What Is Backwashing? The backwashing process reverses the flow of water to flush out contaminants from a swimming pool filter. It should be carried out until water runs clear through the waste line.
The backwashing of a typical Olympic-sized pool results in the loss of about 6,300 gallons of water per backwashing cycle, according to Recreation Management. As a result, don't add chemicals to your water until after you've backwashed — otherwise, you're just throwing money down the drain… literally.
Backwashing can take only a few minutes to complete, but for a typical pool, it consumes approximately 200 to 300 gallons of pool water! So, while your filter is losing unwanted dirt and debris—your pool is losing a ton of water. And that's for a single backwash.
In unsewered regions, backwash water is to be discharged to a grassed, vegetated or garden area, or a stone-filled trench either open to the surface or underground (similar to a septic tank absorption field).
You don't need to drain your pool, as there is no risk to your pool by it being full. The only thing you lose with a pool filled to the rim is your skimmer's surface cleaning action. Overall, it still draws water and the equipment is just fine.
The pool will only overflow by the amount of rain in excess of the amount of rain needed to fill the pool to the top. So if your pool is the normal 3” below the top, the rain would need to exceed 3” before any additional rain would be available to overflow onto the deck.
Use the backwash to water grass or any area on your property that will allow water to percolate into the ground. Backwash pools directly into the private sewer cleanout on your property instead of into the storm gutter.
* Can i discharge the backwash water onto my lawn, will it harm the grass / plants? The DE doesn't harm the grass or plants, excessive chlorine or saltwater may.
After the hose fills with water, backwash your sand filter for 2 - 3 minutes, or until water runs clear. Shut off the pump motor and push the T-handle back down into locked position. Turn your pump back on and note the lower pressure.
Flooding Your Grass Is Not A Good Idea
The problem with draining your pool in the yard, if permitted by your local water regulatory laws, is that it will quickly reach its saturation level and increase the risk of flooding your lawn, drowning the roots of your grass, and attracting mosquitoes.
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.
Backwashing is a pool term used to describe a filter cleaning method which reverses the flow of water through your filter system.
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.
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.
The size of your pool, the efficiency of your pump and filter, and how dirty your pool is are just some of the factors you need to consider. Nevertheless, most pool cleaning professionals would advise against running a pool pump for more than 8 hours a day.
Traditionally it is allowed to drain away into the garden or ends up running down the street. Despite some pools designed to allow the water to drain off into the road, the water is not permitted to enter the storm drains as the treated water can harm the local waterways.
A byproduct of saltwater pools is the organic pollutant bromoform, which affects the brain, liver and kidney function in animals. Draining this, along with all the salt, into a nearby stream can cause the salt content around the drain site to rise to dangerous levels, killing local plants and wildlife.
You should backwash your DE pool filter about once a month during pool season. In addition to the regular schedule, you'll want to perform additional backwashing if: You've been running your pool filter for 48 hours straight. This can cause a pressure build-up, even if the filter grids look clean.
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.
Your sand filter is designed to operate effectively with a certain level of sand in it. When the sand level in the filter housing or sand tank is too high, then you may notice sand coming out of the backwash lines when you backwash or use the rinse function.
If your pool pump manufacturer has declared your pump is rain safe, you can leave it on in rainfall. Nevertheless, during a thunderstorm, it is highly recommended that you switch off and unplug your pool pump to prevent any costly and irreversible damages to your pool equipment.
It's best to run your pool pump during the day
Not only does sunlight give fuel for algae to grow, it also destroys your pool chlorine and this is why you should always run your pool during the day!