Backwashing according to pressure gauge or not?
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
Backwashing according to pressure gauge or not?
I regulary clean my sand filter when the backpressure shown on the gauge is more or less 4 to just 5 psi higher than starting pressure, and all the equipment, togethter with the pool, is new. I've got to do this 'cause if not, the skimmer (just one, it is the only suction device which has its valve open) won't collect the debris because of low suction. Is this ok? Any problem if I do so?
I ask 'cause I've been told just to backwash when the pressure gets 8-10 psi higher.
I ask 'cause I've been told just to backwash when the pressure gets 8-10 psi higher.
I regulary clean my sand filter when the backpressure shown on the gauge is more or less 4 to just 5 psi higher than starting pressure, and all the equipment, togethter with the pool, is new. I've got to do this 'cause if not, the skimmer (just one, it is the only suction device which has its valve open) won't collect the debris because of low suction. Is this ok? Any problem if I do so?
I ask 'cause I've been told just to backwash when the pressure gets 8-10 psi higher.
you could have a under-sized filter if this happens to much & causes suction to slow down like you state. One thing you can try is to cut all your bushes/trees so there is not so much debris getting into your pool. This should also help with chemical usage, like chlorine getting used up.
Having to backwash to often will cause sand to have to be changed out sooner than normal.
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
mr_clean wrote:you could have a under-sized filter if this happens to much & causes suction to slow down like you state. One thing you can try is to cut all your bushes/trees so there is not so much debris getting into your pool. This should also help with chemical usage, like chlorine getting used up.
Having to backwash to often will cause sand to have to be changed out sooner than normal.
but.... if the filter is under-sized, what difference would it make with one that is bigger, if the pump is the same?
Note: my problem is not that my filter gets dirty quickly, but that suction is lowered considerably when backpressure increases barely 4 psi.
but.... if the filter is under-sized, what difference would it make with one that is bigger, if the pump is the same?
Note: my problem is not that my filter gets dirty quickly, but that suction is lowered considerably when backpressure increases barely 4 psi.
If your filter requires frequent backwashing, every week or two, the sand bed may be "mudballed", or it may be "channeled". Other water balance problems may also contribute to sand deterioration, but a properly sized filter could go over 5 years between sand changes.
MUDBALLED: clumps of debris that do not come out when backwashed.
CHANNELED SAND: When water has worked open "holes" in the sand and is streaming right through (without really going through the sand).
heres a chart that recommends filter sizes with pumps.
filter chart
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
I've made the following test!
1- After having backwashed, saw the pressure gauge.
2- Stopped the pump and set the multiport valve to "closed".
3- Turned on the pump, rapidly saw the gauge, immediately turned off the pump.
4- Set the valve again to "filter".
What I got to know from this was that the maximum pressure my pump could do was 10 psi higher than the pressure at normal filtering, I simulated a completely clogged filter, with no water passing through it. So, in my case, if I wait till the pressure of the filter gets 10 psi higher than the normal filtering pressure , my pump will break down, as there would be no circulation. This means, again, in my case, that I've got to backwash when pressure gets 6 psi higher and no more.
Do you agree (and understand what I explained)???
1- After having backwashed, saw the pressure gauge.
2- Stopped the pump and set the multiport valve to "closed".
3- Turned on the pump, rapidly saw the gauge, immediately turned off the pump.
4- Set the valve again to "filter".
What I got to know from this was that the maximum pressure my pump could do was 10 psi higher than the pressure at normal filtering, I simulated a completely clogged filter, with no water passing through it. So, in my case, if I wait till the pressure of the filter gets 10 psi higher than the normal filtering pressure , my pump will break down, as there would be no circulation. This means, again, in my case, that I've got to backwash when pressure gets 6 psi higher and no more.
Do you agree (and understand what I explained)???
-
- Pool Care Proficient
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat 20 Oct, 2007 18:31
Return to “Basics for New Pool Owners”
Who is online at the Pool Help Forum
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests