What is a backwash valve on a swimming pool filter?
According to Hayward, this is how the backwash feature on their pool filters works: "After a period of time, the accumulated dirt in the filter causes a resistance to flow, and the flow diminishes. This means it is time to clean (backwash) your filter. With the control valve in the backwash position, the water flow is automatically reversed through the filter so that it is directed to the bottom of the tank, up through the sand, flushing the previously trapped dirt and debris out the waste line. Once the filter is backwashed (cleaned) of dirt, the control valve is manually resequenced to Rinse, and then Filter, to resume normal filtering."