A good rule of thumb is to backwash once the pressure displayed on your pressure gauge is 8-10 psi over the starting level. Backwashing after heavy rains, treating for algae, or when trying to clear cloudy water will keep your filter working efficiently.

What setting should my sand pump be on?

The lever should be on the ‘Filter’ setting most of the time. This is the setting that provides normal pool filtration by pushing the water through the filter media (sand, glass beads or D.E) that then traps any dirt and debris before the water is returned to the pool.

How much sand should be in a sand filter?

How Much Sand to Add to Pool Filters? Sand filters are not filled completely full of sand, but only about 2/3 full, to allow “Freeboard” space in the tank, above the sand bed.

Why is the pressure high on my sand filter?

The most common reason for high pressure on your filter pump is a dirty filter. Whether you have a sand filter, DE filter or cartridge filter, dust and solid particles will slowly clog your filter causing the pressure to rise. To fix this, backwash your filter or in the case of cartridge filters, hose it out.

How do I know if my sand filter is working properly?

Add diatomaceous earth (DE) to your pool skimmer, stick to around a scoop or two – no more than the size of a 1lb coffee cup. The moment you do this, go to the pool jets to see if it is returning DE into the pool, or if the water suddenly looks cloudy. If it is, you likely have an issue with your filter.

What are the different settings on a sand filter for?

The most common settings found on a sand filter valve are Filter, Backwash, Rinse, Recirculate, Waste, Closed, and Winterize. … Filter – This is the main setting, directing water flow through the sand for cleaning. Backwash – When impurities are removed from the water, they remain in the sand inside of the tank.

What RPM should pool pump run at?

Suction cleaners typically run at around 2200-2400 RPM. Heaters require 20 to 40 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) so might run at around half speed or a little higher. You would probably want to run your Spa at up to full speed, 3450, for maximum effect.

What should Psi be on pool pump?

The size of your pool, the size of your pump, and the condition of your pool water directly impact pressure readings. Generally speaking, a pressure reading between 10 – 25 psi can be considered normal. Once you have installed a new filter, turn everything on and take a baseline reading.

What setting do you use to vacuum a pool with a sand filter?

1. If you have a sand filter and are vacuuming to waste, set filter to “waste” option. …
2. Otherwise, leave setting on “filter” and turn pump on to begin vacuuming. …
3. Vacuum your pool just as you would vacuum your living room, picking up debris or algae as you go.

Why is the PSI on pool pump high?

High swimming pool filter pressure is usually the result of a lot of particles being filtered out of the swimming pool water. When pressure rises it is time to backwash the filter if you have that option with a sand or diatomacesous earth (DE) filter.

Article first time published on

What KPA should my pool filter run at?

The pressure gauge should read approximately 50 – 70 kpa when the filter is clean. Backwashing is indicated when the pressure exceeds 70 kpa.

What happens if you put too much sand in a sand filter?

Too much sand and your filter will likely not run correctly or may break when reassembling. Too little sand and you will have cloudy water no matter how much your filter runs. … Typically filters hold sand in 50 lb. increments, so you can safely expect filters to range from 100, 150, 200, 250 lbs., etc.

Why does my sand filter blowing out sand?

Sand coming from the pool filter is the sign of a broken component in the filter. … If you see it blowing out into the pool, something is broken. The most common problem is a cracked lateral, which is one of the perforated pipes at the bottom of the filter that catches water that has circulated through the sand.

Why is my sand filter putting sand in pool?

Your pump may be too large or the sand level too high in the filter. When the filter is backwashing the water flow can cause the sand to rise high enough and overflow into the standpipe, which will allow the sand back into the pool.

Do you lose sand when backwashing?

After filling a sand filter it is normal for the filter to expel excess sand during backwashing for a few times .

What's the best time to run a pool filter?

Running your pool pump and filter during the day is ideal because this is when your pool is most prone to algae bloom, contaminants and chlorine loss. When the sun is out, the UV rays from the sun burn up the chlorine inside your pool.

What are the best hours to run your pool pump?

If you are doing the split day and night pool pumping, the best thing is to start at 11 am to around 4 pm when the sun is hot so that it can burn off the chlorine. Another midnight schedule will help you get a good chlorine build-up ahead the next day.

Is it OK to run pool pump 24 hours a day?

The size of your pool, the efficiency of your pump and filter, and how dirty your pool is are just some of the factors you need to consider. Nevertheless, most pool cleaning professionals would advise against running a pool pump for more than 8 hours a day.

Should I run my pool pump on filter or recirculate?

You should run your pump/filter as long as it takes to keep the pool clean. Some pools have great circulation combined with low use, therefore run times can be quite short. Other pools have lousy circ systems and huge bather loads and even 24/7 filtration has trouble keeping up.

Can you backwash a pool too much?

Can You Backwash Too Much? If you backwash your pool too much i.e. time duration and/or close frequency then yes you can cause a lot of problems. Some problems that can arise from backwashing your sand pool filter too much are: Loss of water – 500+ litres of water can be lost in each backwashing cycle.

Do you vacuum a pool on backwash or waste?

Don’t use any metal object that can rust as a weight. 8. Vacuuming pool with filter valve in “backwash” position. When a pool is vacuumed with the sand filter valve in the “filter” position, the dirt and debris that passes through the pump ends up inside the filter on top of the bed of sand which is where you want it.

Do you leave skimmer basket in when vacuuming pool?

You need to leave the skimmer basket in under the skim vac plate, this allows the skimmer basket to catch your debris, and you can empty it quickly without having to turn your pump off and on like you would without it.

Do you have to backwash after vacuuming?

Yes, we recommend backwashing after you vacuum your pool. This allows the filter to shoot out any dirt / debris you have vacuumed up. Don’t forget to set your filter to “rinse” for 30 seconds after backwashing!

Does air damage pool pump?

Although your pump may operate as usual, sometimes air can be sucked in. When air is pulled into the pump it can cause it to dry. As well, in the long run your pump can age too early and overheat.

Why is my pool jets blowing bubbles?

A stream of bubbles is a sign of the unwanted presence of air within our pool’s plumbing system. This air is likely the cause of a sucking air leak from a pump, union or diverter gasket. The leaks and the air pockets they form will lower water pressure and greatly decrease the capacity of our filter system.