How To Backwash Pool Filter
Before you bought a puddle filter, the word backwash probably meant something kind of gross to you, correct? Well, when it comes to pools, it has a literal meaning. And it'south something good.
Your puddle is but equally make clean equally your filter is. The good news is, when you backwash a pool, cleaning the filter doesn't always entail taking it autonomously and washing every picayune crevice.
Why Backwash a Pool Filter?
So we're talking about how to backwash a pool filter here, but a lot of people often use the autograph of just "backwash a puddle." Y'all know what nosotros mean, right? Of course yous do.
You also know you have to continue your pool filter clean. But when information technology comes to how to clean a pool filter, why is backwashing a good method?
As puddle water passes through your diatomaceous globe (D.East.) or sand filter, it leaves backside dirt, oils, and other droppings, which are nerveless in the filter medium—either D.Due east. powder or sand.
Over time, as h2o continues to laissez passer in just one direction, the filter medium will go clogged, which will reduce your filter's effectiveness. When y'all aftermath a pool, you send water astern through the filter, and out the waste or drain port. This forces all the debris caught in the filter to dislodge then you can easily remove information technology and restore the filter's normal operation level.
Think of it like using a strainer in your kitchen sink. Bits of food tin get stuck along the bottom of the strainer, and the only way to get them out is to turn the strainer over and run water through it from the opposite direction.
Backwashing a pool works on the same principle. While backwashing generally works the same way regardless of the blazon of puddle filter, the procedures do vary a fleck.
How to Backwash a Sand Filter
Can yous imagine if you had to remove the sand and wash information technology? How messy would that be?! Luckily, when you larn how to aftermath a sand filter, you quickly realize information technology's a much easier process. The sand never leaves the filter.
Before yous get started, you'll need just ane detail.
What You Demand
- Backwash hose
How to Backwash Using a Multiport Valve
This is a pretty straightforward process.
- Attach the backwash hose to the waste or aftermath port.
- Turn the filter system off.
- Turn the multiport valve to Backwash.
- Turn the filter system back on.
- Allow the water run out of the aftermath port and through the backwash hose for almost a minute, or until the h2o runs clear
- Turn the filter system off.
- Turn the multiport valve to Rinse.
- Turn the filter organization dorsum on.
- Rinse the filter for nigh 30 seconds.
- Turn the filter system off.
- Plough the multiport valve to Filter.
Important: Never turn the multiport valve handle while the pool filter is on and running. This could crusade the rubber diverter gasket inside the valve to come loose or break, which volition in plow cause water to leak out of the wrong ports while it'due south running.
How to Aftermath a D.East. Filter
Before you get started, y'all'll need a few supplies.
What You Need
- Backwash hose
- Diatomaceous earth powder
- One-pound D.E. scoop (or empty one-pound coffee can)
What is Diatomaceous Earth?
Information technology'southward a white powder composed of fossilized skeletons of one-celled organisms called diatoms. The powder is added to the filter and attaches itself to the grids inside creating a D.E. "cake."
This cake, along with the filter grids inside, helps to filter out very fine particles.
How Much D.East. Powder Volition You Need?
This will vary depending on the blazon and size of filter you have. Always refer to your possessor'due south manual for specific data.
In any case, D.Eastward. powder is measured in pounds, so use a 1-pound D.Due east. scoop to make measuring easy. In a pinch, you lot can also use an empty i-pound java can.
How to Backwash with a Multiport Valve
Y'all'll want to set aside a trivial time to exercise this, but don't worry. It's not an arduous task that'south going to accept all day.
- Turn off the filter system.
- Connect the backwash hose to the filter's waste port.
- Plow the multiport valve to Aftermath. If you have a push/pull valve, open the backwash gate.
- Turn the filter arrangement back on, and let it run for about two minutes. This volition permit puddle water to flow out of the backwash valve or port.
- Turn the filter arrangement off.
- Turn the multiport valve to Rinse, turn the system back on, and let it run for about some other infinitesimal.
- Turn the filter system off.
- Plough the multiport valve back to Filter.
- Add D.East. pulverization to the filter.
- Refer to your filter owner'due south manual to determine how much D.Due east. powder you'll need to add.
- Prime number the pool pump.
- Remove the strainer basket chapeau.
- Fill the basket with water, and allow some water to run through the incoming line.
- Turn on the pool pump.
- Mix the appropriate amount of D.Due east powder with enough water to make a slurry, which is a thin, creamy solution.
- Brand sure the pump is running.
- Pour the slurry directly into the pool skimmer.
- Run the puddle pump for at least 30 minutes to let the D.Due east. to distribute evenly over the filter grids.
Of import: Never turn the multiport valve handle while the pool filter is on and running. This could cause the safe diverter gasket inside the valve to come loose or interruption, which will in turn cause h2o to leak out of the wrong ports while information technology'southward running.
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How to Backwash with a Push/Pull Valve
This procedure differs only slightly from the multiport valve process.
- Turn off the filter system.
- Connect the aftermath hose to the filter's backwash port.
- Open the backwash gate.
- Plough the filter arrangement dorsum on, and let it run for virtually iii minutes. This will let pool water to flow out of the backwash port.
- Plow the filter organisation off.
- Shut the push/pull valve.
- Add D.E. powder to the filter.
- Refer to your filter owner's manual to make up one's mind how much D.E. pulverization you lot'll need to add.
- Prime the pool pump.
- Remove the strainer handbasket lid.
- Fill the basket with water, and allow some water to run through the incoming line.
- Turn on the pool pump.
- Mix the appropriate corporeality of D.E powder with enough water to make a slurry, which is a thin, creamy solution.
- Make sure the pump is running.
- Pour the slurry directly into the puddle skimmer.
- Run the puddle pump for at to the lowest degree 30 minutes to let the D.E. to distribute evenly over the filter grids.
When to Backwash a Pool
When you first set upwards your filter, whether it'southward sand or D.Eastward., have annotation of the pressure gauge reading. That's your normal operating filter force per unit area. Over time, as the filter starts to accumulate clay and debris, pressure will brainstorm to build up because the water can't flow equally freely through it.
When the force per unit area gauge reads x pounds per square inch (psi) to a higher place the normal operating level, it's fourth dimension to backwash. If information technology reads more than ten psi over the normal level, it'south really time to backwash.
While you lot could backwash earlier the pressure reaches the 10 psi over normal mark, nosotros recommend waiting. Yes, your filter functions improve when it's not clogged. Just earlier information technology gets to the fully chock-full point, the presence of small clay and debris really helps your sand or D.E. filter work a picayune better.
Those tiny bits of debris assistance to catch and stop other tiny bits of droppings from getting through the filter medium, and making it back into the pool water.
And so, a make clean filter is proficient. A slightly dirty filter is better. A clogged filter is bad, and needs a backwashing.
How to Dispose of Filter Aftermath Water
Every time you lot backwash your pool filter, yous could be pulling hundreds of gallons of water from your puddle. Where is all that water going to go? Into your chiliad? The street? The creek behind your firm?
None of those are good options, and in fact, may even be illegal, depending on where you live. The water that comes out of your pool is chemically treated, and can harm plant life, groundwater, and aquatic life.
Disposing of backwash h2o properly is essential, not just to avoid potential fines, but to go along your community and the environment prophylactic from illness and damage.
Tempest Drains
Some cities practice permit pool h2o to be released into tempest drains. But they may as well require that you apply for a permit first.
You may too demand to reduce or eliminate chemicals or salt levels in the h2o earlier you lot're allowed to dispose of it in your community'south sewer system. Check with your local water authority.
Plumbing Cleanouts
You may be able to dispose of backwash water past directing it into one or more than of your home's plumbing cleanouts. Once again, it's best to cheque with your local h2o/sewer say-so to ensure this is allowed, find out whether you demand to treat the water in any way before disposing, and to obtain any necessary permits.
It'due south unlikely any municipality will allow you to release pool water into a septic system. You wouldn't desire to do that anyhow. Septic systems rely on the beingness of agile enzymes to dispose of waste material. Pouring chemically treated water into the tank—especially h2o with chlorine in it—would likely kill those enzymes, leaving you with quite a mess.
Dry Wells
These can be a life (or property) saver if you alive in an area that sees a high level of rainfall, or experiences tropical storms. They can aid prevent flooding and erosion. While a dry well could work for disposing of pool water, that's not unremarkably its purpose.
Regardless of how many levels of gravel, sand, or other media the h2o may pass through, it will still end up in the ground, which means information technology can be a problem if you alive in an surface area that doesn't allow the disposal of puddle water into the ground.
Aside from the issue of permission, a dry out well must exist constructed by a professional, and it's a projection that tin can easily price thousands of dollars.
You can definitely find an easier, safer, and less expensive way to dispose of your filter backwash water. Your local water potency tin help you lot.
Release the Kraken!
Or mayhap just some dirty pool h2o. Merely keeping a kraken in your pool is all the more reason to go along the water make clean. Anyway, when the fourth dimension comes to backwash your pool, y'all'll be set up with the correct equipment and procedures.
Take comfort in knowing yous'll be able to help your filter proceed your pool clean, which will also help your filter live a longer life, which can salvage you coin. Then yous'll be able to afford that cute piffling kraken you lot've been wanting to adopt.
Happy Swimming!
Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University® and has been in the pool and spa industry since 1995. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy for everyone. And each year, he continues to help more people with h2o chemical science, cleaning, and troubleshooting.
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How To Backwash Pool Filter,
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