Sand Out of Return Jets in NC

[Bryleemom0709]

Moved from HERE

Hi everyone! Just got home from work…and the pool is full of sand I think it’s coming out of the jet things (I’m not sure if the official term). Should I turn the pump and filter off?!? Or just try to vacuum it out?

 

[Texas Splash]

For now, turn the multiport valve to recirculate so you can continue to move water.

 

[Texas Splash]

Sand in the pool basically means there's a problem in the sand filter. This is typically near the bottom under all the sand in a part called the "lateral" or sometimes the center standpipe hub assembly. The laterals connect to the center hub as seen below. Sometimes a lateral cracks or disconnects from the hub assembly. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to empty the sand (you can save and reuse it) and remove the laterals to inspect.

 

[Texas Splash]

Refresh my memory, but we've been so caught-up in your water chemistry, you haven't done anything to the filter lately have you? No maintenance or work at all? Just running the filter on the FILTER setting all this time right?

 

[Texas Splash]

Also, go ahead and post a pic of your filter so I can see how the plumbing is connected to the multiport valve.

 

[Bryleemom0709]

Refresh my memory, but we've been so caught-up in your water chemistry, you haven't done anything to the filter lately have you? No maintenance or work at all? Just running the filter on the FILTER setting all this time right?

Yes. Just running on filter 24 hours a day

 

[Texas Splash]

After you post a pic or two, I'll run you through what to expect next.

 

[Bryleemom0709]

After you post a pic or two, I'll run you through what to expect next.

 

[Bryleemom0709]

I’m not 100% sure if I’m even posting the correct thing?!?

 

[Texas Splash]

Well, the good thing is the installer previously used unions.

 

[Texas Splash]

Put it on recirculate. Press handle down and turn.

 

[Bryleemom0709]

Well, the good thing is the installer previously used unions.

What is a union lol?

 

[Texas Splash]

Once you have the filter on recirculate, water will bypass the inside of the filter so no more sand can get pushed out to the return jets (thingys). Once you do that, I want you to add some chlorine. For now, go ahead and add a full gallon if you have it.

 

[Bryleemom0709]

Put it on recirculate. Press handle down and turn.

Done!

 

[Texas Splash]

What is a union lol?

Those connections on the PVC pipe that look like they twist. See below.

 

[Bryleemom0709]

Once you have the filter on recirculate, water will bypass the inside of the filter so no more sand can get pushed out to the return jets (thingys). Once you do that, I want you to add some chlorine. For now, go ahead and add a full gallon if you have it.

Ok. On it.

 

[Texas Splash]

So let's have a crash course in sand filter management (refer to the filter cut-out I posted above .......

- Sand in the pool near the return jets means sand got through a lateral (or connection) in the lower part of the filter. It happens.
- To get to the laterals, you have to turn off the filter, empty the sand, then pull the center pipe and laterals out to inspect.
- BEFORE doing this DIY project, look at your calendar. You have time with the pump moving water on recirculate.

- If all goes well (knock-knock), you can expect it to take about 30 min or so to disconnect the multiport valve from the top of the filter. To do that, you may need to unscrew the two unions on your PVC plumbing to go to & from the valve. There should be a retaining collar held-in by a screw or bolt at the base of that MPV (multiport valve).

- Once you have teh MPV loose/removed, it's time to remove the sand so you can pull the center pipe and laterals out. That's when you will inspect everything for damage. Look closely, it doesn't take much.

- Now let's say you confirm a lateral (finger) is broken. What next? You can order them from a variety of places as long as you have the right info. We can help. In the meantime, that's wy I had you increase the FC level to avoid algae. In fact, we might have you put the MPV back on the filter and leave it in recirculate (inside of filter empty) just to move water until teh part(s) arrive.

Make sense so far?

 

[Bryleemom0709]

So let's have a crash course in sand filter management (refer to the filter cut-out I posted above .......

- Sand in the pool near the return jets means sand got through a lateral (or connection) in the lower part of the filter. It happens.
- To get to the laterals, you have to turn off the filter, empty the sand, then pull the center pipe and laterals out to inspect.
- BEFORE doing this DIY project, look at your calendar. You have time with the pump moving water on recirculate.

- If all goes well (knock-knock), you can expect it to take about 30 min or so to disconnect the multiport valve from the top of the filter. To do that, you may need to unscrew the two unions on your PVC plumbing to go to & from the valve. There should be a retaining collar held-in by a screw or bolt at the base of that MPV (multiport valve).

- Once you have teh MPV loose/removed, it's time to remove the sand so you can pull the center pipe and laterals out. That's when you will inspect everything for damage. Look closely, it doesn't take much.

- Now let's say you confirm a lateral (finger) is broken. What next? You can order them from a variety of places as long as you have the right info. We can help. In the meantime, that's wy I had you increase the FC level to avoid algae. In fact, we might have you put the MPV back on the filter and leave it in recirculate (inside of filter empty) just to move water until teh part(s) arrive.

Make sense so far?

That makes sense. I can definitely start on that tomorrow since I’m off work. Couple questions.

-When the pool guy came out to “open” (and I say that loosely) he had some kind of silicone or lubricant that he put on the unions I think. Will I need any of that tomorrow if I end up putting it back on and recirculating?
-Should I go ahead and get new sand for the filter? I have no idea when it was replaced last. The lady at the pool store asked me that question while we were there.
-The filter looks pretty deep to me. I’m short. Any suggestions on the best way to get the sand out? A long spoon? Lol

 

[Texas Splash]

- It's always a good idea to have pool lube/silicone on-hand for any O-rings. So I would get some to be safe. If you don't have any, don't let that stop you from disconnecting the unions though.
- Sand never goes bad,..... UNLESS..... someone before you used floc or clarifier and gummed it up. If you don't know (or trust) the history of the sand, you could replace it. Or, just scoop it all out into a wheelbarrow or set it on the ground on a tarp and reuse it.
- Vertically challenged are you? Scoop as much as you can, then maybe use a ShopVac if you have one?

 

[Bryleemom0709]

- It's always a good idea to have pool lube/silicone on-hand for any O-rings. So I would get some to be safe. If you don't have any, don't let that stop you from disconnecting the unions though.
- Sand never goes bad,..... UNLESS..... someone before you used floc or clarifier and gummed it up. If you don't know (or trust) the history of the sand, you could replace it. Or, just scoop it all out into a wheelbarrow or set it on the ground on a tarp and reuse it.
- Vertically challenged are you? Scoop as much as you can, then maybe use a ShopVac if you have one?