Save the sand for the beach
Sand in a pool is most often caused by a broken sand filter, where cracked laterals allow filter sand to leak back into your pool water.
Replacing a pool filter costs $250 to $2,000, with sand filters ranging from $300 to $1,200 and cartridge filters from $200 to $1,600.
Mustard algae can look like sand in your pool, creating yellow clouds when you brush it, and requires scrubbing, vacuuming, and triple-shocking to remove.
Hiring a local pool repair professional takes the hassle out of filter repairs and algae treatment, keeping your pool clear without the DIY guesswork.
Your swimming pool should be full of sparkling, crystal-clear water—not sand. If you’re unlucky enough to find sand in your pool, you’re probably curious to find out how it got there. So, why is there sand in your pool? As it turns out, there are a few common causes, including a broken sand filter. Let’s dive in.
The most common cause of sand in a pool is a faulty sand filter, which contains sand to remove debris and dirt from your pool water. If one of the filter's interior components breaks, sand can leak into your pool.
If sand is seeping out of your sand filter, it’s likely due to a cracked lateral. These parts can break if the filter moves the wrong way, or they can simply wear down over time. In either case, you’ll need to replace the broken lateral (or laterals) to stop sand from coming out of your filter. Here’s how:
Turn off the power to your pool pump.
Pull out the drain plug to get rid of any extra water in the filter.
Remove the multiport valve at the top of the filter. Be gentle to avoid cracking the laterals inside the filter.
Cover the opening of the standpipe with duct tape so sand doesn’t get inside.
Suck out the old sand with a shop vac.
Rinse the inside of the filter with a garden hose.
Replace the broken lateral.
Replace the drain plug and fill the filter halfway full of water.
Refill the filter with sand. If you aren’t sure how much sand your pool filter needs, check your user manual.
Remove the duct tape from the standpipe.
Replace the multiport valve.
Set the valve to “backwash” and turn on the pump.
Backwash the filter for about two minutes.
Once the water runs clear, turn off the pump and switch the valve to “rinse.”
Rinse the filter for about a minute.
Turn off the pump.
Switch the valve to “filter” and turn on the pump for normal operation.
Sometimes, what looks like sand in your pool might not actually be sand at all. Instead, it could be mustard algae, which is often mistaken for sand or pollen. This yellow-colored algae can cling to your pool’s walls and floors as well as pool equipment, toys, and bathing suits.
First, push the algae with a pool brush. If it creates a cloud around the brush, it’s likely mustard algae (and not sand). In that case, you can follow these steps to get rid of mustard algae in your pool:
Scrub all pool surfaces, including walls, floors, and steps. Be sure to use the right brush for your pool liner type.
Set your filter to “waste” and vacuum the pool. If the water level falls more than six inches under the tile line, stop vacuuming and refill the pool with a garden hose.
Wash your bathing suits with bleach.
Create a DIY cleaning solution by combining one tablespoon of bleach with one gallon of water. Use it to clean your pool toys, accessories, and equipment.
Use a pool water test kit to check your pool’s pH and alkalinity. If necessary, adjust the levels.
Brush the pool again.
Triple-shock the pool using three pounds of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Leave the pump and filter running.
For the next several days, brush the pool often. Continue testing the pH and alkalinity levels and adjust them if needed.
After a few days, shock the pool again. Use a regular dose (one pound of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water).
Perform a final test of the water’s chemical balance.
Do you live close to the beach or another sandy stretch of land? If so, the wind could carry sand into your pool, or people might track it in with their feet. The same can happen if you have a sandbox or a playground with sand in your yard.
Use a pool cover to protect your pool when you aren’t using it—especially on windy days. Also, make sure that anyone who swims in your pool hoses off before jumping in.
If you’re trying to save money, you can solve these three common pool problems without a professional’s help. However, hiring a local pool repair pro lets you avoid the hassle of poking around in your pool filter or spending days scrubbing, shocking, and balancing your pool. If you haven’t worked on pools before, you might find that hiring an expert is worth the expense.
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