Backwash the filter for 3 to 5 minutes to remove dirt, debris and the old DE. Using the Drain Plug. Backwash the filter to remove debris and dirt. This is recorded immediately at the opening of the pool in the spring or immediately after a backwash. Backwashing your pool filter, also commonly referred to as just “backwashing the pool,” is the act of cleaning out your filter by flushing out all the gunk it’s accumulated. But before we go through the steps to backwashing it is important to answer a few questions: "What is backwashing?" Taking a few minutes to backwash your filter can save you a lot of time and money in the long run by preventing bigger maintenance issues. When you backwash your filter, you flush those contaminants out and improve the efficiency and lifespan of your filter. Cleaning a Sand Filter. When to backwash your sand filter - In order to know exactly when you should backwash your sand filter you need to know an important piece of information that is unique to only your pool. DE pool filters can filter out the smallest particles from your pool water, keeping your water crystal clear. Backwashing your filter cleans out your filter media to make sure that it is always operating at the highest efficiency. The owner’s manual should have detailed instructions for backwashing your filter. That being said, the only accurate way to know when you need to backwash your pool is by looking at the pressure gauge. Compare quotes for free from fully vetted pool professionals. Remove filter cartridge from filter cannister. It is not uncommon to find a cartridge filter pressure reading in the single digits if sized properly for the pump. You will only need to know is the square footage of your filter, then you can use the chart below to determine how much DE to replenish. filters, this at minimum every 6 months). Once the backwash cycle is complete, turn the pump switch off again. Your email address will not be published. A typical sand filter multiport system has 6 different settings – ‘Filter’, ‘Backwash’, ‘Rinse’, ‘Circulate’, ‘Closed’, and ‘Waste’. Rinse off paper element with a garden hose. Too much dirt and debris will slow the flow of water passing through your filter, which will slow the flow of water entering back into your pool. You should do everything in your power to reduce the water loss from the backwash process – water conservation. - Backwashing a D.E. Simply put, when you backwash your pool filter, you reverse the direction of the water flow, and water moves back through the pool filter and out the waste or drain port. Either move your multi-port valve to backwash or slide the push-pull valve into position. However, when the pump turn off, the fan opens to drain the water from the tank, remove the cap, remove the cartridge from top to bottom and replace it. While cloudy water may also be attributed to chemical imbalances, backwashing your filter is a quick and less costly way to try to clear your water up. Q: What is the Purpose of Backwashing a Pool Filter? This is actually a trick question… you don’t have to backwash a cartridge filter! 3. As the water moves through the sand, the filter purifies it before releasing it back into the pool. Turn the pump back on and let the water run until it reaches the point where you want to drain the water out. Michael has over 25 years of experience in the swimming pool industry. You can feel the difference in circulation from the water jets that push the water back into your pool. Once the water flowing through the sight glass is clear, you will know your filter is clean. What should they do with the wastewater that comes out of the backwash hose? trap debris and prevent them from re-entering your pool, how to get rid of sand that leaks into your pool, What You Should Do to Your Pool After it Rains, How to Get Rid of White Water Mold and Pink Slime in Your Pool, How to Remove Algae from a Salt Water Pool. All sand filters use the same basic mechanics: when set to ‘Filter’, water flows from the pool, through the filter, and back into the pool. Turn off your pump to make sure that your system is not moving water while you switch into backwash mode, Unroll your backwash hose and make sure that it is securely attached to the filter, Either move your multi-port valve to backwash or slide the push-pull valve into position, Start your pump, you should immediately see water in your backwash hose, Keep backwashing until the water runs clear, Roll up the backwash hose and store in a cool, dry place, Return the valve to the normal filter position, Restart the pump and open the air relief valve, run until there is water coming out of the valve, Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters follow the same procedure above with a few more steps. This will require a lot of testing of the chemicals before and after to make sure that the levels are within your municipality’s legal limits. It can even lead to pressure building up in your system and pool system failure. Ensure 20-grade silica sand for swimming pool sand filter use is used. While it is standard to backwash your pool filter every few weeks depending on which filtering material you use, your pool will also give you signs that it is time to backwash your filter. filter can be a simple process by following a few quick and easy steps. 5 Completely turning off the pump will prevent any new water from entering the filter while you are working on it. If you don’t know what your standard pressure is then you can backwash and record the number then. An increase of a quater or a third of your filter’s “clean” operating pressure is a sign of a dirty filter. 4 Turn the pool filter system on and allow it to rush out of the backwash port and through the backwash hose for two minutes or so until the water in the sight glass runs clear. Push down on the multiport valve handle and rotate it from “filter” to “backwash.”. TURN PUMP OFF - If your pump is on, turn it off at the power switch or ideally at the circuit … Our friends at In the Swim put together a list of ways to reduce your backwash wastewater: The professionals at Inyo Pools put together a comprehensive video on pool backwash instructions: If you have any more questions regarding backwashing your pool please leave them below in the comments section. The cartridge filter can catch finer debris than a sand filter, being 10-20 microns versus 20-40 microns. Copyright © 2020. All pool filters follow the same general steps for backwashing, but there may be small variations depending on the model you own. He also holds multiple patents for pool performance products he has engineered over the years. Add one pound of diatomaceous earth powder for every 10 square feet of filter area. Q: How to Backwash a Pool with a Cartridge Filter? 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