PSI shot up after backwashing

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LisaBgame

LisaBgame

Well-known member
Jun 19, 2022
46
MI
Pool Size
33000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I was so close to finishing my SLAM. Today my PSI on sand filter was at 14 and it’s usually 10-11, so I decided to backwash. Everything went fine with that but then when I started it up again as I normally do, the PSI shot up to 30 and there was very little suction at the skimmer and weak flow out of returns.

I have only a push pull valve with my sand filter. I did notice that when pulling it up after backwashing, it came up really easy - usually there is some resistance. I’ve turned it off and on several times and same thing keeps happening.

Please help! I’m so afraid I’ll lose all the progress I’ve made in my SLAM. 😢
 
Last edited:
Who is the manufacturer of your filter and push pull valve? If you’re comfortable doing so, you need to disassemble the valve and inspect it for issues.
 
Took it out and discovered my valve is broken, a whole plunger piece is at the bottom of that area. I’m not sure how to get that out. I’m going to see if I can find this valve online to order
 

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That’s what I was afraid of. If you unscrew the unions to the filter, can you access the broken piston through the bottom port that connects to the filter?
 
Lake Placid said:
That’s what I was afraid of. If you unscrew the unions to the filter, can you access the broken piston through the bottom port that connects to the filter?
Click to expand...
I think I could access it that way but I can’t unscrew the unions. It’s really tight. Is there a special tool I can get for that?
 
Just want to offer support for your effort. Good job.

For now or the future: you should have a small, portable pump for such occasions, when your pad is out of commission. I have this one:
And I always forget which one @Newdude recommends.

You can use these pumps to exchange water better and safer than your main pump. And they can keep your pool circulating enough to keep the green at bay should your pad ever stop working. At least well enough and long enough for a spare part or repairman to show up. In this case, you could probably keep your SLAM going well enough while you deal with your filter.

Obviously, you'll lose the filtering aspect of a SLAM while your filter is down, but the little pump would keep your FC at SLAM level, so you wouldn't lose ground.

If you can't wait for an Amazon delivery, these types of pumps are readily available at Lowes, HD and Harbor Freight. You could probably even rent one for a few days, if you don't want to decide right now which pump to get, or don't want to spring for it just now.

If you end up with your own, you break it out for emergencies, then pack it away in your garage for the next one. I've used mine to empty my pool a bit for a water exchange, but now it's up on a shelf awaiting its big hero debut. It's cheap insurance, especially considering (as you know) how expensive the chlorine is to perform a SLAM.
 
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