How do I backwash my above ground swimming pool without a "RINSE" setting on the valve?

Question

I have read alot about backwashing the pool, but all of the information I find says to put the valve in the "backwash" postion for a certain amount of time, and then switch to the "rinse" positon. Our multiport valve does not have a "rinse" postion. When we did backwash it, the water looked relatively clear after a couple of minutes, but then when we turned it back to "filter" it spewed dirty water back into the pool - which I assume would be remedied by being able to "rinse." So is there an alternative if I don't have a "rinse" postion? Thanks.

Answer 1

i work for a pool company and i would say that you probably have a older style multiport valve that is outdated. depending on what brand you have you may be able to update and change models. you could buy a whole complete filter that will have it. you are doing everything that you can as far as backwashing but don't do it any more than what you have to do. you can fluff the sand to much and lose everything that you have previously caught in the past. only backwash when the flow going back into your pool (return) is slow. you may do this weekly and it may not need it weekly thats just the best way to tell.

Answer 2

Also as a general rule, you do not need to see your water go clear.  What i have always told all of my service clients, is backwash it in 6 stages.   Turn off the pump, move to backwash, turn on for about 25-30 seconds.  Even if it is not clear, turn off the pump/filter, and go back to filter on the valve.  Run it for about 1 minute.  Repeat this step 2 more times. for a total of 3 times.  What you are doing is stirring everything up.  Just like when you wash your hair... the first time gets the oil and dirt out, and the 2nd cleaning actually cleans your hair.

Also, you didnt specify what type of filter system you have.  IF you have a DE filter, you wouldnt rinse your filter anyways.

IF you do have a DE filter, it may take longer, BUT.. the best thing you can do is to take the filter apart and clean it out. with a hose... for 2 reasons.... 1st.  It guarantees you get all the junk out, because even when you backwash, you will never get your filter completely clean.  2nd.  You will SAVE tons of water.  Backwashing will waste a couple hundred gallons of water easily.  Using a hose with a nozzle on a DE filter will only use 20-30 gallons of water.  Much much less especially over the course of a year.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

No alternative. Sounds like that is an above ground sand filter as some do not have the rinse feature.The rinse position doesn't rinse out the tank, it rinses out only the multiport itself, which if your backwash ran clear, shouldn't have spewed out much if any debris when you switched to filter. I think there's another issue there. You're sure you ran the filter on "filter" when vaccing the pool? It sounds a lot like either you vacc'd on backwash or your sand bed is saturated or possibly calcified. It could even be a broken lateral at the bottom of the tank. Any of those will result in what you're describing.

Answer 4

what kind of muliport valve is it?....i have never heard of a valve like that.....perhaps you could try putting valve to waste before putting to filter.....is it a multi port valve or a slide valve (up-down)?....my website: http://www.swimming-pool-information.com...