remove most of the sand. You can use a small pail or yogurt container and scoop it out. Some people use shop vacs, but I have never. Your filter is in a pool shed, how were you going to catch the overflow while deep cleaning?

 

[Mike1162]

My guess is you'll have to get all the sand out in order to get the laterals back down to the bottom. Where's the level of sand from the top of the filter?

 

[crocop]

Also, now

To reseat and centre the pipe, you will have to remove most of the sand. You can use a small pail or yogurt container and scoop it out. Some people use shop vacs, but I have never. Your filter is in a pool shed, how were you going to catch the overflow while deep cleaning?

I was trying to take it apart in the shed....and then move it out once I took the multi port off.

Question is now, how do I get the white pipe disconnected from the multiport? Its really "sealed" in there...

 

[crocop]

My guess is you'll have to get all the sand out in order to get the laterals back down to the bottom. Where's the level of sand from the top of the filter?

Like maybe 1 foot...here are some more pics of where I am at.

Still not sure how to disconnect the white pipe from the multi port....do I need to take the 6 screws off the top off?

 

[Texas Splash]

Those center standpipes can be a real bear to remove. Even with no glue, they almost seem to fuse together over time. You might have to pull the whole thing out together, then slowly work on that center pipe and valve. I'll see if I can find a thread or two that discuss it. It's been posted before. I don't recall which tools and/or heat, hot water, etc worked best.

 

[Texas Splash]

Well shoot, this was the only one I could find so far.........

Trying to remove lateral pipe stuck in filter head

Hi all. Trying to remove the remaining 5 or so inches of a broke off lateral standpipe from the filter head. We've had several attempts at pulling and twisting. Also drilled holes to run a bar trough for leverage but the pipe material breaks up around the holes. My worry is I'll break off the...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[JamesW]

The laterals should either unscrew or pivot so that you can remove the whole assembly.

 

[crocop]

Those center standpipes can be a real bear to remove. Even with no glue, they almost seem to fuse together over time. You might have to pull the whole thing out together, then slowly work on that center pipe and valve. I'll see if I can find a thread or two that discuss it. It's been posted before. I don't recall which tools and/or heat, hot water, etc worked best.

Thanks...did what you said and got it off...just kind of shimmied if off (took some muscle)....my question is now...when I remove the sand, re-set the laterals, and then re-fill the sand, will the fact that its hard to shimmy give me issues when I try to connect the multi port to it again? Is there like a lube or something I should use, or just muscle it again?

 

[JamesW]

Deleted.

 

[JamesW]

Edit.

I think that you mean the top part.

I was referring to the bottom.

Make sure that it is clean and that it slips in relatively easily.

 

[crocop]

Edit.

I think that you mean the top part.

I was referring to the bottom.

Make sure that it is clean and that it slips in relatively easily.

Yea just got it off...thanks. Wondering how hard its going to be to get back on tho...

 

[JamesW]

How hard is it to get in and out now?

Make sure that it is clean.

Maybe buff it down with some super fine sandpaper.

Maybe use some spray silicone to polish the standpipe to help it slip in.

 

[Texas Splash]

Wondering how hard its going to be to get back on tho...

I would give the pipe and female port of the MPV a good cleaning. Maybe try a bit of pool silicone lube to see if that helps with reassembly and/or possibly with future removal.

 

[crocop]

I would give the pipe and female port of the MPV a good cleaning. Maybe try a bit of pool silicone lube to see if that helps with reassembly and/or possibly with future removal.

Ok thanks....will do.

And last question...this thing is in my shed...there is no way I can pick it up or move it when full of sand...plus the pump is sort of in the way.

What would be the best way to remove the sand and or filter to do a deep clean (shop vac?), and then can I clean the sand in another bucker or bin..and then shovel it back into the filter in the shed?

 

[Texas Splash]

In your case, unless you have some way to contain water spilling over in the shed, you are almost forced to empty it out completely. Just pull all the sand which will essentially serve as the same purpose as a deep clean. Others have gotten creative with a pan catch basis, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort.

 

[crocop]

In your case, unless you have some way to contain water spilling over in the shed, you are almost forced to empty it out completely. Just pull all the sand which will essentially serve as the same purpose as a deep clean. Others have gotten creative with a pan catch basis, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort.

So if I just pull it all out, using a shop vac, how do I clean the sand? Wouldn't it still need to be cleaned? Should I just fill it with new sand?

 

[Texas Splash]

how do I clean the sand? Wouldn't it still need to be cleaned?

The deep clean serves a couple purposes. It may help to clean the sand a bit, but backwashes "should" do that quite well. A big thing you are accomplishing is to prevent sand compaction and channeling. If left undisturbed for a long time, the sand can get in a rut, develop it's own channels, and not perform efficiently. Simply removing the sand fluffs it up and prevents those kind of things from happening. At the same time you might remove and debris that appeared to be stuck in the sand that backwashing didn't get. Once you put it all back together, you can run a new backwash/rinse and that should also work much better.

 

[Texas Splash]

When you do drop the laterals and everything back in there, be sure to add about 1/3 of water in the vessel before dumping sand to protect the laterals from all that weight.

 

[crocop]

When you do drop the laterals and everything back in there, be sure to add about 1/3 of water in the vessel before dumping sand to protect the laterals from all that weight.

awesome, will attempt this weekend. Thanks for all your help!