In order to prevent residual blow back into the pool, once you've finished backwashing it's highly advisable to rinse the filter. Just as the backwash lifts and flushes the sand, the rinse resets the sand to its original position for optimum filtration.
Turn the lever to RINSE, start the pump and rinse for about 15-30 seconds. Stop the pump and turn the lever to FILTER. This is the normal operating position. Close the drain outlet valve and start the pump.
The 'Rinse' setting should be used after backwashing and again run just for a minute or two. On this setting the water is flowing through the filter in the normal direction but once again is being sent to the waste pipe rather than being returned to the pool.
Rinse runs water in the same direction that normal filtering does. Backwash runs it through the sand in the opposite direction. Rinse is to clear any dirt out of the clean side of the sand before you start sending it back to the pool.
Low flow = poor circulation which will lead to algae in the pool. Bottom line, the filter must be backwashed on a regular basis to ensure that your pool water is clear. "When do we need to backwash?" - It is recommended to backwash your filter once every 4-6 weeks of regular use.
The rinse cycle keeps dirt from returning to the pool after filter cleaning. As its name suggests, the rinse cycle on a swimming pool filter uses water to clear away any dirt or debris that remains after cleaning out the filter.
The biggest things to remember about maintaining your pond during the summer, is patience and consistency. Backwash weekly, add Blast weekly, add your AquaSphere ball monthly and always feed a good quality food (without over feeding). If you do that, most everything will fall into place.
Rinse nearly normalizes the flow. The filtered water goes in it's normal path and flushes any crud that got in during the back wash. After Rinse, the filter is returned to Filter mode. Waste is used to lower a pool or so what ever is being vacuumed doesn't contaminate the filter tank or plumbing inside the filter.
Replacement sand for your sand filter typically costs around $25 per 50-pound bag, and your filter may require 100 to 600 pounds or more depending on the size and model.
Backwashing reverses the flow of water, lifts up and flushes the sand, and then expels the dirty water via a waste line into the ground or drain. In order to prevent residual blow back into the pool, once you've finished backwashing it's highly advisable to rinse the filter.
As a general rule, you should be 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 gauge reads 8-10 PSI (pounds per square inch) over the starting level or “clean” pressure.
If you do have this option, it is highly recommended that whenever you have algae, you will need to vacuum to waste. This option allows you to vacuum the algae up and send it out through the backwash line, avoiding getting algae into your filter sand.
Can You Backwash Too Much? If you backwash your pool too much i.e. time duration and/or close frequency then yes you can cause a lot of problems. Some problems that can arise from backwashing your sand pool filter too much are: Loss of water – 500+ litres of water can be lost in each backwashing cycle.
Drain/Waste: Opting the drain or waste setting will remove pool water without forcing it through the filter. Backwash: This clears out any debris, dirt and other contaminants that may have accumulated on the filter. Closed: if you choose this setting, then the flow of water to the pool and filter will be stopped.
Your pump may be too large or the sand level too high in the filter. When the filter is backwashing the water flow can cause the sand to rise high enough and overflow into the standpipe, which will allow the sand back into the pool.
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 gauge is lower and water can easily flow in and out of the system.
So the answer to the question of how often you should clean your pond filter is as often as you can for the mechanical filter and less often or not all for the biological filter if its prefiltered first. Always use old pond water and never use tap water.
All ponds need regular maintenance to prevent them silting up and turning into bog gardens. Small ponds need a complete overhaul to remove debris every five years, while large ponds need thorough cleaning every 10 years.
Turn off the filter. Remove about 1/4 of the bio-balls from the filter chamber and place them into the container with the saltwater. Stir and swish the bio-balls around in the saltwater to break all the gunk or organic matter loose that is stuck on them. If they are extremely dirty, you may have to repeat this step.
If the filter runs well at 16PSI and then goes up to 25PSI, your pool needs a backwash. “How often should I backwash my sand filter”? Ensure you do it if there's an algae outbreak or after a significant storm. A DE( diatomaceous earth)filter system needs cleaning six or more times each year.
Backwashing doesn't remove all the DE powder on your filters, so you don't have to add as much as you would for a new or thoroughly cleaned filter. You only need to add about 80% of the amount you would for a new filter. So, a 48-square-foot filter would need a little less than four pounds of DE powder.
Backwashing a sand or DE filter is a simple task. Shut off the pump, set the multiport valve or slide valve handle to the backwash position, roll out the backwash hose and turn the pump on again. Backwash for 3-4 minutes or until the water runs clear, then shut the pump off and return the valve to the filter position.
Cleaners aren't meant to stay in the pool 24/7. This is true for all cleaners. Pressure side cleaners run on a schedule every day so why take it out? Leaving the cleaner in the pool 24/7 increases its exposure to corrosive chemicals in the water, such as chlorine or shock.
When a pool is vacuumed with the valve in the "backwash" position, the dirt ends up underneath the bed of sand. The pool will clean up nicely like this...... until the valve is turned back to the normal "filter" position.