How to Operate a Pool Pump

At the heart of any pool filtering system, such as a sand filter, the driving force behind it is an appropriately sized pool pump. The power that the pump generates pushes the pool water through the filter on its way back into the pool as the finished purified product. The operation of the pump itself is simple; it is either on or off. However, knowing when to turn it on and for how long is the essential part of the process.

Things You'll Need

• GFCI device

Instructions

1. Train yourself to turn the pump off by flipping its switch to the off position before changing settings on the multi-port valve. Depress the handle of the valve completely before turning it to spare the spider gasket seated directly below it from getting twisted or torn.

2. Run your pump for at least eight hours a day during the pool season to turn your pool water over completely several times each day for cleaning purposes.

3. Backwash your sand filter when pressure increases between 6 to 8 ppi above your clean pressure benchmark and keep the pump going until the waste water runs clear in the sight glass on your multi-port valve. Expect to lose large amounts of water during the 30-second to 1-minute period when the pump is pushing dirt water out through the waste port.

4. Rinse the sand for 15 seconds after backwashing, which will settle it back down in the sand bed. Shut the pump off and change the setting to filter to begin the cleaning process again.

5. Connect your pump to a GFCI, which is a ground fault circuit interrupter. Locate this device by the pool as an emergency precaution against electrocution.