So I"m getting sand in the pool, I think it started last year, but wasn't too bad. This year I'm getting quite a bit more. Last night I took the filter apart, got the sand out to hopefully find something broke. WRONG. Everything looked fine. When I opened it, the sand did have a nasty, gray looking film on top the sand. It also looked like someone scooped sand out right above where the dischrange port is on the 6 way valve. The sand has never been changed, using the same sand for 6 years. The pump/filter is an older Intex Sand Filter, bought in 2011, SF20110. It doesn't have the laterals in the bottom, just a filter grid at the bottom.
I'm trying to think of everything that could be wrong, last year the 6 way valve was leaking and the spider gasket was messed up, took it apart and fixed it, it was just curled and not sealing. I think I seemed to start getting the sand sometime after I fixed the gasket.
Last night I bought new sand from Lowes, looked just like play sand, but when I looked at the spec, it meet the spec of what I was to use, #20 silica, .45 to .85mm The old sand was bigger. This morning after putting the new sand in, I baskwashed for quite a while to clean and get all the dirt out then rinsed it. While rising, I took a cup to look at the clarity of water and noticed I still had sand. I also noticed that while backwashing, I was getting less and less sand in the little clear tube thing... Sorry, don't know what it's called BUT, when rinsing, I was getting more sand in it... Doesn't make sense.
So, I'm at a loss. We are leaving for vacation next week and don't have time to order parts. In order to keep the sand out, what if I just set the filter to recirculate? The sand thing bothers me, but seems to be the right stuff. What about what looked like the scoop of sand missing under neath the discharge port of the valve?
Looking for suggestions. Thanks.
- - - Updated - - -
I'm trying to upload more pics but can't, guess I've exceeded my limit. But ran across my post on the spider gasket, looks like something might have broke, could this be part of my issue?
6 way valve - HELP
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/4%20Small_zpsli6qtndu.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/5%20Small_zpsk3zgtxr6.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/6%20Small_zpsewaarftl.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/7%20Small_zpsfs81y6gj.jpg
I'm trying to think of everything that could be wrong, last year the 6 way valve was leaking and the spider gasket was messed up, took it apart and fixed it, it was just curled and not sealing. I think I seemed to start getting the sand sometime after I fixed the gasket.
Last night I bought new sand from Lowes, looked just like play sand, but when I looked at the spec, it meet the spec of what I was to use, #20 silica, .45 to .85mm The old sand was bigger. This morning after putting the new sand in, I baskwashed for quite a while to clean and get all the dirt out then rinsed it. While rising, I took a cup to look at the clarity of water and noticed I still had sand. I also noticed that while backwashing, I was getting less and less sand in the little clear tube thing... Sorry, don't know what it's called BUT, when rinsing, I was getting more sand in it... Doesn't make sense.
So, I'm at a loss. We are leaving for vacation next week and don't have time to order parts. In order to keep the sand out, what if I just set the filter to recirculate? The sand thing bothers me, but seems to be the right stuff. What about what looked like the scoop of sand missing under neath the discharge port of the valve?
Looking for suggestions. Thanks.
- - - Updated - - -
I'm trying to upload more pics but can't, guess I've exceeded my limit. But ran across my post on the spider gasket, looks like something might have broke, could this be part of my issue?
6 way valve - HELP
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/4%20Small_zpsli6qtndu.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/5%20Small_zpsk3zgtxr6.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/6%20Small_zpsewaarftl.jpg
http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q369/kkcadman/7%20Small_zpsfs81y6gj.jpg
