Most All Sand Filters are the same. They mostly all have what is called
a multi-port valve on the top or on the side. So lets say you are
looking at your sand filter multi-port valve right now. You should have
about 6 settings including:

Filter
Backwash
Re-circulate
Winter/Closed
Rinse
Waste

If you don't have these exact setting you probably have something
similar and these are what they do

Filter
Runs pool water from your pump through the sand filter and back into
the pool. You will use this setting about 90% of the time. This is your
main setting

Backwash
Runs pool water from your pump through the sand filter and out through
the waste port dispensing water out of your pool. This is what cleans
your dirty sand. You should only backwash when your pressure rises 10
pounds over your normal pressure rate.

Re-circulate
Runs pool water from your pump into your multi-port valve and into your
pool never touching the sand. This just spins the water around. Some
chemicals require you to do this like floc. Rarely used.

Winter/Closed
This setting closes all the ports in your multi-port valve for closing
your pool or stopping water from going through the multi-port valve.

Rinse
Runs pool water from your pump through the sand filter and out through
the waste port rinsing the sand clear of dirt. You should always rinse
your filter after backwashing ensuring no dirt flies back into your
pool after backwashing.

Waste
Runs Pool water from your pump through your multi-port valve and out
through the waste port never touching the sand. You will use this
setting if you are manually vacuuming your pool and the dirt keeps
flying back in through the return line. This means that the filter can
not filter that much debris at one time so you will have to not use the
filter and just suck the debris right out of your pool causing you to
lose water. This is very effective at cleaning a large amount of
debris.

Note: Any time you move the handle on your multi-port valve to switch
positions or settings you must first turn off your pump. Keeping the
pump running while moving that handle can cause you to blow the gasket
in your valve. Not an expensive fix, but a fix you can avoid.

"Your Local Pool Guy" wrote in message
oups.com...

Most All Sand Filters are the same. They mostly all have what is called
a multi-port valve on the top or on the side. So lets say you are
looking at your sand filter multi-port valve right now. You should have
about 6 settings including:
. . .
Backwash
Runs pool water from your pump through the sand filter and out through
the waste port dispensing water out of your pool. This is what cleans
your dirty sand. You should only backwash when your pressure rises 10
pounds over your normal pressure rate.

Vendors hereabouts recommend backwashing about
once a week. Usually the waste water runs visibly
clean after 30 sec. to 2 min. of backwashing. Small
pumps typically run at about 15 p.s.i. i.e. will never
reach 25 p.s.i.

Rinse
Runs pool water from your pump through the sand filter and out through
the waste port rinsing the sand clear of dirt. You should always rinse
your filter after backwashing ensuring no dirt flies back into your
pool after backwashing.

As described here, this would be exactly the same as
backwashing. Filter manuals may explain the difference
between Backwash and Rinse modes, where a difference exists.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)