r limestone slurry pump for sale

Pool filter settings explained

Pool filter settings explained

When it comes to operating the equipment (machinery?) of your swimming pool the majority of it is pretty simple to understand and use.

If we look at the most common pool elements they would include the pool pump, the heater and the filter.

The heater is also a pretty easy thing to comprehend and use. Is it on, or off and what temperature do you want your pool to be at.

The filter is a slightly more complex beast assuming you have a multi-port valve.

Many pool owners will typically only use, or understand a few of the options, the first being “filter” and the second being “backwash”, but as anyone who has ever looked at a multi-port filter head quickly comes to realize there are 7 valve head positions to choose from.

Today we’ll cover all 7 of the options on a multi-port filter head so you can have a better understanding of what they do as well as how and when to use them.

We’ll start with the options most people are familiar with and use regularly.

Filter – this is where your swimming pool filter will be set at the majority of the time including when you are vacuuming your pool. “Filter” pushes your pool water through the sand (or whatever media used in your filter) to help remove debris or dirt before returning the water to your pool.

Backwash – In this position, the water direction is reversed which allows the debris and dirt collected during the filter stage mentioned above to be flushed out to waste. This also helps maintain a proper filter pressure.

Now we’ll move on to the less frequently used and understood options.

Rinse – This option should be used after every backwash for 15 to 20 seconds. Once you have backwashed your pool, which again reverses the water flow, the rinse setting sends the water back in the normal direction and washes away any remaining debris and dirt from the backwash to waste and not into your pool.

Waste – The waste setting simply bypasses your filter media and sends the water directly to waste. This is used if you have excess dirt, debris or say algae in your pool that you do not want in your sand filter. It can also be used if you are deliberately lowering your pool water (always be careful when lowering pool water to any degree as damage can occur).

The waste setting is also a good option if you are vacuuming fine particles out of your pool which your filter may not catch (and therefore simply send right back into your pool). Again, always be conscious of how much water you are removing from your pool when you are using the waste setting.

Closed – Closed does not allow any water into your pump. Never run your pool pump if the filter head is in this position. The “closed” option is typically used for select pool servicing tasks.

Recirculate – Much like with the “waste” option, this bypasses the pool filter, but while “waste” sends the water out of your pool, “recirculate” sends it back into your pool. You may choose to use this if you want to thoroughly circulate chemicals in your pool without having them hit the sand in your filter. It is also an option if your pool filter has a leak or otherwise cannot be used.

Winter – Most people probably understand this one. In the “winter” position, there isn’t really a groove for the handle to depress into. It allows for any water in the filter to expand in winter without doing damage (always empty as much water as possible prior to winterizing).