How can I remove air in filter if I open the lid to take a look at the sand ?

[cadena]

Hi everyone,

I would like to open up the filter to take a look at the sand and see if its loosened or clumped together. If I remove the lid, should I remove the water to check the state of the sand ? Also how do I remove the air that will get in the filter once the lid is opened ? Once I close the lid, should I turn on the pump and unscrew the top screw a bit until water dropplets come flowing out of the screw ? I would appreciate a lot your help.

 

[Texas Splash]

Normally it goes like this:
1. Pump OFF and close any valves before and after the pump to stop water flow to the equipment pad.
2. If there is an air relief valve at the top of the filter, you can open it to let air out. Not all sand filters have them though.
3. There should be a drain plug at the bottom to let water out.
4. Many sand filters are accessed at the top under the multiport valve. But some filters are constructed differently. You might need to post a pic of your filter if the multiport valve is not at the top.
5. Once you are able to open the filter, you do the work required. We have an article on how to deep clean the sand if you need it.
6. Once work is completed, close the filter; lube any O-ring with pool silicone lube as required.
7. Make sure the drain plug is also closed.
8. Open any valves closed earlier before and after the pump to let water back to the equipment pad.
9. Turn on the pump and monitor for leaks. If you have an air relief at the top, let the air out. If not air relief valve, don't worry about it.

Hope that helps.

 

[Texas Splash]

Here you go, just in case.

Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[cadena]

Hi everyone,

I would like to take a look at the sand in my filter to see that everything is running ok and there are no chunks. Everywhere I've read online they say that sand should be changed as soon as you see sand chunks (tunnelling). However, the "Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter" sticky thread has a link (My sand is "channeled" how to fix it?) to another post which says that if chunks are encountered a hose should be used to dissolve the block back into loose sand. I would like to ask you how effective this method is and if it's effective, then when does one have to change the sand in the filter ?

Another thing I'd like to ask from "Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter" sticky thread is that the dirt in the filter can be removed by placing the hose at the bottom of the filter and waiting until the water with the dirt starts overflowing. However, by doing this, wouldn't the sand overflow as well ? If you start loosing sand in this way, then how effective is this method ?

I'm certain that when the method must be effective when it's in a sticky thread, after all I'm just a newbie, but I just don't undertand how good is it and that is why I am asking you to help me clear my doubts. I would really appreciate your help.

 

[cadena]

Normally it goes like this:
1. Pump OFF and close any valves before and after the pump to stop water flow to the equipment pad.
2. If there is an air relief valve at the top of the filter, you can open it to let air out. Not all sand filters have them though.
3. There should be a drain plug at the bottom to let water out.
4. Many sand filters are accessed at the top under the multiport valve. But some filters are constructed differently. You might need to post a pic of your filter if the multiport valve is not at the top.
5. Once you are able to open the filter, you do the work required. We have an article on how to deep clean the sand if you need it.
6. Once work is completed, close the filter; lube any O-ring with pool silicone lube as required.
7. Make sure the drain plug is also closed.
8. Open any valves closed earlier before and after the pump to let water back to the equipment pad.
9. Turn on the pump and monitor for leaks. If you have an air relief at the top, let the air out. If not air relief valve, don't worry about it.

Hope that helps.

Hi @Texas Splash , thanks a lot for your reply. I have attached a picture of my filter model. However, should I drain the water from the filter is that neccesary ? I'm worried the collectors at the bottom of the filter could get damaged.

P.S. Would you mind to help me clear my doubts about the deep cleaning process I have asked about in my post "To remove chunks of sand, is it better to use a hose or change the sand ?" at To remove sand chunks, is it better to use a hose or to change the sand ?

 

[Texas Splash]

So you have a side-mount valve. That's fine. You access teh filter from teh top by removing those nuts/bolts. It is fine to open the drain valve at the bottom. It lets water out when people who live in cold climates want to prevent freezing in teh filter. The laterals (inside at the bottom) will be fine. The sand is already all around those laterals. To deep clean we use a garden hose, but your equipment seems to be in a room or something. Is there a way for water to spill out and drain out of that confined area?

Also, I'm gong to combine your other thread with this one so we keep everything together. It will be easier that way.

 

[morzh]

For what it's worth, I had above-ground pool before, with a Hayward sand filter. I never bothered with all the intricacies, and the pump would simply push water after I would close the filter if I had to open it.
To make it even easier you could put it on bypass, this will make it easier for the pump too expel the air, and once it is bubble-free, you could switch the filter to filtration.

 

[cadena]

So you have a side-mount valve. That's fine. You access teh filter from teh top by removing those nuts/bolts. It is fine to open the drain valve at the bottom. It lets water out when people who live in cold climates want to prevent freezing in teh filter. The laterals (inside at the bottom) will be fine. The sand is already all around those laterals. To deep clean we use a garden hose, but your equipment seems to be in a room or something. Is there a way for water to spill out and drain out of that confined area?

Also, I'm gong to combine your other thread with this one so we keep everything together. It will be easier that way.

@Texas Splash then to do Deep Clean, do I have to remove all the water and wait until the sand dries out, add a hose and wait for water to overflow ? (can I do a deep clean without having to remove water from the filter ?) Also what happens to the sand during Deep Clean ? It seems a lot will be wasted by letting the water overflow through the lid. And also, if Deep Clean is effective, when does one have to change the sand in the filter ?

 

[cadena]

For what it's worth, I had above-ground pool before, with a Hayward sand filter. I never bothered with all the intricacies, and the pump would simply push water after I would close the filter if I had to open it.
To make it even easier you could put it on bypass, this will make it easier for the pump too expel the air, and once it is bubble-free, you could switch the filter to filtration.

Hi @morzh thanks a lot for your answer. So basically, you open the lid, close it again and then turn on the pump as normal to remove the air in the filter, right ? Also how can bypass (or circulation) expel the air in the filter if the water cannot go inside due to the selector valve preventing the water from doing so ?

 

[morzh]

Bypass will allow the pump (in case the water receded as the result of the filter opening) have less resistance when restoring circulation. It of course does not expel air, it simply makes it easier for the pump to self-prime and restore the flow.
I am talking about Hayward one I used to have.
I think what I mean is called "Recirculate".
Once the water flow is restored, if you switch the filter to "filtration" it eventually should simply let the air out.
Usually the pumps are capable of this.

 

[Texas Splash]

to do Deep Clean, do I have to remove all the water and wait until the sand dries out, add a hose and wait for water to overflow ? (can I do a deep clean without having to remove water from the filter ?) Also what happens to the sand during Deep Clean ? It seems a lot will be wasted by letting the water overflow through the lid. And also, if Deep Clean is effective, when does one have to change the sand in the filter ?

No, you don't have to drain the filter or remove existing water. You "gently" insert a garden hose down into the bottom of the filter being careful not to damage the laterals in the bottom. By pushing water to the bottom, it helps to lift debris and compacted sand upwards. Take your time as noted in the link provided above and the water will slowly rise and overflow. Sand should not get washed out as it is slightly heavier and should settle. For sand, as long as no bad pool products like flocculants or clarifiers have been added, sand should last a lifetime. Sand doesn't wear out or just go bad from water and algae.

 

[cadena]

No, you don't have to drain the filter or remove existing water. You "gently" insert a garden hose down into the bottom of the filter being careful not to damage the laterals in the bottom. By pushing water to the bottom, it helps to lift debris and compacted sand upwards. Take your time as noted in the link provided above and the water will slowly rise and overflow. Sand should not get washed out as it is slightly heavier and should settle. For sand, as long as no bad pool products like flocculants or clarifiers have been added, sand should last a lifetime. Sand doesn't wear out or just go bad from water and algae.

Thank you very much @Texas Splash. The issue I have is that I have used flocculants for a few years now (always with the pump off or in Recirculation mode) but strangely enough I noticed last month that in Recirculation mode, water seems to get into the filter because the manometer rises to about 0.7 bar. I tried looking at the joints in the selector valve but they all seemed fine (and air wasn't going into the filter because I tried unscrewing a bit the air relief until water dropplets came out but the manometer wouldn't go down). Therefore, I'm not sure if some flocculant could have mixed with the sand. Is there a way to verify this ?

 

[Texas Splash]

Therefore, I'm not sure if some flocculant could have mixed with the sand. Is there a way to verify this ?

The most common way we can assume floc or clarifiers got to the sand is when the sand looks sticky or has lumps of sand that seem to be gummed-up together. It has an unusual texture. If you vacuumed to WASTE the floc should've missed the filter unless there was residual floc product still in the water after the backwash. That's always a potential issue. Sand should be relatively pure, soft, and able to sift materials relatively easy. Clean sand can become channeled and compacted which is why the deep clean works so well. But if the sand is fused together from floc, changing the sand may be your best course of action.