Hi, Judi,
Welcome to the forum!!

For right now, backwashing your filter frequently is much better for it than letting the pressure get too high and overloading your pump. It shouldn't hurt the filter; however, if you're having to backwash that often, there are obviously problems with the water that you need to address.

Does your filter have a vacuum to waste mode? That would allow you to still vacuum but to bypass the filter so the frequent backwashings wouldn't be necessary.


By "occasionally using a shock product and a clarifier product and not testing any water levels", you may have created a pool that's going to take some time and patience to fix, but I'm sure we can help you with it.

If you'll have the water tested with a drop-based kit (no strips!) and post numbers for at least two of the three: Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine, Combined Chlorine in addition to pH, Total Alkalinity, CYA (stabilizer), and Hardness, I'm sure we can help you get the algae problem fixed so that you don't have to spend nearly as much time vacuuming.

We also need the ingredients of the chems you've been using in the pool (specific ingredients, not just "shock").

Also, you really need to get a good, drop-based kit so you can do your testing at home and make sure that your readings are accurate. In order to clear up an algae problem, this is going to be key. We recommend the Taylor 2006K, which can be found online. Leslie's also has a relabeled version of that kit on their online site.

In the meantime, read through the "stickies" at the top of the forums--most of the general water chemistry basics and methods are in those stickies. You can also check out our sister site PoolSolutions.com and there's LOTS of information there that will help you understand what's going on with your pool. And, of course, we're here to help!! It will be helpful if you'll just keep all the information regarding this situation in this one thread, so that all the people trying to assist you have all the info in one place.

Janet