The sand in your pool filter needs replacing every three to five years, sometimes even longer if your pool remains in relatively good condition when it's open. If you run your pool filter often all year and have a heavy bather load, the sand may need replacing sooner than three years.
It is categorized as a Health Hazard Carcinogen Category 1A, because it contains crystalline silica (quartz).
Crystalline silica (quartz) is not flammable, combustible or explosive. Spills: Use dustless methods (vacuum) and place into closable container for disposal, or flush with water.
Pool filter sand should not be reused because the roughness of the particles that is used to catch unwanted bacteria, contaminates, and debris will be too worn down to be effective. Reused pool filter sand can result in severe contamination of your pool and is not worth the risk.
Because play sand, also known as sandbox sand, is less expensive than pool sand, pool owners are often tempted to try using it in the pool filter. Play sand and pool sand are not the same, however, and are not interchangeable.
On average, sand should be replaced every 3-5 years. This may be longer if the pool stays clear, or shorter, if the filter runs all the time. The jagged edges of the sand wear down and become smooth as the sand ages.
Pool filters do explode and can cause damage to property and serious injury or even death. Since 1982, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recorded at least 23 incidents of pool filter explosions.
Good quality filter sand is ground to a size of . 45 to . 55 mm in diameter which makes the edges very sharp which filters all of the dirt and particles.
If you've noticed that the backwashing cycles have become shorter, then you should check to see if the sand filter is dirty or greasy. If the filter is dirty or greasy, then don't be surprised if it takes on the appearance of sandy lard. When this happens, the water doesn't flow through the sand filter media.
Ask for enough to create at least a 2-inch thick layer of sand across the entire area of your pool site, though if you end up with 6-inches or more this is totally fine. Once it's been delivered, use a rake to spread the sand evenly, then give everything a good water, and leave it to dry.
You can get electrocuted in a swimming pool as a result of: (1) faulty electrical wiring to pool equipment such as underwater lights, pumps, filters and vacuums; (2) no GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupters) protections for outlets and circuits; and (3) electrical appliances and extension cords entering the water.
A filter tank can trap or accumulate air. The pump discharge compresses any entrapped air and pressurizes the filter. This creates a risk of explosion or “sudden separation” of filter parts. Filter manufacturers have known about the explosion risk since at least the early 1970's.
Even a closed valve can cause a pool pump to catch on fire, which is a rare problem compared to electrical failures in pool pumps.
Replacement sand for your sand filter typically costs around $25 per 50-pound bag, and your filter may require 100 to 600 pounds or more depending on the size and model. More than likely, you'll need about 350 pounds of sand for an average-sized inground pool filter.
Changing the pool filter sand is a bit of a pain, especially in the back region, but a bag of pool filter sand costs around R90 at your local Builders Warehouse, and you should only need two bags for most pool filters.
The most likely cause of sand at the bottom of your pool is that it simply fell in the water. This can happen even if you don't have sand around your pool. Wind can pick up sand particles and carry it long distances. So the wind may have dropped some sand in your pool on the way through the neighborhood.
The percentage of silica will depend on where the sand came from and how it has been treated. There are also play sands which are silica free, so they contain other minerals such as feldspar instead. Pool filter sand is exclusively made up of silica. Silica is very effective at removing impurities from pool water.
Masonry Sand
This type of sand is too fine for your pool filter. It will most likely lead to increased pressure in your pump, and you may find a lot of this type of sand blowing into your pool. Over time this type of sand can overheat your pump. It's far too dusty and contains silica, so you cannot use it in sandboxes.
For portable pools like the Intex Easy Set Pools, sand is not recommended. Although it's easy to put down and level and it may seem like an ideal material, it can easily erode and get partially washed away in heavy rain.