How To Backwash A Pentair Pool Filter

Before you bought a pool filter, the word backwash probably meant something kind of gross to you, correct? Well, when information technology comes to pools, it has a literal meaning. And it's something skillful.

Your puddle is just as clean every bit your filter is. The good news is, when you backwash a pool, cleaning the filter doesn't always entail taking information technology apart and washing every little crack.

Why Backwash a Pool Filter?

So we're talking about how to backwash a pool filter here, simply a lot of people often utilise the autograph of only "backwash a puddle." You lot know what we mean, right? Of grade you practice.

You besides know you have to go along your pool filter clean. But when it comes to how to clean a pool filter, why is backwashing a good method?

Every bit pool water passes through your diatomaceous earth (D.E.) or sand filter, it leaves backside dirt, oils, and other debris, which are collected in the filter medium—either D.E. pulverization or sand.

Over fourth dimension, equally water continues to pass in merely ane direction, the filter medium will become chock-full, which will reduce your filter'due south effectiveness. When y'all backwash a pool, you send water backward through the filter, and out the waste or bleed port. This forces all the debris defenseless in the filter to dislodge then you tin can easily remove it and restore the filter'south normal functioning level.

Recollect of information technology like using a strainer in your kitchen sink. Bits of nutrient can get stuck along the lesser of the strainer, and the merely manner to get them out is to turn the strainer over and run water through it from the reverse management.

Backwashing a pool works on the aforementioned principle. While backwashing generally works the same manner regardless of the blazon of puddle filter, the procedures exercise vary a flake.

How to Aftermath a Sand Filter

Can yous imagine if yous had to remove the sand and wash information technology? How messy would that be?! Luckily, when yous learn how to aftermath a sand filter, yous quickly realize information technology's a much easier process. The sand never leaves the filter.

Earlier you become started, you lot'll demand simply one detail.

What You lot Demand

Backwash hose

How to Backwash Using a Multiport Valve

This is a pretty straightforward process.

Attach the aftermath hose to the waste or backwash port.
Turn the filter arrangement off.
Plow the multiport valve to Backwash.
Plough the filter arrangement dorsum on.
Let the water run out of the backwash port and through the backwash hose for well-nigh a minute, or until the water runs clear
Turn the filter system off.
Turn the multiport valve to Rinse.
Turn the filter system back on.
Rinse the filter for almost 30 seconds.
Turn the filter arrangement off.
Turn the multiport valve to Filter.

Important: Never turn the multiport valve handle while the puddle filter is on and running. This could cause the condom diverter gasket within the valve to come loose or pause, which will in turn cause h2o to leak out of the incorrect ports while it's running.

How to Backwash a D.E. Filter

Before you lot become started, you lot'll need a few supplies.

What You Demand

Backwash hose
Diatomaceous earth powder
One-pound D.E. scoop (or empty i-pound coffee tin can)

What is Diatomaceous Earth?

Information technology's a white powder composed of fossilized skeletons of one-celled organisms chosen diatoms. The pulverisation is added to the filter and attaches itself to the grids within creating a D.Eastward. "block."

This cake, along with the filter grids inside, helps to filter out very fine particles.

How Much D.E. Powder Will Yous Demand?

This volition vary depending on the type and size of filter you have. Always refer to your owner'southward manual for specific data.

In any case, D.E. pulverisation is measured in pounds, and so use a ane-pound D.Eastward. scoop to make measuring easy. In a compression, you can besides use an empty ane-pound coffee can.

Standard DE Dosage Chart

How to Backwash with a Multiport Valve

You'll want to fix aside a little time to exercise this, but don't worry. It's not an arduous task that's going to take all mean solar day.

Turn off the filter arrangement.
Connect the backwash hose to the filter'southward waste product port.
Turn the multiport valve to Backwash. If you have a push/pull valve, open the aftermath gate.
Turn the filter system back on, and let information technology run for about ii minutes. This will allow pool h2o to flow out of the backwash valve or port.
Turn the filter system off.
Turn the multiport valve to Rinse, turn the system back on, and let it run for about another minute.
Turn the filter system off.
Plow the multiport valve dorsum to Filter.
Add D.E. pulverisation to the filter.
1. Refer to your filter owner's manual to determine how much D.Eastward. pulverisation yous'll need to add.
2. Prime number the pool pump.
3. Remove the strainer basket lid.
4. Fill the basket with water, and allow some water to run through the incoming line.
5. Turn on the puddle pump.
6. Mix the appropriate amount of D.Due east pulverization with enough water to make a slurry, which is a thin, flossy solution.
7. Brand sure the pump is running.
8. Pour the slurry straight into the pool skimmer.
9. Run the pool pump for at to the lowest degree 30 minutes to permit the D.E. to distribute evenly over the filter grids.

Important: Never turn the multiport valve handle while the pool filter is on and running. This could cause the rubber diverter gasket inside the valve to come loose or break, which volition in turn cause h2o to leak out of the wrong ports while it's 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 organisation.
Connect the backwash hose to the filter's backwash port.
Open the aftermath gate.
Turn the filter organization back on, and allow it run for about three minutes. This will allow pool water to menstruum out of the backwash port.
Plough the filter system off.
Close the push/pull valve.
Add D.E. powder to the filter.
1. Refer to your filter possessor'southward manual to determine how much D.East. powder you'll need to add.
2. Prime the pool pump.
3. Remove the strainer basket lid.
4. Fill the basket with water, and permit some h2o to run through the incoming line.
5. Turn on the pool pump.
6. Mix the appropriate amount of D.Eastward powder with enough water to make a slurry, which is a thin, creamy solution.
7. Make sure the pump is running.
8. Cascade the slurry directly into the pool skimmer.
Run the pool pump for at least 30 minutes to allow the D.East. to distribute evenly over the filter grids.

When to Backwash a Puddle

When you starting time ready up your filter, whether information technology's sand or D.East., take note of the pressure level gauge reading. That'due south your normal operating filter pressure. Over time, as the filter starts to accumulate dirt and droppings, force per unit area will begin to build up because the water can't flow as freely through information technology.

When the force per unit area approximate reads 10 pounds per square inch (psi) above the normal operating level, it's time to backwash. If it reads more than than x psi over the normal level, it's actually fourth dimension to aftermath.

While y'all could backwash before the force per unit area reaches the 10 psi over normal marking, we recommend waiting. Yes, your filter functions amend when it's not chock-full. Merely before it gets to the fully chock-full signal, the presence of small dirt and debris really helps your sand or D.East. filter work a little improve.

Those tiny bits of debris aid to take hold of and stop other tiny bits of debris from getting through the filter medium, and making it back into the pool water.

Then, a clean filter is good. A slightly muddy filter is amend. A clogged filter is bad, and needs a backwashing.

How to Dispose of Filter Backwash Water

Every fourth dimension you backwash your pool filter, you could exist pulling hundreds of gallons of h2o from your pool. Where is all that water going to become? Into your yard? The street? The creek behind your house?

None of those are expert options, and in fact, may even be illegal, depending on where you live. The h2o that comes out of your pool is chemically treated, and can damage plant life, groundwater, and aquatic life.

Disposing of backwash water properly is essential, non merely to avert potential fines, simply to keep your community and the environment rubber from illness and damage.

Storm Drains

Some cities do let pool water to be released into tempest drains. But they may as well require that you apply for a allow beginning.

You may as well need to reduce or eliminate chemicals or common salt levels in the water earlier you lot're allowed to dispose of it in your community's sewer system. Check with your local water authorization.

Plumbing Cleanouts

You may exist able to dispose of backwash water by directing it into 1 or more of your home'southward plumbing cleanouts. Once more, it's best to check with your local water/sewer authority to ensure this is immune, find out whether you need to treat the water in whatever way before disposing, and to obtain any necessary permits.

Information technology'southward unlikely any municipality will permit you to release puddle water into a septic system. You wouldn't want to do that anyway. Septic systems rely on the existence of active enzymes to dispose of waste material. Pouring chemically treated water into the tank—peculiarly h2o with chlorine in it—would probable kill those enzymes, leaving you with quite a mess.

Dry Wells

These can be a life (or property) saver if you alive in an surface area that sees a high level of rainfall, or experiences tropical storms. They can help prevent flooding and erosion. While a dry well could work for disposing of puddle water, that's not usually its purpose.

Regardless of how many levels of gravel, sand, or other media the h2o may laissez passer through, it will still stop up in the ground, which ways it can be a problem if y'all alive in an expanse that doesn't allow the disposal of pool h2o into the ground.

Bated from the issue of permission, a dry well must be synthetic by a professional person, and it's a projection that can hands cost thousands of dollars.

You lot can definitely find an easier, safer, and less expensive way to dispose of your filter backwash water. Your local water authorisation can help you.

Release the Kraken!

Or maybe just some dirty pool h2o. Only keeping a kraken in your pool is all the more reason to proceed the h2o clean. Anyway, when the time comes to backwash your pool, you'll be ready with the right equipment and procedures.

Take condolement in knowing you lot'll exist able to assist your filter keep your pool clean, which will also help your filter live a longer life, which tin save yous money. So you'll be able to afford that beautiful little kraken you lot've been wanting to prefer.

Happy Swimming!

Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University® and has been in the pool and spa manufacture since 1995. Since and then, his mission is to brand pool and hot tub care easy for anybody. And each year, he continues to help more than people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting.

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