What Is Flushing the Pool?

Flushing the Pool

• Flushing the pool, usually referred to as backwashing, is a built-in feature of all modern pool filter systems. The series of water lines that are used in a filter system not only keep the water level of your pool at a regular depth, but also circulates the pool water through the filter system in order to remove smaller dirt and debris that is missed by brushes and vacuums. Backwashing the pool involves reversing the flow of pool water through filter system to remove this debris from the pool water.

How Your Filter System Works

• The filter system in your pool is integrated into the flow of piped-in water that continually maintains the level of your pool water, while moving this water through filters and removing debris and microbial growth. These filters -- whether they are cartridges, sand filters, or Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters -- must be cleaned on a regular basis to keep them in good working order. Sand and DE filters are cleaned by backwashing the pool, which sends unwanted debris and microbes out to the waste line or the backwash hose.

When to Backwash the Pool

• How often you end up backwashing the pool depends on several factors, such as the cleanliness of the source water, how many trees and plants are around the pool area, and how many open areas of soil -- fields and undeveloped lots, for instance -- are nearby. You should backwash before you use the pool for the first time each year to begin with, and at least once a month after that. However, the main indicator of when to backwash is the pressure gauge that is part of your filter system. Backwashing the pool needs to be done when this gauge shows an increase of 8 to 10 psi.

Other Considerations

• A pool filter system will only work when its components are in good order. Water that is leaking around valves and water lines is a sure sign that you need to check the gaskets and O-rings that are part of the filter system. Consistently low levels of pool water and pool water that stays cloudy -- even when you refresh the salt and pH levels -- are indications of valve O-ring problems. Always consult your pool maintenance company if you aren't sure what's wrong with your pool filter system.