What is a backwash?
Backwash is a common term associated with both DE and sand pool filters. After a period of time, accumulated dirt causes a resistance in flow and the flow diminishes. This is when you know to backwash your filter. There is a control valve on the filter that you set to the backwash position. When set to this position, the water flow is automatically reversed through the filter so that it is directed to the bottom of the tank and up through the media (sand/de). This flushes the previously trapped dirt and debris out the waste line.
Also known as a backflush, this is where the pumper literally goes back to his truck and reverses the pump to shoot liquid back down into the tank. This is done to break up the accumulation of solids at the bottom of a tank thereby allowing the pumper to clean the tank. However, when a tank has been neglected and there is a large build up of hard solids at the bottom of the tank, the pumper may have to do more backwashes. Sometimes even that is not enough to break up the solids. A conscientious pumper will literally beat these hard solids with the septic hose to bust up the remaining hard solids to leave a clean tank. When that doesn’t work, a second attempt, 10-15 days later, after the tank has some fluids in it, will be made with a “crust buster.” A crust buster is a piece of equipment much like an egg beater. It mixes the liquid and solids together in order to pump the tank more effectively. Additional time spent cleaning the tank due to accumulation of solids and grease will genera
