What is backwashing and can I do it with a Pentair Clean & Clear?

[JuYuHu]

Hello, I'm a beginner to pool care and to this forum! I see the term "backwashing" used a lot on this forum, and I'm trying to figure out what it means.

For a while, I thought it just meant washing your filters, in my case, the four cartridge filters in the tank. However, in reading other posts, I'm seeing that it may have something to do with multiport valves and using your pool water?

We have a spout for draining the pool water... not sure if it has to do with that.

Thanks for bearing with a newbie's questions!

 

[tim5055]

It is the method used in cleaning sand and DE filters, but not cartridge filters like yours.

In a pool with a filter that uses back-washing there is a valve (the multiport valve you thought of) that allows reversing the flow of water through the filter and flushing the waste water out. This removes the gunk the filter removed from the pool.

Thanks for bearing with a newbie's questions!

That is why we are here, ask away.

 

[JuYuHu]

Ok, I get it now! Thanks!