This year when we opened up our pool, we discovered that a critter of some kind chewed on our sand filter drain cap over the winter. It couldn't be fixed so we ended up having to get a brand new sand filter which cost over $1000. Our pool is going to be winterized tomorrow and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me on how to prevent this from happening again. My pool pro suggested that holes could be drilled into a replacement drain cap so water can drain out but a critter won't chew on it. Does this sound like it would work or could the cap trap some water in there that could potentially freeze and damage the sand filter? Does anyone have any other suggestions on what could be done to prevent another critter from chewing on the drain cap again? We back to a field so we have a lot of critters around here that like to chew on things. I will attach a picture of the damage that was done last year so you will know what I'm talking about.
preventing critters from chewing on sand filter drain pipe after closing
- Thread starter ba67
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,504
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Can you put some type of metal box around the area for the winter to keep critters away from it?
Or put a metal fence around the area.
Or put a metal fence around the area.
+1. Cage it up with fine mesh chicken wire (1/4 inch ?) Anything that can still get in really can't do any harm.
Maybe get a brass threaded coupling to screw onto the threads to protect the thread.
I think that a NPT or NPSM thread should work.
Get a 1" pvc threaded fitting to try on for size and then get the brass fitting once you know the size.
Don't damage the threads.
Just screw it on until snug, but not tight.
Below says that it is a 1" fitting with 11.5 threads per inch, which is standard NPT.
Maybe something like this?
SharkBite 1-in PEX x 1-in NPSM Brass Female Swivel Adapter
If you use just the brass threaded part, that should protect the threads.
I think that a NPT or NPSM thread should work.
Get a 1" pvc threaded fitting to try on for size and then get the brass fitting once you know the size.
Don't damage the threads.
Just screw it on until snug, but not tight.
Below says that it is a 1" fitting with 11.5 threads per inch, which is standard NPT.
Maybe something like this?
SharkBite 1-in PEX x 1-in NPSM Brass Female Swivel Adapter
If you use just the brass threaded part, that should protect the threads.
Apollo 1 in. Brass PEX-B Barb x 1 in. NPSM Swivel Manifold Inlet Adapter APXNPSM1S - The Home Depot
The 1 in. Brass PEX Barb x 1 in. NPSM Swivel Manifold Inlet Adapter by Apollo is a female swivel adapter with nominal straight threads. It is not a standard female adapter. It is designed for special applications involving nominal straight pipe threads. The most common use is to increase the...
www.homedepot.com
Last edited:
Thanks for taking the time to post this suggestion and picture. I couldn't find any brass couplings like these at my local Home Depot or Lowe's but I found a hard plastic threaded cap with a hole in the middle that came off of an old gas can that looks just like it. It screwed into my sand filter drain pipe perfectly so it should protect the threads and it allows water to still drain out since there is a large hole in the middle. I think a brass coupling would provide more protection since a critter is less likely to chew on brass than plastic so I'm planning on ordering one to see if it will fit on my sand filter drain pipe.Maybe get a brass threaded coupling to screw onto the threads to protect the thread.
I think that a NPT or NPSM thread should work.
Get a 1" pvc threaded fitting to try on for size and then get the brass fitting once you know the size.
Don't damage the threads.
Just screw it on until snug, but not tight.
Below says that it is a 1" fitting with 11.5 threads per inch, which is standard NPT.
Maybe something like this?
SharkBite 1-in PEX x 1-in NPSM Brass Female Swivel Adapter
View attachment 458016
View attachment 458019
If you use just the brass threaded part, that should protect the threads.
Apollo 1 in. Brass PEX-B Barb x 1 in. NPSM Swivel Manifold Inlet Adapter APXNPSM1S - The Home Depot
The 1 in. Brass PEX Barb x 1 in. NPSM Swivel Manifold Inlet Adapter by Apollo is a female swivel adapter with nominal straight threads. It is not a standard female adapter. It is designed for special applications involving nominal straight pipe threads. The most common use is to increase the...www.homedepot.com
View attachment 458036