How Can You Backwash Your Pool Filter?
Your pool filter is responsible for catching the contaminants that are neutralized by the chlorine you add to your fibreglass pool. This is an important part of the circulation system of the pool and helps ensure the water in the pool is clean and sparkling.
What Does Backwashing Your Pool Filter Mean?
Backwashing a pool filter is essentially the act of cleaning the filter out, by getting rid of the gunk that has accumulated. When you backwash your pool filter, what you’re doing is reversing the direction the water flows in. The water is pushed through the back of the pool filter. It heads towards the drain port and escapes from there.
You should also know what kind of pool filter will be right for your fibreglass pool. If you have a cartridge filter, then backwashing is not right for your pool. Backwashing only works on sand filters and diatomaceous earth filters. These filters collect waste and contaminants by utilising edges that are sharp. As the contaminants start to pile up, the filter will become less and less efficient at doing its job.
This is even if you find that the sharp edges in the pool filter haven’t become smooth. The pressure within the filter will continue to ramp up. When you backwash your pool filter, you are cleaning out your filter without picking through the sand or the D.E. This way, you could also maintain the longevity of your filter. Keep in mind though, that you will need to replace your filter eventually.
When Should You Backwash Your Pool Filter?
Pool filters usually have a pressure gauge. When your fibreglass pool is being installed, note where the pressure gauge is. The number you see is the normal filter pressure range when it’s operating. As you keep using your pool filter, the psi you see in the pressure gauge will continue to increase. This is normal and there isn’t anything to worry about. Here is more information on how to properly maintain your pool.
The more contaminants your filter traps, the better it will be able to perform. However, this convenience won’t continue forever. Eventually, the space in your pool filter will be so crammed that it will no longer be able to trap any contaminants. When you see that the filter operating pressure has reached 10 psi over what the normal operating pressure you noted was, it’s time to backwash your filter.
What Do You Need In Order To Backwash Your Pool Filter?
The only thing you really need in order to backwash your pool filter is a normal backwashing hose. In case you have a D.E. filter, you may want to keep a little extra D.E. around. This is in case you need to refill your filter. People with D.E. filters usually have a little D.E. lying around.
How Can You Use A Multiport Valve To Backwash Your Pool Filter?
Do you have a multiport valve? If you do, then use these steps to backwash your pool filter. Remember that when you turn your multiport valve on, the filter should be turned off.
- The first thing you should do is turn off your filtration system. Nothing should be running at this moment.
- Then, the backwash hose will need to be connected to the waste port of the filter. This is where the backwash will soon actually take place.
- Now, set the multiport valve to ‘Backwash’.
- When you’ve done this, turn your filter system back on. Leave it for around two minutes. By this point, you have started the backwashing process.
- Now turn your filtration system off again. After this, set your multiport valve to the ‘Rinse’ option.
- Then turn the filtration system back on again and allow it to run for a minute.
- Now turn the filtration system off again.
- After this, return the multiport valve back to the ‘Filter’ position.
How Can You Use A Push-Pull Valve In Order To Backwash Your Pool Filter?
You could also have a push-pull valve. In this case, use the following steps to backwash your pool filter.
- First, you’ll need to turn off your filtration system. For both kinds of valves, your filtration system should first be turned off.
- Now, connect the backwash hose to the backwash port of the filter. This is the place where the backwashing will really happen.
- Now, you’ll need to open your backwash gate.
- After this, the filtration system should be turned on again, and left for around three minutes.
- Now turn the filtration system off again.
- Finally, close the push-pull valve.
How Do You Get Rid Of The Gunk?
Do you think that you can push the gunk that came out from backwashing your pool filter down the storm drain? Local governments generally do not support this, and you could find yourself needing to pay a fine if you do this.
So can you throw the gunk away in your septic system? This is also a no-no. If you do this, your septic system could experience a system failure. What local authorities would suggest is that you collect your backwash water, contain it, and then discharge it at a sanitary sewer. A sanitary sewer is different from a septic system or a storm drain. It’s a vegetated area located within your property.
The regulations can change depending on where you live, so make sure you do your research regarding how to dispose of the gunk.
Conclusion
Backwashing your pool filter is an important step in fibreglass pool maintenance. How you backwash your pool filter will depend on the kind of valve you have. Use this guide to learn how you can backwash your pool filter.
How Can You Backwash Your Pool Filter?
Your pool filter is responsible for catching the contaminants that are neutralized by the chlorine you add to your fibreglass pool. This is an important part of the circulation system of the pool and helps ensure the water in the pool is clean and sparkling.
What Does Backwashing Your Pool Filter Mean?
Backwashing a pool filter is essentially the act of cleaning the filter out, by getting rid of the gunk that has accumulated. When you backwash your pool filter, what you’re doing is reversing the direction the water flows in. The water is pushed through the back of the pool filter. It heads towards the drain port and escapes from there.
You should also know what kind of pool filter will be right for your fibreglass pool. If you have a cartridge filter, then backwashing is not right for your pool. Backwashing only works on sand filters and diatomaceous earth filters. These filters collect waste and contaminants by utilising edges that are sharp. As the contaminants start to pile up, the filter will become less and less efficient at doing its job.
This is even if you find that the sharp edges in the pool filter haven’t become smooth. The pressure within the filter will continue to ramp up. When you backwash your pool filter, you are cleaning out your filter without picking through the sand or the D.E. This way, you could also maintain the longevity of your filter. Keep in mind though, that you will need to replace your filter eventually.
When Should You Backwash Your Pool Filter?
Pool filters usually have a pressure gauge. When your fibreglass pool is being installed, note where the pressure gauge is. The number you see is the normal filter pressure range when it’s operating. As you keep using your pool filter, the psi you see in the pressure gauge will continue to increase. This is normal and there isn’t anything to worry about. Here is more information on how to properly maintain your pool.
The more contaminants your filter traps, the better it will be able to perform. However, this convenience won’t continue forever. Eventually, the space in your pool filter will be so crammed that it will no longer be able to trap any contaminants. When you see that the filter operating pressure has reached 10 psi over what the normal operating pressure you noted was, it’s time to backwash your filter.
What Do You Need In Order To Backwash Your Pool Filter?
The only thing you really need in order to backwash your pool filter is a normal backwashing hose. In case you have a D.E. filter, you may want to keep a little extra D.E. around. This is in case you need to refill your filter. People with D.E. filters usually have a little D.E. lying around.
How Can You Use A Multiport Valve To Backwash Your Pool Filter?
Do you have a multiport valve? If you do, then use these steps to backwash your pool filter. Remember that when you turn your multiport valve on, the filter should be turned off.
- The first thing you should do is turn off your filtration system. Nothing should be running at this moment.
- Then, the backwash hose will need to be connected to the waste port of the filter. This is where the backwash will soon actually take place.
- Now, set the multiport valve to ‘Backwash’.
- When you’ve done this, turn your filter system back on. Leave it for around two minutes. By this point, you have started the backwashing process.
- Now turn your filtration system off again. After this, set your multiport valve to the ‘Rinse’ option.
- Then turn the filtration system back on again and allow it to run for a minute.
- Now turn the filtration system off again.
- After this, return the multiport valve back to the ‘Filter’ position.
How Can You Use A Push-Pull Valve In Order To Backwash Your Pool Filter?
You could also have a push-pull valve. In this case, use the following steps to backwash your pool filter.
- First, you’ll need to turn off your filtration system. For both kinds of valves, your filtration system should first be turned off.
- Now, connect the backwash hose to the backwash port of the filter. This is the place where the backwashing will really happen.
- Now, you’ll need to open your backwash gate.
- After this, the filtration system should be turned on again, and left for around three minutes.
- Now turn the filtration system off again.
- Finally, close the push-pull valve.
How Do You Get Rid Of The Gunk?
Do you think that you can push the gunk that came out from backwashing your pool filter down the storm drain? Local governments generally do not support this, and you could find yourself needing to pay a fine if you do this.
So can you throw the gunk away in your septic system? This is also a no-no. If you do this, your septic system could experience a system failure. What local authorities would suggest is that you collect your backwash water, contain it, and then discharge it at a sanitary sewer. A sanitary sewer is different from a septic system or a storm drain. It’s a vegetated area located within your property.
The regulations can change depending on where you live, so make sure you do your research regarding how to dispose of the gunk.
Conclusion
Backwashing your pool filter is an important step in fibreglass pool maintenance. How you backwash your pool filter will depend on the kind of valve you have. Use this guide to learn how you can backwash your pool filter.
