How often and how long do you backwash a sand filter

[missparker205]

Great, thanks for clearing up the backwashing process. I was never told to turn off my pump while switching up the process. Thanks so much for the information! Apparently, my gauge is broken because it goes to 30 psi when turned off. I will have to go purchase one of the tester you have mentioned because I have been using strips. I do have city water though. How do I figure out how many gallons my pool is? As far as the shock, it has cal-hypo in it. My normal chlorine source is the tabs. Thanks again for your time, and I will get back to you regarding the water testing.

[Watermom]

How high are your pool walls? If we know that, we can guestimate your volume.

Welcome to the Pool Forum, by the way!

[missparker205]

Thanks for the welcome! I believe my pool walls are 48, but I am not completely for sure. Now I am experiencing another problem. Yesterday evening, I decided to get in and vaccum it out hoping that would help get rid of the algae because I am tired of wasting my chemicals. Of course because the water was green, I couldn't see the bottom to assure I was getting everything; however, there were a ton of leaves that had settled in the middle of the pool at the bottom. I tried to get all that I could with what I could see, but now I am having a problem with my pump/filter. I don't know if it is clogged with leaves, but it seems as if my filter isn't working. You can hear the pump running just fine, but nothing is coming out of my returns. When I vaccumed the pool I did it on bypass to waste. I have tried backwashing, rinsing, and putting it on filter, and still nothing. I have done this several times, including cutting the pump on and off. So, I just turned it off and left it off. Any suggestions as to what could be wrong?

[AnnaK]

When you backwash have a white plastic pitcher handy. At first, the water coming out of the backwash hose will be brownish with lots of tiny bits and particles. After 15 - 20 seconds catch some of the water in the white pitcher and see how it looks. If it's still cloudy, keep it running. Backwashing my filter on a 12,000 gal pool takes about 45 seconds and a lot of water.

Rinsing packs the sand back down so it doesn't come shooting out of your return when you go back to the filter setting. I rinse for 30 seconds. Be sure you have plenty of water in the pool when you do this.

[missparker205]

It doesn't really have enough pressure to backwash. When I tried backwashing it the water in the clear viewing tube was clear, but the water was coming out very slow. It seems like my filter isn't working. I don't know what is going on.

[AnnaK]

Does your pool have a skimmer basket? It may be full of leaves. And is there a pot with a domed lid attached to your pump? If so, it may also have leaves and will need to be cleaned out.