- Sand Filters are relatively easy to use and maintain, but only if you know how each setting works and how the water flows through your system.. So Here's a step-by-step guide on how to operate and troubleshoot your pool sand filter.. Let's dive in. Real Quick, if you want more help taking care of your swimming 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 throughout the year. First, how does the sand filter work? When Your pump and your filter are running, water is pulled from the pool, through the pump and into your sand filter.. Inside The filter,. The water passes through sand, that sand sifts out particles, debris, and contaminants.

Then The filtered water is captured by the laterals at the bottom of the tank and is sent up through the central standing pipe.. Finally, the filtered water returns back to your pool. So What are the settings on a filter? The Most common filter valve is called a multi-port valve and it's located at the top or side of your filter tank. A Multi-port valve usually has six settings, Filter, Backwash, Rinse, Waste, Recirculate, and Winter or Closed.

You'll use the Filter, Backwash, and Rinse setting the most. When Turning the multi-port valve handle, always keep your pump and filter system off. Keeping The pump running while moving the handle can cause you to blow a gasket in your valve. Number One, the Filter setting.

This is the filter's normal operating mode. On The Filter setting, water is pulled from the pool, from the skimmers through the pump, and then into the filter. With A top-mount, multi-port valve,. the water sprays down and sifts through the filter sand..

That Clean filtered water is captured by the laterals and flows back into the pool through the standpipe.. Number Two is the Backwash setting. Over Time, as contaminants build up in your sand,, you'll need to backwash your filter to clear it out.. Backwashing reverses the flow of water in your filter, dislodging small debris and contaminants that have built up in your sand..

On The Backwash setting, the water is pulled from the pool and moves inside your filter in a reverse direction. That Reversed water flow flushes the debris and dirt out of the sand.. The Dirty water then exits through the filter's waste port through a backwash hose that carries the water away from your filter. Backwashing Takes about one to two minutes or until the water runs clean out of the hose.

You Can also check the sight glass on your filter to see if the water is clear. As You backwash, you'll lose water in the process, so be sure to refill your pool so the water level doesn't drop below the skimmer.. If You want a step-by-step guide on backwashing, be sure to check out our other video. Number Three is the Rinse setting, Use this setting to rinse your filter after backwashing.

Because Backwashing dislodges the sand,. the Rinse setting helps the sand resettle and prevents sand from getting back into your pool. Rinsing Pulls the water from the pool through your filter and out through the waste port, so be sure to have your backwash hose in place. Number Four is the Waste setting.

If You're manually vacuuming your pool and you have a lot of dirt, debris, algae, or flocculate,. it can be too much for the filter to handle. The Waste Setting allows you to vacuum out contaminants while completely bypassing your filter. The Dirty water from your pool passes through the waste port, never even touching your filter sand..

You'll lose water on this setting, so be sure to watch your water level so it doesn't fall below your skimmer line,. And be sure to have your backwash hose attached to the waste port.. Number Five is the Recirculate setting. This Recirculates water through your pool without touching the filter sand..

Essentially, the Recirculate setting just spins the water around your pool through the plumbing without filtering it. You'll rarely use this setting, but it can be handy for mixing certain chemicals. And Six, the Winter or Closed setting. This Setting closes all the ports in your multi-port valve.

It Completely stops water from passing through, and it's used when closing your pool or when you need to make filter repairs. Do Not run the pump on either of these settings. Okay, let's talk about your filter pressure gauge. Pressure Inside the tank helps the water flow.

If That pressure gets too low or too high, the filter won't work properly. The Pressure gauge lets you monitor your filter's pressure. Average Filter pressure ranges between 10 to 25 PSI. When Your pressure reads: 10 PSI above normal, It usually means your filter needs backwashing.

Well, how do you know what's normal pressure? After You backwash your filter, check the pressure gauge, that's your baseline pressure. You Might even wanna mark it with a pen. But The pressure gauges can fail over time and some aren't very accurate, so if you notice low water flow to your pump or low water flow coming out of your return jets, it could be a sign that your filter pressure is off. One Quick way to fix high pool filter pressure is by using an air relief valve.

When Air gets trapped in your filter system, it can cause high pressure. The Air relief valve manually releases air from the system and brings the pressure back down. This Valve is usually a tiny handle near the filter pressure gauge or the top of your filter. If Your filter is clean,, there's no blockages in your system,, your water is flowing,, and your pressure gauge still says something's wrong,.

It might be a problem with the gauge itself.. If You're dealing with high or low filter pressure and backwashing isn't solving the issue,. Be sure to check out our other video. Finally, how often do you need to change the sand in your sand filter? The Sand should be changed out every three to five years.

Once a year, you'll wanna deep-clean your filter with a sand filter cleaning solution. It's a simple-to-use product that's added to your pump strainer basket and circulates through your filter on the Backwash setting. But Otherwise,, the only thing you need to do for regular maintenance throughout the season is backwashing when your filter pressure rises too high. If You need more help, grab our free! Pool Care Cheat Sheet at Swimuniversity.com/cheatsheet.

And If you found this video helpful,, subscribe for more pool care tutorials throughout the year. Thanks Again and happy Swim.