What Is The Correct Psi For 10 000 Above Ground Pool Sand Filter

Backwashing clears out the dirt and gunk from your puddle'due south filter. Whether yous have a sand filter or a DE filter, it will demand backwashing from time to time. In this article I'll tell y'all why yous need to backwash, when to backwash and requite yous step-by-step instructions on how to backwash your pool's filter.

To backwash, a sand or DE filter, turn off the puddle pump and attach a backwash hose. Then ready the valve to "aftermath", switch the pump back on and let the water catamenia out until it is clear (usually virtually 2 mins). You lot'll demand to next set the valve to rinse after for near xxx secs. If you have a DE filter, you lot'll to refill the DE.

Of grade, that was the extremely brusque version. There'southward more to it than that. In this commodity we encompass inground pools, in a higher place ground pools, saltwater pools. In add-on, you lot'll discover these procedures will work for many brands, including:

Pentair
Intex
Hayward
Jandy
RX Clear
Astral

Backwashing a pool filter. — Utilise the multiport valve to backwash the puddle filter. Picture shows a fairly standard puddle filter, pump and plumbing.

What is Backwashing?

Shows what backwashing is and how it works. The image on the left demonstrates regular filtering, the image on the right shows what happens when you backwash your pool. — The image on the left shows regular filtering. The dirty water from the puddle comes down through the sand, impurities are captured, and so the water travels upwardly through the laterals and standpipe back to the pool. Backwashing is the opposite (image on right). The pool water travels through the standpipe and out through the laterals at the lesser, so dorsum upward through the sand lifting impurities. It then travels out through the waste outlet taking impurities and clay with information technology.

Backwashing or backwash reverses the flow of water through the pool's filter, lifts up and flushes the filter medium (sand or DE), and then expels the dingy h2o via a waste line into the footing or drain. Sometimes this is likewise referred to as backflushing.

Backwashing is essentially the procedure of cleaning the pool filter and needs to be washed on a regular basis. More on that afterwards.

In social club to ensure against residual blowback into the puddle, once you've finished backwashing information technology is highly advisable to rinse the filter. Only as the aftermath lifts and flushes the sand, the rinse reseats the sand in its original position for optimum filtration.

Read on to learn how to backwash your pool.

Why Should You lot Backwash?

All DE (diatomaceous earth) and sand filters utilise the same basic mechanics: when prepare to "Filter", water flows from the pool, through the filter, and back into the pool. The filter medium (sand or DE) inside the filter arrangement blocks debris, dirt, and oil. A typical puddle filter multiport system has six different settings – Filter, Backwash, Rinse, Broadcast, Closed, and Waste.

However, over time, or when you lot vacuum your puddle, dirt and debris get deposited in the filter – the result beingness that the filter becomes dirty and clogged with contaminants that, if left unchecked, volition reduce the filter'south ability to clean and if left could restrict the water flow and put actress strain on the pool.

How to Aftermath a Sand Filter

Internals of a pool sand filter. — Diagram shows the internal workings of a pool's sand filter.

A pool sand filter uses sand to take hold of contaminants in your pool's water. Pool water is circulated through special filter grade pool sand.

From time to time, y'all will demand to clean your sand filter by backwashing it. Here'south how to backwash a sand filter:

Turn off the pool pump.
Set up the sand filter valve handle to the Backwash pool position and ensure the handle locks in identify.
Turn on the pump and backwash for two minutes or until the water in the sight glass (located on the filter) is running articulate.
Turn Off the Pump.
Set the filter valve handle to the RINSE position and ensure the handle locks in identify.
Turn on the pump and run the rinse process for 30-60 seconds or until the water in the sight glass is clear.
Turn Off the Pump.
Close the skimmer valves to forbid water from entering the filter from the pool. Empty the filter skimmer handbasket and clean out the hair catcher.
Re-seat and seal the skimmer handbasket and pilus catcher.
Reopen the skimmer valves.
Reset the Filter Valve to Filter and ensure the handle locks into identify.
Turn On the Pump.

How to Backwash a DE Filter

Powder Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) for DE Filters — Flick shows Diatomaceous Earth or D.E. which is the filter medium within a D.Due east. pool filter.

A DE filter uses Diatomaceous Earth (DE for curt) instead of sand to catch contaminants. D.E. is a much finer medium than sand and therefore does a better job at filtering your puddle h2o. However, there is some extra maintenance required when backwashing.

Backwashing a D.Due east. Filter is like to a sand filter with 1 actress step of topping up the diatomaceous earth.

Important: before you start, make sure yous have some D.Eastward. pulverisation on hand, as you lot'll need to top up the filter later backwashing. DE gets done out when backwashing.

How to Backwash DE Filters (With Multiport Valves):

Switch off the pool pump.
Select the BACKWASH setting on the filter valve.
Turn the pump back on and backwash until for 2 minutes or until the water runs clear (you can cheque this in the sight drinking glass on the side of the filter).
Turn the pump off.
Select the RINSE setting on the filter valve.
Plow the pump dorsum on and rinse for i-ii minutes. You tin can repeat steps ii to vi a few times if the filter is particularly dingy.
Plough the pump off and select FILTER
Refill D.East. powder.
1. Check the manufacturer'southward instructions equally to how much. It will likely exist three-half-dozen lbs (or about 80% of the full capacity of the filter).
2. Usually you will add this to the skimmer (mix the DE with water get-go) and/or yous'll add together some D.E. pulverization in the pump strainer and the residual in the skimmer. Again cheque the manufacturer'due south instructions.
3. Run the pump on the FILTER setting for xxx minutes or more to allow the D.Eastward. powder to glaze the filter grids again.

How to Backwash DE Filters (With Push-Pull Valves):

The backwashing procedure for DE filters with push-pull valves is nearly the same equally backwashing a DE filter with a multiport valve.

Switch off the pool pump.
Open the valve to Backwash.
Turn the pump back on and backwash until for 2 minutes or until the water runs articulate (you can cheque this in the sight glass on the side of the filter).
Plough the pump off.
Close the push/pull valve.
Refill the D.E. pulverization.
1. Check the manufacturer's instructions as to how much. Information technology volition likely exist 3-half dozen lbs (or about lxxx% of the full capacity of the filter).
2. Normally you lot volition add this to the skimmer (mix the DE with water first) and/or you'll add some D.E. powder in the pump strainer and the rest in the skimmer. Again bank check the manufacturer'southward instructions.
3. Run the pump for xxx minutes or more than to allow the D.E. powder to glaze the filter grids again.

Can You lot Aftermath a Cartridge Filter?

Pool cartridge filters cannot exist backwashed different their cousins sand filters and D.East. filters. Cartridge filters are not designed to run "backwards".

However cartridge filters tin can and should be cleaned on a regular ground. To clean a cartridge filter you'll need to open up the filter upwards and remove the cartridge. Rinse and spray the cartridge with the hose every iv weeks and give it a deep clean every few months.

We have full instructions to deep clean your cartridge filter in our blog here:
How to Clean Puddle Cartridge Filter (Using Muriatic Acrid)

How Frequently to Aftermath Pool

Every bit a rule of thumb, regardless of if you have a sand filter or DE filter, you lot should backwash your pool well-nigh once a week during swimming season. The optimal time is right after you vacuum the pool. If your pool has had a lot more use than normal, information technology may be necessary to backwash twice a week.

Nosotros recommend this suction cleaner and this robotic cleaner.

Also, if your puddle is particularly prone to leaves, more than frequent backwashing may be necessary since leaves, other debris from trees, and contaminants from birds etc. will be entering your pool.

You tin can likewise tell when it is time for a backwash by checking the filter'south pressure approximate. Normal operating pressures are between fifty and 170 Kpa (kilopascal) or ten – 25 psi. When the sand gets dirty and clogged up, notwithstanding, the pressure reading rises.

Typical pool filter pressure gauge. — When to backwash your pool? Use the filter pressure level gauge every bit a guide. Information technology'southward time to backwash when the pressure rises 8-10 psi to a higher place normal or higher up fourscore Kpa.

If the pressure on the gauge is showing 5-10 psi higher than normal, information technology'south time to aftermath.

If you accept already backed washed your pool and the pressure is nonetheless high, check out our article: eight Reasons Filter Pump Pressure is High (And How to Fix)

When Non to Backwash

If your pool contains an unusually high level of dirt (for instance, as a outcome of a nearby construction site, a protracted menstruation of being untended and uncovered, or possibly from runoff caused past flooding) it may be advisable to by-laissez passer the filter entirely.

This is also the case if your water had, or has had, an algae problem. Live algae hands pass through the filter sand and re-enters the pool. And the same goes for expressionless algae following a shock treatment. You tin read more on preventing algae hither.

In these cases, instead of vacuuming and backwashing, it may be better to vacuum directly to WASTE, and to send the vacuumed water directly down into the bleed.

Where to Get Rid of Backwash Water

When you aftermath your puddle there will be quite a bit of water to deal with. You demand to accept a program before you get-go. A few hundred gallons of h2o flooding onto your neighbors' properly will likely result in you not being invited to their next Christmas political party.

Your Yard

Disposing of pool backwash water in your own 1000 is the recommended option. You lot'll detect in many states and councils that information technology is illegal to dispose of pool water in the bleed or sewer.

Make sure you go on the water on your belongings, though. Some councils issue fines if poolwater runs off.

Will it kill the grass or plants? In nigh cases, your grass should be fine if you road your aftermath water at that place. You lot may consider moving the hose around as y'all are discharging the water, so the h2o doesn't accumulate in ane spot.

Also, make sure it'southward not going to come across your house or anywhere else.

As for plants, pool h2o will kill some plants but many of them volition be fine, as long as they don't accept too much pool water on them.

Gutter or Tempest Drain

In many places, information technology's illegal to belch pool water into the street, gutter or stormwater bleed unless it'southward been decontaminated. This water will often end upwardly in rivers, creeks, lakes and oceans. Pool h2o typically contains a range of chemicals that could exist detrimental to the local environment.

Sanitary Sewer via Cleanout

In some areas, it's OK to dispose of pool water here. Information technology's not usually OK to have your pool permanently plumbed into the sewer though. Cheque with your local council to find out if this is an option for you lot.

Important Backwashing Tips

The one downside of backwashing is that, because water is expelled from the system and sent into waste, is that it…well…wastes water. While this is unavoidable, the key to not overdoing the backwash process and flushing out more h2o than strictly necessary is to keep a careful center on the color and quality of the water in the sight glass.
Don't backwash more than necessary, or for longer than necessary. Sand filter systems operate most efficiently during the middle of the filtration cycle. This is partly due to the positioning, at any given time, of the sand in the filter, and partly because of the cyclical build-upwards of nerveless dirt and debris in the filter. The internet upshot is that too much or to frequent backwashing actually reduces the sand filter's efficiency.
Because backwashing inevitably washes out some of the sand along with the clay and droppings, from time to fourth dimension it will be necessary to top upwards the corporeality of sand in the filter. When you do add extra sand, run the filter system on RINSE for a infinitesimal or so to reduce the corporeality of sand blowback into the pool. We recommend this replacement filter sand here.
Finally, admittedly brand sure you lot always turn off the pump before you either motion or reset the filter valve setting. If you don't, you're going to impairment, and maybe destroy the organization.

Recommended Products

Pool Sand Filter

Replacement Filter Sand

Swimming Pool Vacuum – Automatic Suction Cleaner or Robotic Cleaner

Related reading:

How to Go Sand Out of a Pool

Cloudy Pool H2o: Why & How to Remedy