- [Narrator] If there's pressure built up in your filter
or the water is not flowing well in your pool,
it's time to backwash.
Backwashing is a necessary part of sand filter
and DE filter maintenance,
and doing it the right way will save you from losing water
or damaging your equipment.
So here's a quick tutorial
on how to backwash your pool filter.
Let's dive in.
(upbeat music)
Real quick, before we continue,
if you want more help taking care of your pool,
be sure to grab our free pool care cheat sheet
at SwimUniversity.com/CheatSheet.
It's totally free and will help keep your pool clean
and clear all season long.
First, what is backwashing and when should you do it?
As pool water passes through your filter,
it leaves behind dirt, oils and other debris,
which are collected in the filter medium.
In this case, sand or DE powder.
Over time as the water flows through,
that filter medium will become clogged,
and that reduces your filters effectiveness.
And that's when it's time to backwash.
When you backwash,
you're sending water backwards through your filter
and out your filters waste or drain port.
And this forces all the debris caught in the filter medium
to dislodge and clear out.
So when should you backwash your pool filter?
You should backwash your filter when your filter pressure
rises 10 PSI over normal running pressure
or if you notice poor flow from your return jet.
Take note of your pressure gauge reading when you
first set up your filter or right after you backwash.
That's your normal operating filter pressure.
When that pressure gauge reads 10 PSI or more above normal,
it's time to backwash.
And if you're not sure if you need to backwash,
be sure to check out our other videos
about when exactly to backwash your filter.
Backwashing generally works the same way across filters,
but the process changes slightly,
depending on whether you have a multi-port valve,
a push/pull valve, a sand filter, or a DE filter.
Now let's start with how to backwash a sand filter
with a multi-port valve.
Before you begin, you'll need a backwash hose.
Luckily, this is the only extra equipment you'll need
to backwash your sand filter.
And make sure you never turn the multi-port valve handle
while the pool filter is on and running.
This could cause the rubber diverter gasket
inside the valve to become loose or break.
One, turn the filter system off.
Then remove the skimmer basket,
especially if it's full of debris.
Two, attach a backwash hose to your filters waste
or backwash port.
Three, turn your multi-port valve to backwash.
Then turn your filter system back on.
Water should be flowing out the backwash port
and through the hose.
Four, let the water run for 30 seconds to one minute
or until the water runs clear.
Check the clarity coming out of the end
of your backwash hose
or check your filter site glass if you have one.
Five, turn the filter system off
and then turn the multi-port valve to rinse.
Six, turn the filter system back on
and rinse the filter for about 30 seconds.
Seven, turn the filter system off,
turn the multi-port valve to filter,
and turn the system back on
when you're ready to run your pool.
If you have a smaller filter, like an Intex sand filter,
you may wanna do your backwashing in rounds.
Backwash for one minute and then rinse for one minute.
Repeat this cycle three rounds
to avoid blowing anything back into the pool.
Now here's how to backwash a DE filter.
Before you get started, you'll need,
one, a backwash hose,
two, diatomaceous earth powder.
This attaches to the DE grids inside the filter,
creating a DE cake.
And this cake, along with the filter grids inside,
helps filter out fine particles in your pool water.
And three,
a one pound plastic scooper for scooping DE powder.
So how much DE powder will you need?
Backwashing won't remove all the DE powder in your filter,
so you only need to add about 80% of the amount
that you would for a new filter.
Most standard size DE filters need about three
to four pounds of DE powder replaced during backwashing.
Since DE powder is measured in pounds,
a one pound plastic scooper is helpful for easy measuring.
Okay, so here's how to backwash a DE filter
with a multi-port or push/pull valve.
Remember, never turn the multi-port valve handle
or the push/pull valve handles
while the pool filter is on and running.
It can cause the rubber diverter gasket inside the valve
to become loose or brake.
One, turn off the filter system.
Then connect the backwash hose to the filters waste port.
Two, if you have a multi-port valve, set it to backwash.
If you have a push/pull valve, open the backwash gate.
You can do this by turning the valve
to open and pulling up the handle.
Three, turn the filter system back on
and let it run for one to two minutes.
Water should be flowing out the backwash hose.
Four, turn the filter system off.
Then return the multi-port valve to rinse.
Five, turn the system back on,
and let it run for about another minute.
Six, turn the filter system off.
If you have a multi-port valve, set it to filter.
If you have a push/pull valve,
press down on the handle and turn it back to lock.
Seven, turn the system back on.
Make sure the pump is primed and running
before adding DE powder.
If it's not primed, turn the pump off, remove the lid,
and fill the pump basket full of water with a hose.
If you need help with this step,
be sure to check out our other video
on how to prime your pool pump.
Measure out your DE powder.
You'll be adding this directly to your skimmer,
so make sure that the pump is running.
Remove the skimmer lid and the skimmer basket.
Then add one scoop of DE powder at a time.
You should see the powder disappear
as it's pulled towards your filter.
Nine, run your pool pump for at least 30 minutes
to allow DE to distribute evenly over the filter grids.
If backwashing your filter
isn't solving your filter problems,
it might be time to change your filter medium.
You want to change your sand in your sand filter
or the grids in your DE filter every four to five years.
And that's it.
If you need any more help with pool maintenance,
grab our free pool care cheat sheet
at SwimUniversity.com/CheatSheet.
And if you found this video helpful,
leave a comment, hit that like button,
and subscribe for more pool maintenance tutorials
throughout the season.
That's it.
Thanks again and happy swimming.