Beyond caring for your pool by brushing the sides, netting up debris, cleaning out the leaf catcher and weir baskets and vacuuming on a regular basis, it’s ultimately your pool’s sand filter that works to keep the water clean and sparkling.

Keeping your pool sand filter clean is thus an essential part of pool maintenance. A clean sand filter kept in good working condition will also run longer and more efficiently, saving you time, energy and money in the long term.

Sand filters should be chemically cleaned at least once a year, and especially so if you have encountered any bouts of algae. It may also be time to clean the filter if you start to notice cloudy pool water.

How to Clean a Sand Filter

Don’t let cleaning your sand filter intimidate you and put it off for another day as that will only make the task more difficult when you eventually get around to doing it.

Option one for a clean sand filter is to backwash the filter whenever it reaches 10 psi over the normal operating level. Option two is to clean the sand filter chemically at least once a year.

Clean Sand Filter Supplies

●      Backwash hose connected to the pump

●      Liquid Sand Filter Cleaner

●      Pump Owner’s manual, just in case

Cleaning Process

1. Remove debris in the sand by backwashing the filter for 3 to 5 minutes
2. Turn off the pump and set the valve to “Filter”
3. Remove the pump pot’s strainer lid to expose the basket.
4. Pour the sand filter cleaner liquid directly into the strainer basket and replace and secure the lid.
5. Turn the pump on for approximately 15 seconds to allow the cleaner to move from the pump to the sand filter.
6. Turn off the pump and leave the cleaner to do its work overnight. Give it a minimum of 8 hours. 12 would be better.
7. Backwash the filter for 5 minutes. This is to remove debris dislodged by the filter cleaner. Do not miss out on this step as if sand filter cleaner gets into the pool water it may make it cloudy and cause water balancing issues.
8. Switch off the pump and turn the valve to the “rinse” setting. Let it run for about 30 seconds.
9. Turn the pump off and set the valve to the “filter” setting. Allow the pump to run as normal.

Pool Spa knows their stuff. Chat to one of their friendly experts today about how to clean sand filters. And should you need a new sand filter if yours is not performing as intended or you’d like to enquire about changing your existing filtration system, visit www.poolspa.co.za