Sand filter for change to Cartridge

[vantiem5]

Last season I posted about two issues with my filter. First issue is that the filter is discharging sand into the pool through the return lines after backwashing the filter. The second is that I have a small hole in the filter housing just below the head unit. I limped through the remainder of the season last year and closed the pool. Of course, I procrastinated all winter about what to do with my filter. My thought now is to replace the filter entirely. I have this uneasy feeling about coming home some day and finding that the filter housing split and water poured out of the filter all day and I end up with water damage in the basement. If it were just the sand getting into the pool I could fix that with the great recommendations I received last year.

I am all set to move in this direction of replacing the filter but after talking to a neighbor who highly recommends a cartridge type filter, I am second guessing which direction to take. My neighbor replaced his sand filter with a cartridge filter and said he would never go back to a sand filter. I have always used sand filters and am fine with them however if I am going to make a change, now is the time to do so.

I know this is a subject of much debate so I’m asking for your thoughts about which way to go.

Thank you for any help you may be able to provide.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

No debate here... use what works best for you.

Sand works great, but slow and you use the most water when cleaning. You can backwash and drop pool levels easily.

Cartridges work well, especially in areas with water drought problems as they use less water. But you have to take it apart to clean it. If you go cartridge get the BIGGEST you can afford and you'll have to clean it out less often.

DE filters the best but is a pain if you're lazy and get algae at times.

 

[mknauss]

FYI -- the compromised pressure vessel should be immediately taken out of service.

 

[vantiem5]

Finally resolved this dilemma. On 5/26/2022 we replaced our old Hayward Sand Filter with a Hayward Model S224T2 Pro Series High Rate Sand Filter. Happy to report no more sand discharging into the pool through the return line and no more leaking through the filter housing. As mknauss said, "the compromised pressure vessel should be immediately taken out of service" and I couldn't agree more. I think this is a good resolution for 21 year old filter that was replaced. Thanks for your input.