Backwashing and teardown depend on how often you use your swimming pool and just how dirty it actually gets with normal use. DE filters are usually torn down and cleaned at least six times per year. Unless your pool gets really dirty, you should not need to backwash it beyond your scheduled maintenance.
If you don't clear out your sand filter regularly through backwashing, it means your filter can't work as efficiently and eventually debris will make its way back into your pool. Backwashing keeps your pool equipment healthy and your pool clean and safe.
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.
Once you have cleaned the pool, you should move on to the sand and DE filter. The expert says you should backwash them. However, for a cartridge filter, it is best to remove the cartridges and hose them off.
Do you backwash or rinse a sand filter first? Backwash the filter, then rinse the filter afterward to prevent blowback into the pool. The backwash setting flushes contaminants built up in the sand. And the rinse setting resets the sand to its original position for the best filtration.
Most of the dirty and other foreign particles that enter your pool's system will end up here. But the dirt that accumulates at the bottom of the pool does not go to the filter. Backwashing a filter will lead to your pool being dirty temporarily. For a clean pool, do not backwash your filter before vacuuming.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SHOCK MY POOL? Shocking your pool regularly will help to keep the water clean and free of contaminants. You should aim to shock your pool about once a week, with the additional shock after heavy use. Some tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked are cloudy, foamy, green, or odourous water.
After the hose fills with water, backwash your sand filter for 2 – 3 minutes or until water runs clear.
Backwashing a DE pool filter is the act of reversing the flow of water inside your filter tank. By changing the direction of the water, you can knock off the caked-on DE powder that has accumulated impurities from your pool water and flush it out.
On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer. Note that you need to run your pool pump longer during summer because algae grow more in warm temperatures.
Ensure the pool pump is running. Pour the mixture from the bucket into the water around the edges of the pool. Let the pump run for about 6 hours or more and test the water. Don't use the pool right away – wait for the free chlorine levels to drop to 1 – 3 ppm before it is safe to swim.
In most cases, it is fine to run your pool pump during the rain. In fact, this will help rapidly circulate and filter out any impurities the rain has added to your water.
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.
If necessary, backwash before vacuuming also. Check and make sure pressure gauge is reading within normal psi before starting to vacuum. To Vacuum a Pool to Waste If the pool has algae, dirt or other very fine sediment on the pool floor, it may be necessary to vacuum this sediment to waste.
Green or cloudy water will quickly clog a filter, therefore you may have to backwash your filter twice daily until the pool clears. Run the backwash cycle for 60 – 90 seconds. The more you run your pool, and the more you backwash the filter, the faster the pool will clear up.
When do I need to replace my sand? On average, sand should be replaced every 3-5 years. This may be longer if the pool stays clear, or shorter, if the filter runs all the time. The jagged edges of the sand wear down and become smooth as the sand ages.
For light vacuuming, you can leave your multiport valve filter set to “Filter.” For bigger jobs and larger amounts of debris, set your filter system to the “Waste” setting, which does sends the water down the drain, rather than through the filter.
Cloudy pool water is caused by 4 common pool issues: poor filtration, low chlorine levels, poor water chemistry, or contaminants in the water, like debris or algae. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to fix these common issues, and how to clear up a cloudy pool fast using a clarifier or flocculant.
The simple answer is yes, you can over shock a pool. This is when the chlorine level in the water becomes too high and can be harmful to swimmers.