- 1). Locate the manufacturer's label on the filter system canister to see how much sand is required. #20 silica sand is the industry standard, with grain sizes ranging from 0.35 mm to 0.55 mm. Grain size matters because the system has slotted fingers in the base of the canister designed to prevent those sized items from entering the pool. A huge problem awaits pool owners who use play sand in their filters, because the grain size slips right past the slots and ends its journey on the bottom of the pool.
- 2). Turn off the filter system. Screw appropriately sized plastic threaded plugs into the inside base of your skimmer and in the return inlet fitting. This will restrict all water flow while you change the sand. You will have to remove the eyeball fitting that is in the return by holding the outer locking ring and gently turning the fitting.
- 3). Find the filter valve head, which sits atop the filter canister. Unscrew all top screws around the perimeter of the valve head, marking the top and bottom sections with a piece of tape. You must replace it exactly as it came off or risk compartmental shifting within, which can lead to sand in the pool.
- 4). Carefully remove the entire valve head to expose the sand. Using a scoop or your hands, remove the sand for disposal. Remember, at the base of the centered tube is where the slotted fingers are. They resemble the spokes of a wheel. Damage to any finger means replacement before moving on, or the sand will go through the hole in the finger and enter the pool. Remove all of the sand from inside of the canister. Each of the fingers is on a pivot. Fold them up and remove the center tube. If they do not fold, then unscrew each of them and remove the center tube.
- 5). Clean the canister with water and a scrub brush if necessary. Do not use soap. Replace the center tube and unfold or screw in all of the fingers. Center it within the canister. Temporarily cover the top of the tube with the plastic insert that came with the system designed for use when pouring sand. Otherwise, place your hand or tin foil over the top of the center tube to prevent any sand from going into it.
- 6). Scoop the new sand slowly into the canister using your hand as a buffer between the sand and the fingers below. Dumping a 50 lb. bag of sand in with no protection may break one of the fingers. Add the recommended amount of sand and no more.
- 7). Remove the covering on top of the center tube and replace the valve head just as it came off. Make sure that the section of tube attached to the underside of the valve head actually goes into the center tube completely.
- 8). Replace the screws, remove the plastic plugs from the skimmer and return the inlet fitting. Replace the eyeball fitting in the return. Place the valve to the filter position and turn the system on. You have now changed the sand in your filter.
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