Is there any harm in backwashing in order to bring the water level down to the bottom of the skimmer mouth opening during draining for winter closing?
Using backwash during closing?
- Thread starter Fire
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,951
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
No problem using backwash to waste to lower the water level.
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That’s way too much backwashing and it will cause you to lose sand. Waste is the proper setting.
Northrider
Bronze Supporter
I was wondering about this myself. Thinking my sand filter would be put away clean and fresh. I'm just about to drain down for the season. Last time I just used the waste setting until the water was drawn down to the point that I use the pump. Why no back flush and clean out one more time? What could I hurt?
You aren’t doing a normal 3-5 min backwash. When on backwash the water coming out of the laterals lifts up the sand, pushing it against the multiport and yes out your backwash hose. Don’t believe me, check when you do a huge backwash, there is always some sand where the water drains to. Also, this is why rinse is suggested after backwash, as water is still going out your waste kind some is being directed into the filter to help settle down the sand before you then change it to filter mode. I’m assuming you are talking 30 minutes or more.
You can lose sand if the pump is oversized for the filter. In many cases, the pump is oversized for the filter.
If the water contains any debris, the debris can build up in the laterals and clog.
I would use Waste to drain and not backwash.
If the water contains any debris, the debris can build up in the laterals and clog.
I would use Waste to drain and not backwash.
Thanks for all the replies. This will be my first year closing.
I'm going to do a regular backwash, rinse and then lower it the rest of the way on the waste setting.
I'm going to do a regular backwash, rinse and then lower it the rest of the way on the waste setting.
I was reading on a thread here (I think) that if you want to continue using your pool pump to drain water (assuming you have a main drain hooked up to the skimmer as I do) after it gets below the skimmer is to run a sump pump from the pool into the skimmer to keep the water level up in the skimmer and prevent air being sucked into the pool pump. Not sure if that helps you out at all.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 53,258
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
My waste line is hard piped. I would have to run almost 100ft of garden hose to expel the water using the sump pump.
Or you can rig up a piece of pvc flex that’s glued to a mpt coupler that you thread into your skimmer. The pvc flex extends out and over into the pool and voila no need to use a slow sump pump.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,951
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
@Fire, hope I didn't confuse you earlier in post #2. I should've never used the words backwash and waste in the same sentence. Waste was my focus and intended guidance, but backwash squeaked into my brain for some reason. 
With all the follow-up posts, it looks you're on track. Good luck with your closing.
With all the follow-up posts, it looks you're on track. Good luck with your closing.Similar threads
