Hello, my name is Jack and I've had my pool for about 15-20 years now. It has undergone a lot of maintenance under the years. The current sand filter I have in place was bought around 5 years ago locally. It has worked fine for the past years, occasionally refilling it with sand and whatnot.
However last month when I planned to reopen the pool after winter, I noticed that the drain cap - located at the bottom of the sand filter container - had shattered completely. As far as I know I have no spare-parts and definitely no spare drain cap at home.
Thus, my problem: where do I find a spare drain cap? I have attempted some DIY fixing and I also visited the local pool shop and hardware stores. None of which had the right dimensions for the cap.
From my measurements (which aren't that precise) the diameter of the drain cap is approximately 1,95 inches (~50mm) and upon inspecting the sand filter I can't find any branding whatsoever aside from an instructions label (attached to this post).
I would very much appreciate any help in this matter, the optimal solution would be to find a cap with the exact dimensions or find an official replacement part from the manufactuer of the filter. However, any DIY solutions would also be appreciated. Note that the seal of the cap needs to be perfect in order to guarantee a leak-free filter.
Thank you in advance. Best regards, Jack.
Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
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Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Hi Jack,
Any chance of another photo of the whole filter, I recognise label but just can't remember at the moment.
I think it may be an old Lacron filter.
Any chance of another photo of the whole filter, I recognise label but just can't remember at the moment.
I think it may be an old Lacron filter.
Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Edit: The drain cap is ~1.73 inches (44mm). Here's an image of it:
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- Pool Industry Leader
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Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Hmm, the multi port valve mount looks like a Davey filter, they were part lacron bobin wound filters. Can you measure the outside diameter of the male thread on the filter?
Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
When you say "male thread" do you mean the drain cap itself or the drain hole at the bottom of the filter itself? If you refer to the latter then the outside diameter is 44mm (~1.73 inches).
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- Pool Industry Leader
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- My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
- Location: UK
Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
The cap has an internal thread (female) the part it screws onto is a male thread is the outside diameter of the thread 44mm?
Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Yes, correct. The outside diameter of the male thread is 44mm.
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- Pool Industry Leader
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- Location: UK
Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Ok that sounds like a 1 1/2" BSP, possibly NPT in America, you should be able to find a similar cap in a plumbers store at a fraction of the price of a pool store as a standard plumbing item.
Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Alright, I would like to thank you Teapot for you expertise and help in this matter. It has truly been appreciated. By the time I saw your reply I had however found an alternate solution, and a rather good one at that.
I managed to find a so-called "expandable boat-plug," used to seal holes on boats. I took the inner diameter of the drain hole (35mm) and managed to find a plug with the exact diameter of that. From there I pushed the plug into the hole and then enganged the expandor on the plug.
This works as a perfect seal and I will continue to use it until - and if - it fails. Again, thank you Teapot for the expertise. Best regards, Jack.
I managed to find a so-called "expandable boat-plug," used to seal holes on boats. I took the inner diameter of the drain hole (35mm) and managed to find a plug with the exact diameter of that. From there I pushed the plug into the hole and then enganged the expandor on the plug.
This works as a perfect seal and I will continue to use it until - and if - it fails. Again, thank you Teapot for the expertise. Best regards, Jack.
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- Pool Industry Leader
- Posts: 1337
- Joined: Tue 17 Oct, 2017 10:52
- My Pool: 12 x 24 (45m3) liner pool, Triton TR60 filter with AFM glass media (Activate) and variable speed pump running 0.08HP
- Location: UK
Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Hi jack, good you found a solution, check the chemical resistance of the rubber used with the manufacturer, Chlorine is quite good at Rotting out some, others like Fernco connectors are very chemical resistant.
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Re: Drain Cap for an unknown Top Mount Sand Filter
Jackiboy wrote:Alright, I would like to thank you Teapot for you expertise and help in this matter. It has truly been appreciated. By the time I saw your reply I had however found an alternate solution, and a rather good one at that.
I managed to find a so-called "expandable boat-plug," used to seal holes on boats. I took the inner diameter of the drain hole (35mm) and managed to find a plug with the exact diameter of that. From there I pushed the plug into the hole and then enganged the expandor on the plug.
This works as a perfect seal and I will continue to use it until - and if - it fails. Again, thank you Teapot for the expertise. Best regards, Jack.
I would be inclined to find the cap as those bungs aren't a permanent solution. Yes they work well but you don't know when they will let go and drain your pool and ruin your pump
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