Another fellow suggested waiting until the return flow coming out the jets was noticeably reduced. Not based on a PSI reading, nor a time interval. His rationale was that a sand filter works better with some level of dirtiness to it, that it catches smaller particles as it gets dirty. He said that frequent backwashing actually reduced the ability of the sand to catch smaller particles.I wasn't sure what I thought about that. Some of the things he says seem to make sense, others not so much. He strongly discourages using liquid chlorine, I'm a huge proponent of it and use it to excellent effect in my pool. Do you have any thoughts on this? On a related note, Orenda have a procedure for cleaning the sand in a filter and state that sand can be used for MANY years if you clean it thoroughly from time to time. It's a minor PIA to do it but they show evidence of its effectiveness. Do you have any thoughts on that as well? Thanks. Michael in Texas
Hey Michael, I’ve never heard of what the other person said about letting the sound stay a little dirty and how they recommend deciding when to backwash the filter. But just because I haven’t heard of it, does it mean it’s not valid. I’m not a huge fan of sand filters, or at least I used to not to be until I heard of a product that replaces sand in a sand filter. It’s a glass media called Dr. Drydens activate and it is fantastic!
Regarding cleaning the sand thoroughly as Orenda recommends i’ve never heard of that. Either, my understanding has been as the sand gets older it starts to deteriorate and clump together to where they become like rocks, and then it just doesn’t filter anymore.
I only have one client who has that (and they're brand new). So I don't know the life of that media. Here's what I found on the internet: "Glass media lasts about 2-3 times as long as sand filter media"
I did in my video on how to backwash a sand filter. Typically 2-2.5 minutes is sufficient. If your filter has a rinse option I'd suggest after backwash it run it on rinse for about 30-40 seconds.
Oh we must need sand changed. (Ten years or more.) Dah!? How? Solar has not been working and some air bubble troubles. Reno time. Give suggestions please. I just subscribed. I'm a dyi guy. Going to replace a valve, motor and chlorinator and add a bypass ozonator, etc. Thanks. Ps, you should just come over since this will be a great example for your tour! Richie The Sailor ⛵️
@@PoolSchooler thanks for the link to change the sand in the filter. My wife had an idea to hook the garden hose up to the sand drain to facilitate rinsing the sand medium from the bottom. I would disconnect the apparatus to access the sand to fluff the sand while rinsing. Of course this is a temporary rig to eliminate the constricting filtration. I also am addressing the air leaks that together were detrimental to the solar function and killed two pumps already!!! Wow THANKS POOL SCHOOL!, Richie The Sailor ⛵️
I believe you miss heard what I say on this video. Typically you need to backwash a sand filter once every week or every other week. Because sand is a fairly inefficient medium for filtration. How often you use the pool is irrelevant when it comes to filtration. Your filter filters out, dust and small debris that comes in via the air.
You mentioned that sand more than 5yrs old will be compacted. Not quite sure of your meaning. If I open the filter up & displace the sand by moving it around, will that extend the "life" of the sand? What am I missing here? Thanks
Honestly in all my years of doing pools I've never heard of doing this. It makes some sense though. I'm not sure if the sand reaches a point with age where it just isn't any good for filtering anymore. Worth looking into though.
@@PoolSchooler I've done that a couple of times using a hose to dig down and get all the crud that will wash out with the over flow of water at the top of the filter while I use my hand to reach deep down moving all the sand around. Saw it on another channel.
@@PoolSchooler I'm pretty sure that what happens is when the sand is new it is more crystalline with various facets and edges and then overtime those get smoothed out thus reducing the effectiveness of the sand's filtration properties.
I'm assuming you have a Hayward Sand Filter with a VariFlow Valve. Here's a video that will answer both of your questions for that model: ruclips.net/video/5YrFuwlj1f4/видео.html
I gave this information in my video on how to backwash (and recharge) a DE filter. This one was ONLY about how often. Here's a link to that video: ruclips.net/video/2lQX2xtG7FE/видео.html Also, the size of the pool doesn't matter when it comes to how much DE. The amount of DE you use is related to the filtration area of the filter itself. Watch the video it explains how to know how much based on the filter.
Wow. Sorry but I think thats way too much. I say backwash every 4 to six months depending on the filter pressure and how much dirt is surrounding the pool. I think its impossible for a sand filter to get plugged up that fast unless its a community pool.
@@richiethesailor629 with that much vegetation you may want to get a good phosphate remover to keep them from turning your pool green. I suggest PR 10,000 by Orenda
@@PoolSchooler , I ordered the PR 10,000 right away. Sounds like good stuff for my arsenal of pool supplies. I'll probably wish I had known about PR 10,000 all along. Thanks all for advice, I'm going to @PoolSchool! Richie ⛵️
Thanks man! Straight and simpel info! Great
Glad it was helpful
Have you posted a video on how to change the sand in a sand filter? BTW your channel is great!
I have. Here's a link: ruclips.net/video/IhJpyBXnFy4/видео.html
Another fellow suggested waiting until the return flow coming out the jets was noticeably reduced. Not based on a PSI reading, nor a time interval. His rationale was that a sand filter works better with some level of dirtiness to it, that it catches smaller particles as it gets dirty. He said that frequent backwashing actually reduced the ability of the sand to catch smaller particles.I wasn't sure what I thought about that. Some of the things he says seem to make sense, others not so much. He strongly discourages using liquid chlorine, I'm a huge proponent of it and use it to excellent effect in my pool. Do you have any thoughts on this? On a related note, Orenda have a procedure for cleaning the sand in a filter and state that sand can be used for MANY years if you clean it thoroughly from time to time. It's a minor PIA to do it but they show evidence of its effectiveness. Do you have any thoughts on that as well? Thanks.
Michael in Texas
Hey Michael, I’ve never heard of what the other person said about letting the sound stay a little dirty and how they recommend deciding when to backwash the filter. But just because I haven’t heard of it, does it mean it’s not valid. I’m not a huge fan of sand filters, or at least I used to not to be until I heard of a product that replaces sand in a sand filter. It’s a glass media called Dr. Drydens activate and it is fantastic!
Regarding cleaning the sand thoroughly as Orenda recommends i’ve never heard of that. Either, my understanding has been as the sand gets older it starts to deteriorate and clump together to where they become like rocks, and then it just doesn’t filter anymore.
@@PoolSchooler Yes Dr Drydens glass seems to be excellent. We will probably change to it at the end of the season.
@@mguerramd definitely worth it.
How about if you use glass media n a sand filter?
I only have one client who has that (and they're brand new). So I don't know the life of that media. Here's what I found on the internet:
"Glass media lasts about 2-3 times as long as sand filter media"
You should mention the duration of the backwash and also the rinse.
I did in my video on how to backwash a sand filter. Typically 2-2.5 minutes is sufficient. If your filter has a rinse option I'd suggest after backwash it run it on rinse for about 30-40 seconds.
Oh we must need sand changed. (Ten years or more.) Dah!? How? Solar has not been working and some air bubble troubles. Reno time. Give suggestions please. I just subscribed. I'm a dyi guy. Going to replace a valve, motor and chlorinator and add a bypass ozonator, etc. Thanks. Ps, you should just come over since this will be a great example for your tour! Richie The Sailor ⛵️
I did a video on how to change your sand. Here's a link: ruclips.net/video/IhJpyBXnFy4/видео.html
@@PoolSchooler thanks for the link to change the sand in the filter. My wife had an idea to hook the garden hose up to the sand drain to facilitate rinsing the sand medium from the bottom. I would disconnect the apparatus to access the sand to fluff the sand while rinsing. Of course this is a temporary rig to eliminate the constricting filtration. I also am addressing the air leaks that together were detrimental to the solar function and killed two pumps already!!!
Wow THANKS POOL SCHOOL!,
Richie The Sailor ⛵️
What does it mean that I have to do it every couple of days or the pressure gets too high we only use it once or twice a week
I believe you miss heard what I say on this video. Typically you need to backwash a sand filter once every week or every other week. Because sand is a fairly inefficient medium for filtration.
How often you use the pool is irrelevant when it comes to filtration. Your filter filters out, dust and small debris that comes in via the air.
You mentioned that sand more than 5yrs old will be compacted. Not quite sure of your meaning. If I open the filter up & displace the sand by moving it around, will that extend the "life" of the sand? What am I missing here? Thanks
Honestly in all my years of doing pools I've never heard of doing this. It makes some sense though. I'm not sure if the sand reaches a point with age where it just isn't any good for filtering anymore. Worth looking into though.
@@PoolSchooler I've done that a couple of times using a hose to dig down and get all the crud that will wash out with the over flow of water at the top of the filter while I use my hand to reach deep down moving all the sand around. Saw it on another channel.
@@PoolSchooler I'm pretty sure that what happens is when the sand is new it is more crystalline with various facets and edges and then overtime those get smoothed out thus reducing the effectiveness of the sand's filtration properties.
@@MarkHagenson Makes sense, thanks.
@@MarkHagenson Thanks for chiming in.
How many minutes do you backwash your sand filter and how many minutes also rinsing it?
I'm assuming you have a Hayward Sand Filter with a VariFlow Valve. Here's a video that will answer both of your questions for that model: ruclips.net/video/5YrFuwlj1f4/видео.html
Thank you!
How often do you backwash a DE and how many scoops of DE powder you need for a 10000 pool? Also, how often do you need to clean the filters. Thank you
I gave this information in my video on how to backwash (and recharge) a DE filter. This one was ONLY about how often. Here's a link to that video: ruclips.net/video/2lQX2xtG7FE/видео.html
Also, the size of the pool doesn't matter when it comes to how much DE. The amount of DE you use is related to the filtration area of the filter itself. Watch the video it explains how to know how much based on the filter.
Wow. Sorry but I think thats way too much. I say backwash every 4 to six months depending on the filter pressure and how much dirt is surrounding the pool. I think its impossible for a sand filter to get plugged up that fast unless its a community pool.
If we did that in Arizona all of our pools would be green. That's been my experience for over 19 years of doing this.
@@PoolSchooler thats crazy to me. I just backwash when the filter pressure goes up 5 to 7 psi from where it starts. But whatever works for you..
In spring, at first, the filter needs a rinse more often. We have oaks and pine trees near. Thnx, educational channel and folks!
@@richiethesailor629 with that much vegetation you may want to get a good phosphate remover to keep them from turning your pool green. I suggest PR 10,000 by Orenda
@@PoolSchooler , I ordered the PR 10,000 right away. Sounds like good stuff for my arsenal of pool supplies. I'll probably wish I had known about PR 10,000 all along. Thanks all for advice, I'm going to @PoolSchool! Richie ⛵️