Once again we had a battle with a Baker Hydro sand filter leaking from the threaded adaptor at the bulkhead. We get called out for the same filter problem several times a year despite the relative rarity of Baker Hydro filters.
The walls of the adapter are made paper thin to accomodate a sunken o-ring and tend to perish and disintegrate after a few years. Unscrewing the bulkhead collar once or twice is even enough to cause the adapter to start breaking.
Parts are not easily accessible and we tend to get the odd parts custom turned in stainless steel, which will never let us down. We figure the original only lasts a few years anyway so get it repaired once and it’s fixed for good (or at least until the filter dies). The pair of collars we had made for this filter cost us around $30, which is not much more than we would have paid if we had bought original PVC parts and added in the shipping.
We can even recycle the stainless steel parts after the sand filter is laid to rest – a good buffing and they’re ready for the next repair job. The end result? The filter will keep going for a few more years and when the bulkhead adapter breaks, it’s into the filter graveyard and time to replace it with a filter that is more tolerant of generic parts.
We are certainly not fans of Baker Hydro sand filters.
I’m not a fan myself. I still prefer sand filters for their ease of use, though DE is superior in filtration.
I heard that zeosand is the way to go with sand filters. Any ideas?
Interesting post I had no idea that these were causing such a problem, something to look out for in the future.
well this a big issue for old pool owners
I heard that Baker Hydro sand filter are out cause of too many problems. Anybody know for sure?
really very informative content…
Great solutions. We really don’t see to many of these in upstate New York. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Swimming pool sand filter are one of the ways to keep your pool crystal clear and clean. This type of product uses sand as a means to collect and remove debris from a body of water. Sand is contained in a vessel or tank, water is pumped into the top of the tank, and into the internal distributor. This allows the pool water to “rain down” and flow through the media. As the water flows through, dirt and debris are collected and removed from the water. The debris is held behind and the clean water is returned to the swimming pool.
A Swimming pool sand filter which separates backwash contaminates from the backwash water so that the may be discarded separately, for connecting to a standard pool filtration system, having a pump with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a sand filter having a sand filter inlet and a sand filter outlet, and having a pool return and a pool skimmer connected to the pump inlet, comprising: a backwash valve and a backwash filtering system. The backwash filtering system having an inlet and an outlet and a filter element disposed between the inlet and outlet, the outlet connected to the pump inlet. The backwash valve having a normal position and a backwash position. When in the normal position, the backwash valve connects the pump outlet and sand filter inlet, and connects the sand filter outlet and pool return. When in the backwash position, the backwash valve connects the pump outlet and sand filter outlet, and connects the sand filter inlet and backwash filtering system inlet.
I try to only install pentair sand filters. I have never had this problem with a pentair filter. With the exception of one DE filter that split the bulkhead twice. I changed the pump from a 2 HP to a 1 1/2 HP and no more problems.
Great idea, making parts out of stainless steel. That could really get me out of a jam in the future.
can any give me suggestion how can decrease filter cost.
True, stainless steal tanks are a good way to go. Too bad the fiberglass tanks aren’t more reliable. Nice info. thanks for sharing. I’m glad I found your blog post!!
nice post. eagerly waiting for the next update.
Good advice especially for people that have had a pool along time and need to do some maintanence
Can you use metal pipe fittings on these connections? that would solve your problem.
This definitely does not sound like a do it yourself project but one for the knowledgeable pool service technicians and craftsmen.
Can you use brass PEX fittings on these connections? that fix your problem.
this is true
This is another example of why you should hire a professional.
I am new here and I’m not even sure I’m in the right section to ask a question so forgive me if I’m in the wrong thread.
My question is about my pool sand filter. I don’t know the manufacturer since we bought everything used. When we emptied the sand from the filter (300 lbs) so we could move it, there was a small hose about 12 inches long with what appears to be a small screen onat one end. It was laying loosely in the filter and I have no idea what it’s for.
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