It’s an obligation for every pool owner to perform numbers of regular maintenance to keep it enjoyable to use. From daily skimming to 5-yearly draining, all the upkeeps will make your pool look adorable and feel comfortable all the time.
Some maintenance requirements can be done all by yourself without any needs to call a pro, and one of them is backwashing. Well, you may often hear the term ‘backwash a pool’ which basically means cleaning the filter from the contaminants that may build up from time to time.
As you may have known, the filter is an essential equipment that keeps the pool water clean. It works by filtering contaminants like sand, oil, dirt, and other debris. From time to time, those contaminants will be trapped in the filter which reduces its performance.
In other words, the contaminants can eventually clog the filter as you use the pool. That is the time when you need to perform backwashing. Shortly, backwashing means that you flow the water backward through the pool filter and out the draining port. This effort will eventually remove the trapped debris inside the filter.
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Backwashing a pool filter is a very easy thing to do, that is why you can do it all by yourself in no time. The tutorial on How to Backwash a Pool below will guide you to finish the job easily and quickly.
How to Backwash a Pool Tutorial
Generally, there are two types of pool filters which are sand filter and D.E (diatomaceous earth filter). In this tutorial, we’re going to share a simple way to backwash a sand filter.
Check the Pressure Gauge
Usually, you need to backwash a sand filter once a month, but you will know when to perform this kind of maintenance by checking the pressure gauge.
- When the pressure gauge shows the rise of 8 to 10 psi (pounds per square inch) above the clean pressure, it means you have to backwash the filter.
- This measurement indicates that your filter is clogged.
(Check this out: Here’s 4 Steps on How to Clean a Green Pool with Bleach Effectively)
Start Backwashing
When you are sure enough that you need to backwash your filter, then you can perform the task immediately. We’re going to use the multiport valve which is a very easy process to finish in no time.
- Prepare a pool backwash hose.
- Attach the hose to the waste port.
- Turn off the filtration system.
- Position the valve to the backwash mode.
- Turn on the filtration system.
- Let the water get backwashed for some minutes.
- Turn off the filtration system again.
- Position the valve to the rinse mode.
- Turn on the filtration system.
- Run the rinse mode for about a half minute.
- Turn the filter off.
- Position the valve to the filter mode.
Dispose of the Water
This last step actually needs to be considered even before you start backwashing. You have to know where the dirty water from the backwash process is going to go.
- Check the local water authority in your area to dispose of the pool water.
- Due to the chemical that can contaminate the environment, you can’t just directly flow the pool water into the street or your backyard.
- Some common options include storm drain, plumbing cleanouts, and dry wells.
(Recommended to read: 8 Steps on How to Drain a Pool Easily and Quickly All By Yourself)
So those are the steps that you need to follow when you are going to backwash your sand filter. The tutorial on How to Backwash a Pool above shows an easy way to clean up your pool filter, so you can enjoy it comfortably.
The backwashing step is like a simple method to clean up your filter that you can do at least once a month or when the gauge shows high-level pf psi. However, you still need to deeply clean your filter at least twice a year to thoroughly remove the debris and check the condition of the equipment.
Besides cleaning your filter, backwashing can also prolong the life of your pool filter. Of course, you can save a lot of money since your filter is properly maintained by only backwashing it. There is no need to frequently buy a new filter if you just do this job on a regular basis.
So, let’s add this How to Backwash a Pool Tutorial to your maintenance list!
