What Is The Purpose Of Backwashing A Pool Filter

Read on to find out exactly what backwashing is, how often you lot should backwash and how to do it.

What is backwashing?

Backwashing is a puddle term used to describe a filter cleaning method which reverses the menstruum of water through your filter system. While most pool filters help to remove organic fabric by pushing water through a porous medium (typically sand) and returning the clean water to the pool, over fourth dimension larger particles build upwardly in the filter. This can reduce the efficacy of your filter due to an increment in pressure level and even lead to impairment.

The process of backwashing dislodges trapped debris and contaminants, flushing them out through your value's waste line or a hose that is connected to the pool pump. When the filter media is clean, the pressure judge is lower and water can easily menstruation in and out of the system.

How oft should y'all backwash your puddle?

The frequency of backwashing depends largely on how much employ your swimming pool gets and the blazon of filtration system as well as its position. If your pool is surrounded by shrubs or trees, its likely to demand more regular backwashing than a puddle that isn't subjected to foliage little and organic debris.

As a general rule, you should exist backwashing your pool about once a week or in conjugation with your scheduled maintenance. Another industry standard is to backwash when your filter's pressure estimate reads 8-ten PSI (pounds per square inch) over the starting level or "clean" pressure. For example, if your filter is running unremarkably at fifteen PSI just increases to 25 PST, you should perform a backwash.

You should as well consider backwashing after a major tempest or an algae outbreak in your area. If you have deciduous copse nearby, it may too exist worth scheduling a backwash later all the foliage has dropped.

If you take a diatomaceous globe (DE) filter system, it will need to be torn down and cleaned at a minimum of 6 times per twelvemonth. A sand filter is torn down twice a year and can be backwashed monthly.

DIY pool cleaning or engage a pool cleaning professional person? Consider these factors before y'all make a decision.

When you lot shouldn't backwash

when to backwash your pool — Image source: Flickr Brett Samuel

Backwashing is a great way to clean out chock-full filters but there are times you should avert the process.
If your pool has or had an algae outcome is it recommended to by-laissez passer your filter entirely and vacuum directly to waste. This is because alive algae are able to easily pass through your filter medium and re-enter your pool.
Information technology's also brash you vacuum directly to the water and down the drain if your puddle has been exposed to an unusually high level of debris or dirt. For example, if a neighbor is building nearby or at that place are roadworks in the surrounding streets.
How to backwash a pool's filter
Backwashing is a process you can easily do yourself or engage the services of a pool maintenance team.
If you're wanting to backwash a sand filter yourself, here are the steps you should follow:
Turn off your pool's pump and filtration system.
Clamp the backwash hose to your h2o outlet.
Set the filter value to BACKWASH and ensure the handle locks in identify. You'll see water flow through those the hose or equipment in the view glass.
Wait for a few minutes until the water runs clear.
Turn off the pump to cease the backwashing.
Turn the filter valve handle to RINSE and ensure the handle locks in place.
Allow the rinse procedure to occur for 1 infinitesimal or until the h2o is clear.
Turn off the pump.
To prevent water from entering the filter from your pool, close the skimmer valve.
Empty and make clean the skimmer basket and hair catcher. And then position back in their place.
Open the skimmer values and reset the Filter Valve to Filter. Ensure the handle locks in identify and plow the pump dorsum on.

To backwash a DE filter, follow these steps:

Turn off your pool's pump and filtration system.
Set the filter value to Backwash and ensure the handle locks in place. Turn the pump on and yous'll see water flow through the view glass.
Wait until the filter view glass is clear.
You can alternating betwixt backwash and rinse a few times to remove the DE. Remember to plow off the pump when changing the value settings when doing this.
DE can be discarded in the trash.
Detach the filter while the pump is turned off. Yous may need to alter the timer settings to do this.
Open the release valve and bleed the filter. To remove the h2o more thoroughly, remove the drain plug from the bottom of the filter. The water will bleed from the lesser of the tank.

Backwashing tips

Brand sure your pup is always turned off when running a backwash or resetting the filter valve. If y'all forget to, you may cause damage to your system or possibly destroy information technology which will turn out to be a costly mistake.
Backwashing can result in a loss of water. While this is unavoidable, you can minimize the corporeality of water you lose by not overdoing the backwashing process. Go on a close eye on the colour of the water through the view glass and end the minute it becomes clear.
During the backwash, you'll too inevitably wash out some of your sand forth with the debris and clay. This volition crave you lot to top up the corporeality of sand in the filter. To minimize the amount of sand blowback into your swimming pool, run the filter system on the rinse setting for a minute when you lot do the top up.
In the fifty-fifty your backwash valve is becoming too difficult to turn, it is recommended you do a teardown and lubricate the valve earlier any leaks occur.
When reassembling your filter system after backwashing, examine all your parts including the cartridges, grids and laterals. Don't blitz the reassembly as most filter leaks are acquired during this time.