I am a new pool owner. We have an 18 x 9 x 4 8 Best way above ground pool. The sand filter pressure is getting low and after doing research it was suggested to change the sand in the filter. I know how to do this but I can’t figure out how to plug the inlet and outlet holes using the black plugs with the pool full of water. Please help!
How to plug Inlet and outlet in order to replace sand in filter?
- Thread starter Intrigued2
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 51,999
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
Whenever you need to do maintenance on the filter or any part of the equipment pad, you'll need to close-off those suction and return ports that allow water to flow "down" below the waterline back to the pad. One method is the use of the plugs/hats you'll see below. They should stay in place once you disconnect the hoses at the pad.
As for changing your sand, that should not be required. When water flow is reduced and the pressure gauge on the filter increases, it simply means it's time to do a backwash. Sand never goes bad unless you added pool store junk like floc or clarifiers that ruin sand. Simply balancing the water with liquid chlorine and muriatic acid does not have any ill effects on sand at all.
Be sure to read and bookmark our Pool Care Basics page for lots of great info in one place.
Whenever you need to do maintenance on the filter or any part of the equipment pad, you'll need to close-off those suction and return ports that allow water to flow "down" below the waterline back to the pad. One method is the use of the plugs/hats you'll see below. They should stay in place once you disconnect the hoses at the pad.As for changing your sand, that should not be required. When water flow is reduced and the pressure gauge on the filter increases, it simply means it's time to do a backwash. Sand never goes bad unless you added pool store junk like floc or clarifiers that ruin sand. Simply balancing the water with liquid chlorine and muriatic acid does not have any ill effects on sand at all.
Be sure to read and bookmark our Pool Care Basics page for lots of great info in one place.
- Jan 4, 2016
- 5,392
- Pool Size
- 44000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
Welcome to TFP. Good to have you here 
It's usually not necessary to change sand in a filter, but occasionally a deep clean is needed. This article has heaps of good info including the deep clean method. Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter
As far as cutting off flow, and if there's no valves that can be closed, you can plug opening with expansion plugs like this, if you cant find the ones recommended by Pat above: https://www.amazon.com/Tondiamo-Rub...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
It's usually not necessary to change sand in a filter, but occasionally a deep clean is needed. This article has heaps of good info including the deep clean method. Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter
As far as cutting off flow, and if there's no valves that can be closed, you can plug opening with expansion plugs like this, if you cant find the ones recommended by Pat above: https://www.amazon.com/Tondiamo-Rub...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==