Replace sand filter sand every 5 years — not every season.

Rarely. If you maintain it right, the sand in a pool filter lasts 5 to 7 years — sometimes longer.

The sand doesn’t “wear out” like a cartridge. It just gets clogged with oils and minerals over time. Backwashing clears most of it, but eventually the channeling gets bad and filtration drops off. That’s when you swap it.

Signs it’s time: pressure stays high after backwashing, water looks cloudy even though you’re running the filter, or you notice sand in the pool (cracked laterals, not old sand).

Don’t bother replacing it annually. That’s a waste of money and a dusty afternoon. You’ll know when it’s done.