How are sand filters cleaned?
Most filters come equipped with a valve, commonly referred to as a Multi Port Valve. The Multi Port Valve has various settings allowing water flow to be directed in many direct directions. One of the directions is BACKWASH. In the backwash mode the water inside the tank is made to flow in reverse. Instead of the water flowing from the top of the tank down, the water from the pool is fed into the bottom of the tank through the laterals. This causes the sand to be churned, the dirt and debris which has been contained is flushed out of the tank through a separate waste line. Many Multi Port Valves have a sight glass for viewing this process. As the water is backwashed, use the sight glass to inspect the water, as the water becomes visually clean the backwash should be considered finished, the pump stopped and the valve now put in the RINSE mode. Reenergizing the pump in the rinse mode allows the water to flow in the standard operating direction and allows settling to occur in the tank. Di
