My my My my
 
 
 
 
 
 

How to get sand out of portable basketball hoop


How To Get Sand Out of Basketball Hoop Base

Several years ago, my dad got me a portable basketball hoop. We placed it in our backyard and filled the hoop base with dry sand for stability. Growing up, some of my best memories happened in our backyard while playing basketball.

When my parents called me to help them move to a new home recently, we struggled to move the hoop. We couldn’t figure out how to remove sand from the basketball hoop base. Here’s what we found out after some research.

Table of Contents

  • How To Remove Sand From A Portable Basketball Hoop Base
    • Method 1: Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dry sand
      • 1. Ask for help
      • 2. Get a vacuum cleaner
      • 3. Align the suction port to a fill hole
      • 4. Empty the dust cup
    • Method 2: Use a leaf blower to remove dry sand
      • 1. Seek help
      • 2. Get a leaf blower
      • 3. Realign the hoop base
      • 4. Open both fill holes
      • 5. Blow out the sand
    • Method 3: Use water to remove wet sand
      • 1. Find some help
      • 2. Get a high-pressure hose
      • 3. Make a hole at the bottom
      • 4. Reposition the hoop base
      • 5. Drain out the sand
  • Final Words

How To Remove Sand From A Portable Basketball Hoop Base

You can use sand, water, or base gel to fill a portable basketball goal base. To move the basketball hoop, you need to empty the hoop base. While draining water or base gel is easy, removing sand is complex. Depending on the type of sand in the base, here’s how to get sand out of a basketball hoop base.

Method 1: Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dry sand

1. Ask for help

A portable basketball hoop filled with sand weighs about 400 pounds. Since the base is so heavy, ask for assistance from one or two people to handle it.

2. Get a vacuum cleaner

The hoop base’s holes are typically an inch in diameter. The small holes make it difficult to remove the sand, so you need special equipment. Get a vacuum cleaner and a small intake port, preferably 27mm in diameter.

3. Align the suction port to a fill hole

Open the caps of both fill holes, put the vacuum cleaner's suction port on one hole, and power on the cleaner.

4. Empty the dust cup

Wait until the vacuum cleaner’s dust cup is full and then empty it. Repeat till you get all the sand out of the hoop base.

Method 2: Use a leaf blower to remove dry sand

1. Seek help

You can’t manipulate a 400-pound portable hoop into various positions alone. Find someone to help you.

2. Get a leaf blower

Removing sand from a basketball goal base without using special tools is challenging. Visit your local store and get a leaf blower to ease the process.

3. Realign the hoop base

Although a leaf blower is powerful, it will struggle to push the sand out if the base lies flat on the ground. With the help of your friends, reposition the hoop base so that it is almost vertical to the ground.

4. Open both fill holes

After repositioning the hoop base, remove the caps of the fill holes. Some sand will drain out due to gravity. Allow as much sand as possible to flow out by clearing the space near the lower hole where it is collecting.

5. Blow out the sand

Place the leafblower’s nozzle on the upper fill hole of the basketball base. Make sure the nozzle covers the hole completely, then turn on the leafblower. Blow until you remove all the sand from the hoop base.

Method 3: Use water to remove wet sand

1. Find some help

Wet sand is heavier than dry sand, so you need help maneuvering the basketball hoop. Ask someone to assist you.

2. Get a high-pressure hose

You can use your garden hose for this step, but a high-pressure hose is preferable.

3. Make a hole at the bottom

Some hoop bases have a hole at one of the ends, so you won’t need to make one. However, others do not have the hole. In this case, you need to make a sizeable hole at the end that is away from the hoop stand.

4. Reposition the hoop base

For this step, you can choose to disassemble the hoop or not, depending on how much help you have. Then, realign the base so its flat area assumes an upright position.

5. Drain out the sand

Place the hose beneath the hole you made earlier and secure it. When you turn on the water, sand will flow out. Remove all the wet sand from the portable base, and turn off the water.

Final Words

Getting sand out of the basketball goal base can be a complicated undertaking. However, emptying a hoop base should be relatively simple if you use a vacuum cleaner, a leaf blower, or water.

Read Related Posts:

Portable Basketball Hoop Base Repairing Steps

Ways of Disposing off A Basketball Hoop

Ways of Draining A Basketball Hoop

How to Move a Basketball Hoop Filled with Sand

Basketball hoops have become an increasingly common sight in American households. Most are installed in the driveways or the backyard, and many use a portable basketball hoop system. But what if, for some reason, the owners need to transfer the portable hoops? In this article, you will learn how to move a basketball hoop filled with sand and the best way of filling basketball hoop base with sand.

Can You Move an In-ground Basketball Hoop?

In-ground basketball hoops are not for child’s play; they are for the big boys. An in-ground basketball hoop is installed by drilling a hole in the ground and then putting cement around the base. It is designed to absorb punishment, even some thunderous dunks from NBA giants. 

Back to the question: Is moving an in-ground basketball hoop possible? Yes, it is possible to move it, but it’s a job for the professionals. The latest versions of in-ground basketball hoops are designed to have two detachable parts– one is the main part of the basket, and the other is the cement-hardened in-ground base.

You should know that moving an in-ground basketball hoop is expensive. However, if there are no damages to the hoops system, it’s a better option than getting yourself a new one. If you do not have any experience moving these structures, it is always better to call the company that installed the system. Better safe than sorry.

Now, if you had an older model of an in-ground basketball hoop, those are practically immovable, so it’s better to leave these structures alone.

Is it Better to Put Sand or Water in a Basketball Hoop?

First things first, if we are talking about putting sand, water, or base gel in a basketball hoop system, we do not mean in-ground basketball hoops. In-ground basketball hoops are hardened by cement and not sand or water. What we are talking about here are portable basketball hoops.

For portable basketball hoops, you have the option to put sand, water, or base gel to solidify the base. In this portion, we will be talking extensively about sand and water, and which is the better choice to put in a portable basketball hoop.

First, let’s examine water as a portable basketball hoops stabilizer. It is the simplest and cheapest option that you have. You’re done in a matter of minutes just by hooking a water hose to the hole in the base. Water is not a bad choice at all because you can quickly drain it from the base.

Here are several things you can do to ensure that the base filled with water holds up over time:

  • Add a small amount of bleach to prevent algae from growing in the base.
  • If you live in an area with nasty winters, putting a small amount of antifreeze in the water prevents it from solidifying, thereby preventing the plastic base from cracking. 
  • Water does evaporate, so you need to check the levels once in a while. If a substantial amount of water has evaporated, it will compromise the strength of the base.
  • Examine the base for leaks.

Now, what about sand? Sand is denser than water per gallon, so it helps increase the base’s stability. The downside is that it will be much more challenging to move when you need to relocate the hoops system when the time comes.

Another disadvantage of putting sand as a base stabilizer is if it gets wet, it’s a hassle to remove it from the base. Many chose “play sand” over real sand for these purposes since it has a smoother and more even texture.

Based on the pros and cons, is it better to put sand or water in a basketball hoop? Well, it ultimately depends on you and the situation. If you bought the portable hoops system so you can easily move and transport it, water is the better option. If your hoops system is there for keeps, then sand makes the base stronger and more reliable.

How Many Bags of Sand Do You Need to Fill a Basketball Hoop?

Most portable basketball hoops systems have a 35-gallon base. If that’s the case, you will need to purchase ten 50-pound bags of sand to fill the 35-gallon container. Sand weighs about 13 pounds per gallon, so you need to have more or less 455 pounds of sand to fill the base to the brim. Ten 50-pound bags have a total of 500 pounds of sand, so that should be the safest bet.

How Do You Move a Heavy Basketball Hoop?

As previously mentioned, moving a basketball hoop is a time-consuming, expensive, and occasionally dangerous undertaking. With that being said, you should think carefully if it’s a good idea to move the basketball hoop. And if you have to relocate it, it may not be a good idea to do it yourself if you don’t have the experience. The rule of thumb is, if it is an in-ground basketball hoop, you better leave it to the professionals.

What about portable basketball hoops? Since they are designed to be “portable,” you and your friends may be able to move them to a different location more often than not. Some portable basketball hoops even have wheels that can be used to move them. If that’s the case, then it’s generally an easy task.

What if your portable basketball hoops system does not have wheels? Here are several things to keep in mind:

  • Some portable hoops are designed to fold. If you are not familiar with this feature or don’t know if your hoops system has that characteristic, check the manual.
  • As mentioned previously, if you knew in advance that you might have to relocate the hoops in the future, use water as a base stabilizer instead of sand. Water is easier to drain, and in most cases, moving a water-based basketball hoops system may only be a one-person job. If you use sand, then you will surely need help moving the hoops.
  • You don’t have to completely empty the base of its content, be it sand or water. There is no possible way to flip the structure upside-down unless you turn green when you’re angry. Just turn the hoops on its side to get some of the weight out.
  • If the hoops system cannot fold or collapse, then hiring specialists is an option. If it can collapse to a reasonable size, then you may load it on a truck. Just be careful that the rigid metal structure does not smash or scratch the other items.

Things to Consider When Moving a Basketball Hoop

The four things above are good reminders when moving a basketball hoop. In summary, you should check if your portable basketball hoop folds to a reasonable size. If you purchased the hoop for temporary use, use water as a base filler. Do not expect that you can completely empty the base of its content, and if you have exhausted all options, it’s time to hire professionals.

Now, what if you need to move the basketball hoop to an entirely different location, perhaps if you’re moving into a new home? Obviously, you just can’t carry it or wheel it off. Here are some more things to consider when moving or transporting a basketball hoop:

1. The first thing you have to do is take a picture of the basketball hoop so you can refer to it as far as putting it all back together in the new location. Make sure that you have a manual, and if you don’t have one, perhaps you can get one online by specifying the model and the make of the basketball hoop.

2. It would be best to disassemble the pieces so that you can easily transport it. Remove the backboard and the rim from the pole and save all the nuts, bolts, and other hardware in small plastic bags. It will also help if you label the bag to readily know where the pieces should be installed. 

3. Remove the pole from the base. That should make it three significant pieces (backboard, pole, and base) to package for the relocation.

4. As for removing the contents of the base, you may use a water pump for water and a shop vacuum if you put sand. 

5. Wrap the pieces delicately so that it won’t get damaged from the other items on the move. You may use bubble wrap to protect the backboard and the pole. The smaller pieces, such as the rim, should be placed in a box, and the base should be put in a bigger box so it won’t veer around the truck during the travel.

Wrapping Things Up: Moving a Basketball Hoop Filled with Sand

Whether it’s filled with sand or water, moving a basketball hoop is not an easy task. Most portable hoops weigh from 100 to 500 pounds, so it’s probably not a good idea to do it alone. Add the weight of the material to stabilize the base, and you got yourself a task.

Speaking of the base, is it better to put sand or water in a basketball hoop? Well, both materials have their share of pros and cons, but the deciding factor boils down to the circumstances. Did you buy the portable hoops without the goal of moving to another location? What about the weather in your place? Does the winter get too harsh? If that is so, you may decide to put sand– about 455 pounds worth of it– to fill the base. Otherwise, water is probably the more accessible and more convenient option.

If you decide to move your basketball hoop after deliberation, you need to keep in mind several things. First and foremost, this is not a one-man job. At most, you may need assistance from one or two other individuals or by professionals. If you need to move the hoops to an entirely different location (if you move into a new house, for example), it’s a whole other story. You need to disassemble portable basketball hoop parts– the pole, backboard, and base. Each should be carefully packaged in separate boxes so it won’t get damaged or cause damage to the other items.

If you need help installing ground basketball hoops be sure to also check this article.

More interesting FAQ articles here:

> How to Paint a Basketball Court

> How to Clean a Basketball

> How Many Yards is a Basketball Court?

how to clean the beach sand?

By Milena Anderson Reading 4 min. Views 5 Posted by

Short answer

  1. There are several ways to clean beach sand. One is to use a shovel to scoop up the sand into the pile and then rinse it out with a hose.
  2. Another option is to fill a bucket with water and add some soap, then pour in the sand. into a bucket and stir.
  3. Finally, you can use the vacuum cleaner to suck up the sand.

how to clean beach sand?

How to turn beach sand into an aquarium!

Can you sanitize beach sand?

There is no universal answer to this question as the disinfection process depends on the type of sand and the amount of bacteria present. However, many people recommend using chlorine bleach or a similar disinfectant to disinfect sand.

What is the fastest way to clean sand?

The fastest way to clean sand is with a hose.

How to clean and disinfect sand?

There are several ways to clean and disinfect sand. One way is to pour boiling water over the sand and leave it for a few minutes. This will clean the sand and kill any bacteria that may be present. Another way is to use disinfectant sprays like Lysol or Clorox. Try to avoid direct contact with disinfectant spray as it can be harmful if inhaled.

How to clean beach sand from debris?

There are several ways to clean beach sand from debris. One way is to use a broom or dustpan to sweep the trash into a pile and then pick it up with your hands. Another way is to collect the garbage with a vacuum cleaner.

Can beach sand be bleached?

Bleach does not work on beach sand. The particles are too fine and the sand is too porous.

What can be done with beach sand?

There are many things you can do with beach sand, including building sand castles, playing in the sand, and creating sculptures. Sand can also be used as filler for art projects and to add texture to paintings or other artwork.

How to clean craft beach sand?

Craft beach sand can be cleaned with a common household cleaner. Just be sure to rinse it well before using it again.

How to disinfect the sand in the sandbox?

There are several ways to disinfect the sand in the sandbox. You can pour boiling water over the sand, or mix 1 part chlorine bleach with 9 parts water and pour the mixture over the sand.

How to clean sand with bleach?

Bleach can be used to clean sand by following these steps:
Pour bleach into a bucket or container.
Add enough water to make a paste.
Wet sand. with the suspension and let it soak in for a few minutes.
Scrub the sand with a brush or hands until it is clean.
Rinse sand with water and dry.

What is a beach cleaner?

A beach cleaner is a person who cleans beaches.

How do you take care of the sand?

You can store the sand in a container or lay it out on the surface. If you keep sand in a container, remember to add water from time to time to keep it moist. If you spill sand on the surface, be sure to sweep it up every day or use a broom to remove dirt or leaves.

Can beach sand be used in my aquarium?

There are several things to consider when choosing beach sand for your aquarium. First, make sure the sand is clean and free of debris. Second, make sure the sand is fine enough to fit comfortably in your tank and not create an obstruction. Finally, choose sand that is compatible with your fish and aquarium water conditions.

How to remove salt from sand?

One way to remove salt from sand is to pour a pot of boiling water over the sand and stir until the salt dissolves.

Is the beach sand salty?

The salt content of beach sand may vary by location, but is generally not as salty as inland sand.

Does cinnamon repel insects from sand?

Cinnamon is a common ingredient in insect repellants. It contains phenols that are toxic to many insects.

How to choose a playground?

The health of the child, and adults, directly depends on the presence of physical activity. It is necessary to organize a place for active games in the fresh air. Now playgrounds are made from a wide variety of materials, and you need to make the right choice. The play area must be safe

When choosing a playground, a regular slide or a swing, consider the gender and age of the child, as well as the quality of workmanship and the materials from which they are made. And so that the playground becomes a favorite and safe place for children to play, before choosing, study the information below.

Wood, metal or plastic?

Children's play equipment can indeed be made from metal, wood, or plastic. In the latter case, the site will be inexpensive. Plastic is not afraid of moisture, does not require maintenance. She will always be bright and beautiful. It can be cleaned with ordinary detergents, which is also an advantage. But such children's play equipment serves less. The savings are justified if the child is alone, and as soon as he grows up, the playground equipment will be dismantled.

Most importantly, check before buying so that the manufacturer guarantees that the polymer from which the structural parts are made was not toxic. If the raw materials are of poor quality, there may be no obvious smell. However, under the influence of direct sunlight, the plastic will heat up, and it will appear. Metal playgrounds are better because they last a long time. If you are planning to have another child, the designs are easy to save. Now steel is coated with a special polymer composition that is not afraid of water. The coating remains bright, the iron under it does not rust or rot.

But the metal children's town weighs a lot. It is more difficult to transport even in a disassembled state, while plastic children's equipment can be transferred, say, to a summer house in a car or trailer. For very young children, metal is dangerous in terms of injury. When falling, abrasions and bruises remain. Therefore, at an early age, let him play on a playground made of plastic or wood. By the way, wood is an environmentally friendly material. The risk of injury is less, but such equipment is more expensive. The tree is afraid of moisture, and it must be treated with a special compound at least once a year, and preferably every six months.

How does the choice of a playground depend on age?

Almost all manufacturers indicate in the instructions the age of the children for whom the proposed playgrounds are intended. There is a special GOST 33602-2015, in accordance with which the dimensions of the elements are determined. So, for the smallest, the height of the slide should not exceed 60 centimeters. If the child is 2 to 5 years old, the slope should be from a meter to one and a half. At the age of 6 to 8 years, you can move down from a height of up to 2 meters. Naturally, low slides at this age simply will not be interesting.

It is important to choose the right game shells. A swing with a seat on a metal chain is bought for children over 4 years old. For kids, a slide with a removable front wall is suitable so that it does not fall when going down the hill. At this age, it is better not to install structures with sharp corners and hard edges. Rounded edges will not hurt even if the child falls. Therefore, it is better to give preference to a plastic playground with smooth transitions and edges. When a son or daughter turns 6 years old, you can put a large town on the site with a swing equipped with hard seats.

What kind of projectiles are used for playgrounds?

It is important that children do not lose interest in entertainment. Therefore, the projectile should not be one. For proper development, there must be several of them, and they must differ. For a child under the age of 4, a kit is suitable, which includes:

  1. Sandbox.
  2. Rocker with springs.
  3. Slide with stairs.
  4. Swing with soft seat.

When boys who are 5-6 years old will play, it is better to buy a playground in the form of a car, a locomotive, a ship, or a fortress. Such playgrounds develop not only physically, but also creatively. With the help of fantasy, the children are transferred to a fairy-tale world, and the game acquires bright colors. Girls like houses with a bright roof, windows, and a fence. Install one or two slides, chain swings, a small inclined climbing wall. From the age of 6, it can be vertical and slightly higher.

The children are fond of climbing a rope, a net, a Swedish wall. It will develop muscle strength, endurance, coordination. To train the vestibular apparatus, buy a swing-nest on ropes or chains, which will swing in any direction and at the same time scroll around a vertical axis. It is already possible to put both an open and a closed slide. The latter is a pipe, which can be straight or twisted into a spiral. An open descent with acceleration will bring even more joy. A handguard, rings, a rope ladder are a good addition to the standard set of game equipment. If the size of the court allows, install a basketball backboard and football goals.

Children over 12

If earlier it was important to captivate the child with the game, then with the transition to adolescence, parents should pay more attention to physical education. Sports equipment required. The playground is more like a sports playground, although you should not forget about the play area. In the designated area, place:

  1. Swedish wall.
  2. Horizontal bars and bars.
  3. Gymnastic rings.
  4. Handrails.
  5. Trainers.
  6. Basketball hoop, etc.

The main thing is that all structures are strong enough and stable. At this age, it is allowed to install a trampoline and equip the pool. Do not leave children in the water unattended. A stationary pool for a playground is not suitable. It is better to buy a collapsible, which, as unnecessary, is folded and removed, freeing up space.

Mobile (portable) playgrounds

Let's get back to little kids. It is now easy to find inflatable slides, houses, etc. on sale. when folded, they fit in the trunk of a car, which allows you to take them with you on a picnic or to the country. You will need an outlet to connect the pump-compressor. Make sure that branches, sharp stones, pins sticking out of the ground do not pierce the elastic material. Even if this happens, get a repair kit and seal the puncture. Another advantage is that an inflatable playground is easy to install indoors, if the dimensions of the room allow it.

What if the children are of different ages?

Set up a children's playground. Consider the zoning of the allotted territory in advance. Number of zones - three:

  1. Sports, equipped with projectiles and sports equipment.
  2. Recreational (slides, stairs, swings, trampoline, etc.).
  3. For the little ones (house with toys).

Leave part of the area free for joint games. If the budget allows, equip a children's town where the whole family can spend time under the supervision of adults.

What is a children's playground?

This is a complex of children's play equipment designed for a group of different ages. To equip it, develop your own project, draw a sketch. Purchase and install everything you need. Plan the site so that there are no closely adjacent buildings and plantings around. Make sure that communications do not pass under it at a depth of less than 0.7 meters. Place the equipment away from the body of water, if there is one in the garden. Not bad if the perimeter is fenced with a small translucent fence. Make sure that the entire area is visible from the windows of the apartment building and from any place where the parents spend a lot of time.

Take care of the lighting. Install electrical wiring, sockets, switches in places inaccessible to children. Place the lamps so that all corners of the allotted area are illuminated in the evening. Do not equip the town on the north side of the house. The constant shade from the building, which does not allow sunlight to warm the ground and children's play equipment, causes increased humidity. The result is premature spoilage, a threat to the health of the child. Dampness on a hot day is the cause of poor health, shortness of breath, shortness of breath. In a damp heated environment, bacteria, microorganisms, parasites develop, and viruses calmly survive the incubation period.

A third of the playing area is located in the shade of trees. If there are no plantings on the site, provide a special canopy. This will eliminate the threat of "sunstroke", overheating. A sharp drop in temperature is the cause of the onset of a cold. The canopy will also protect children in case of bad weather, rain, ultraviolet, solar radiation, etc. The value of the fence is not only to prevent attempts to leave the territory of the playground. Equipping the site, consider the face of the winds. The fence, installed on the leeward side, protects from cold air currents, which eliminates the appearance of symptoms of colds.

How to make the site safe?

The element requirements are as follows:

  1. The presence of high sides on the slopes of open slides.
  2. Ropes are made of strong nylon or perlon ropes.
  3. No roughness on wooden structures.
  4. Mounts are strong, reliable.
  5. The design is stable, fixed.

If a modular design is used, the type of fastening of the elements is bolted. Plugs are installed on the fasteners.


Learn more