How to Clean a Sand Filter

Here are 12 steps to keeping your sand filter in tip-top condition

1 Backwash the filter for 3-5 minutes to ensure large organic debris is out of the sand.
2 Turn off the pool pump.
If there is a valve in front of the pump, make sure it is closed.
3 Remove the lid and basket of the pump.
4 Empty contents of filter cleaner into pump pot and fill to top with water if needed.
If pump pot is full, place the filter cleaner bottle into the pump pot as this will remove enough water to allow you to add the Filter Cleaner.
Make sure the filter is set to Filter position
5 Put the pump lid back on and turn the pump on.
The pump will push water and the solution into the filter but it will not pull water from the pool
6 Turn off the pump once the filter cleaner and the clean water have entered the filter (approximately 5 seconds).
7 Let the filter cleaner soak in the filter for 8 – 12 hours.
Open the valve at the front of the pump, if applicable.
If you have a timer on the pool make sure it’s turned off and does not come on during the cleaning process.
8 After the appropriate time has elapsed, turn the filter dial to ‘backwash’ and backwash for 5 minutes.
If the filter is not backwashed for the proper amount of time, there may be cleaner residue left in the sand.
If it gets into the pool water, it can cause balancing and clouding issues.
9 After the filter has been backwashed, turn pump off and switch filter dial to the rinse position.
10 Rinse the filter for 30 seconds.
11 Turn off the pump and switch the filter dial back to the filter position.
12 Turn pump back on.

It is much easier to clean your filter media at the end of the season rather than waiting until the beginning of the next season. If all the dirt and oil has had time to settle over the winter, it can cause calcification resulting in the need to change the media. Cleaning the sand should be done at least 24 hours before closing the pool.

Sand should be changed in the filter every 3-5 years. However, if the sand is not cleaned once per season the sand may need to be changed much more often than that.

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