Remove hoses, cover, and filter from filter pump and unplug it from the electrical outlet.

Turn the filter over and loosen 8 screws using a Phillips screwdriver. Remove black motor from the gray housing.

Twist the white collar and lift it off.

Clean off any gunk you find. Then lift the next white piece straight up.

With a needle nose pliers, pull out hair and gunk. Then use the pliers to grip one blade of the impeller & pull straight up. It's held in by a powerful magnet; give a little tug & it will come out.

Don't lose the small, black washer!

Rinse or pick out any sand and gunk you see.

Invert the motor and partially submerge it in a bucket of water. Do not cover the motor completely. Run the pump to clear sand. Watch for splashing! And to be safe just hold a dry part of the cord.

If you got the pump to run, reassemble it in reverse order and enjoy your pool! If not, look on Craigslist for someone selling a leaky pool with a good pump. :)

How to fix an intex pool filter pump jammed with sand

The filter pump for my Intex 12x30' pool jammed with sand, hair, and nasty stuff and stopped running. A new pump cost nearly the amount I paid for the whole pool! Here's what I did to fix it instead.