Backwashing prevents this. 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.
Rinsing after backwashing flushes out any remaining loose DE powder as well as other contaminants. The DE filter is then returned to the filter setting for a few minutes, and new diatomaceous earth is added to replace any that was lost during backwashing.
In order for your sand filter to work optimally, it is important to clean the filter sand regularly. After about 5-10 days, or when the reading of the pressure gauge on the pump side of the filter has increased by about 0.2 bars (20 kPa, 3 psi) since the last backwash, backwash the filter as follows: Stop the pump.
Rinse. 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.
Wait for a few minutes until the water runs clear. Turn off the pump to cease the backwashing. Turn the filter valve handle to RINSE and ensure the handle locks in place. Allow the rinse process to occur for 1 minute or until the water is clear.
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.
Watch the pressure gauge for spikes. After the hose fills with water, backwash your sand filter for 2 - 3 minutes, or until water runs clear.
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.
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.
Run your filter 24 hours a day and backwash 3 or 4 times a day for quickest results. Green or cloudy water will quickly clog a filter, therefore you may have to backwash your filter many times a day until the pool clears. THIS IS NORMAL ! Remember, you cannot over-backwash a pool filter.
Sand filters should be cleaned at least once per season, preferably in the fall before closing. You must clean your sand filter after encountering bouts of algae.
To backwash, a sand or DE filter, turn off the pool pump and attach a backwash hose. Then set the valve to “backwash”, switch the pump back on and let the water flow out until it is clear (usually about 2 mins). You'll need to next set the valve to rinse after for about 30 secs.
“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. If you have a sand filter, backwash it every month and tear it down twice every year.
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.
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.
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 you first install a sand filter or renew the sand, you may indeed get a small amount of sand coming out when backwashing, rinsing or filtering. Often, excess sand gets into the wrong places when refilling and will sand to come out into the pool or out of the backwash hose. But it should go away after a few runs.
Add diatomaceous earth (DE) to your pool skimmer, stick to around a scoop or two – no more than the size of a 1lb coffee cup. The moment you do this, go to the pool jets to see if it is returning DE into the pool, or if the water suddenly looks cloudy. If it is, you likely have an issue with your filter.
If anything could be considered “normal”, it would be about 10 psi. Most filter systems are designed to operate in the 5-15 or 10-20 psi range. The way to find out your particular correct pool filter pressure is to clean or backwash the filter thoroughly and empty the pump and skimmer baskets.
* 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.
Backwash is the term used for fluid which makes its way from a person's mouth back into a drinking container. When you drink from a bottle or a cup the liquid goes into your mouth and when you stop drinking, some of that liquid can be pushed out of your mouth and back into the container.
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.
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.