Sand filter woes

[Tjie77]

Hi all

was vacuuming the pool the other day and the pump started making weird noises. Turned it off then it wouldn’t start again. Just a buzz.
I noticed sand filter media in the basket area of the pump. Went to change the valve setting on the filter and it was full of sand. Pulled it all apart and 3/4 of the sand is missing?!? What the heck is going on here??? I have no idea where the sand has gone. It’s been in there 2 years.
I have a GAME SandPRO 75D pump and filter.
I’m thinking the sand has killed the pump bearing and something could be wrong with the filter valve?

I’m seriously thinking about junking the whole lot and getting a well known brand cartridge filter and pump. The cartridge filter thought come from my pool size - 8500L, and no backwashing.
what do you think?

 

[Tjie77]

I have my eye on a Onga/pentair Pantera PCLII 100 cartridge filter and a 0.75HP Onga Pantera pump....

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I'm sorry, I don't know about those proposed filters. If you have sand going *backwards* from your filter to the filter pump, something is *seriously wrong* here! Did you recently change something??

 

[Tjie77]

I'm sorry, I don't know about those proposed filters. If you have sand going *backwards* from your filter to the filter pump, something is *seriously wrong* here! Did you recently change something??

No, that’s the bizarre thing! Nothing has changed since it was installed 2 years ago.

 

[Texas Splash]

Can you post a pic of your pump/filter set-up? You just started your season correct? Any chance you hooked-up your filter hoses backwards? That might do it.

 

[Tjie77]

Can you post a pic of your pump/filter set-up? You just started your season correct? Any chance you hooked-up your filter hoses backwards? That might do it.

Hoses weren’t disconnected and I’ve had the filter running on and off the last couple of weeks. They are in the same config since installation.

 

[Texas Splash]

Okay, so re-reading your first post, this all happened after vacuuming. It sounds as though you may have a broken or separated lateral that allowed a lot of sand to return to your pool. Then you vacuumed it up which is when you really noticed the extent of the sand missing from the filter. The sand vacuumed would've just gone through the impeller and back up into the filter and not the bearings of the motor itself. The motor (dry end) is separated by a shaft seal (unless it's bad). So your motor should be okay. Now it's a matter of finding out why the sand got out. In that case, you'll have to inspect each lateral, the lower hub assembly, and center stand pipe carefully.

Curious, did you have really cold temps last winter? Was the sand filter drained/prepped for winter?

 

[Tjie77]

I think you’re on the money! Thanks so much I will check the laterals out.
no our winters don’t get to freezing