Hi Judy,

If you just shut off the pump, turn the handle counterclockwise to waste and turn on your pump, it shouldn't take you long to drop the level. I have a DE filter and normal pressure is ~22 psi. I usually backwash it only when it raises to 28-30 psi. Otherwise you're adding DE when your really don't have to (& in my case, it's 6 lbs for every backwash).

Tom