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How-to guide · Maintenance
How to clean and backwash a sand filter
Over time, a sand filter traps so much dirt that water flow drops and pressure rises. Backwashing flushes the trapped dirt out to waste. Do it when the pressure gauge reads about 7–10 psi above its clean baseline.
What you'll need
Filtration
Step by step
- 1
Turn the pump off
Always stop the pump before moving the multiport valve — switching under pressure can damage it.
- 2
Set to Backwash
Turn the multiport valve to 'Backwash'. Make sure the waste line is directed appropriately.
- 3
Backwash
Run the pump for about 2 minutes until the sight glass runs clear, then turn the pump off.
- 4
Rinse
Set the valve to 'Rinse' and run for about 30 seconds to settle the sand bed, then turn the pump off.
- 5
Return to Filter
Set the valve back to 'Filter' and restart the pump. Top up any water lost during backwashing.
Tip: Sand loses its edge after roughly 5–7 years and filters less effectively — if clarity suffers despite good chemistry, it may be time to replace the media.
Need exact chemical amounts or help choosing? Use our dosing calculator, or ask Aqua — our AI advisor, bottom-right.
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