16 year old sand filter

[GaryK]

Thanks for your replies. I think I will take your advice and keep the filter. How do I know if the sand needs to be replaced? It's so old, should I just go ahead and replace it? I saw plenty of videos on youtube showing how to vacuum out the sand, doesn't look too hard, as long as you are careful?

[PoolDoc]

Yeah. It's easy to get it out.

Not! 300 pounds of wet sand is a pain to mess with! Plus, on a filter of that age, the chances of cracking a lateral (separate the water from the sand at the bottom of the filter) is very high.

If the filter is keeping the water clear, it's working! Don't fix it!

If you want to test it, you can get some DE filter powder and add a couple of cups to the skimmer. If powder shoots back into the pool, via one of the returns, the filter needs service.

[Watermom]

And, if the white powder does NOT shoot out and your filter is working, you'll see a pretty rapid and significant increase in your filter pressure and will need to backwash the filter.

[PoolDoc]

Gary, your email is bouncing. Send me an alternate address at [email protected], or edit it by going here, while you are logged in: http://pool9.net/edit-email/