Last summer I started getting trace amounts of sand in my pool, so I took the valve off the top of the filter to look around. I immediately saw that the stand pipe going up into the valve has no o-ring seal. Sand and other stuff had started abrading and seeping its way the wrong way back into the pool. Apparently there has never been a seal, the pipe just slides about 3 inches into the base of the valve. I can't use pipe cement obviously since the valve has to come off from time to time. I'd like to repair it of course, but since its over 12 years old, maybe its time for a replacement.

As far as I know, the only considerations are filtering capacity and deciding on sand or DE filtration. I understand DE is more expensive to maintain, but it filters more efficiently. Has anyone made the switch and noticed a difference?

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma