Hi everyone. I am a new pool owner after buying my first house. I figured I’d enjoy pool care more than yard work so I picked a small home with an inground pool. I started doing a lot of research and have ended up on this site many times and finally decided to register haha. Thanks for the help thus far! I haven’t closed the pool yet due to buying the home late in the season and managed to call someone and get an appointment for the end of the month, but in the meantime I’ve been trying to clear some murky water. After repeated testing and clearing that the pool (inground vinyl, with sand filter) is balanced, I am currently having issues with the pool pump and filter after utilizing a filter cleaner which I followed some tutorials on YouTube on how to utilize. I thought the murky water was possibly caused by an unclean filter since it seemed that no matter how many times I backwashed, balanced, shocked, etc the water while definitely cleaner never completely cleared up. I used the HTH filter cleaner for swimming pools, but after waiting the 8-12 hours as the cleaner suggested the backwash setting does not work and the pump won’t prime. The waste or filter settings also doesn’t appear to be working properly, as no pressure comes out of the pumps, but am getting some bubbles in the pool and am wondering if there’s now a clogged filter from the cleaner somehow. I decided to come on the forum and see if anyone else has had similar issues. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!!
Hello from Michigan… issues with pool sand filter backwashing
- Thread starter Suz24
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,798
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
The description of your water sounds suspiciously like algae. Please post a full set of water test results from your TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit. That's step #1. As for the filter multiport valve not working properly, it may help us to see a couple pics of the equipment pad. Also be sure to update your signature - see mine as an example. Also include if you are on a well. You should also download and use the PoolMath APP. You can link your test results from that APP to TFP.
www.troublefreepool.com
The description of your water sounds suspiciously like algae. Please post a full set of water test results from your TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit. That's step #1. As for the filter multiport valve not working properly, it may help us to see a couple pics of the equipment pad. Also be sure to update your signature - see mine as an example. Also include if you are on a well. You should also download and use the PoolMath APP. You can link your test results from that APP to TFP.
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www.troublefreepool.com
Looks like the stuff is mostly water (~84%!) with a little citric acid and some other stuff. Probably shouldn’t waste your money on that again.
I assume you drained the filter like it instructed and put the plug back on after draining? If the water isn’t flowing out so a missing plug might make be the cause but would seem to be obvious that water would be draining out of the plug and not down the waste tube.
Yeah unfortunately my local Leslies has a shortage of filter cleaner products so I picked this one up online after reading a few reviews, definitely won’t be using again.
The filter has been drained and the plug placed back on. I’ve also been refilling the pump basket with water each time I’m attempting a backwash. I also noticed the skimmer has some sand in the right component, though I am not sure if this is normal? I’ve only cleaned the area once thus far and don’t remember noticing if sand was there initially. The left pipe (sorry not sure if the name for these components) is clear though where it usually would be sucking in water.
I’ll get my test results in after work, but here is the pictures of the equipment if that helps!
Attachments
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,798
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You appear to have a fairly straight-forward set-up. We'll watch for your reply later. Also let us know when you will be closing for the winter. That could dictate what actions you have time for.
I’ll be closing November 4th, and thanks! Downloaded pool math and will be loading in a test later today.
For future reference, I’d say not to use ANY cleaner product in the sand filter. You have a giant pool of “chlorinated cleaning product” already hooked up and it’ll work fine with just backwashing once and a while. (Once it’s working again that is).
Looks like the issue turned out to be the multiport valve was leaking air. Everything seems to be working again, did end up having to call someone to figure it out but thankfully I should be good until my closing date !
Glad it worked out Suz !!! Enjoy the winter. Before you go, take a min and fill out your signature. (Hamburger menu upper left corner). When you come back in the spring trying to figure out how to fire something up, we will know all your specs and model#s without having to ask questions about your questions. Help us help you. 
(Which we will GLADLY do, anytime).
(Which we will GLADLY do, anytime).