Backwashing your swimming pool filter continues to be the most important part of maintaining your pool and the filtering system can but can also save you money in operating costs with chemicals and energy savings and taking the mystery out of how it works with newer-type valves like a push-pull backwash valve can make filters more efficient. How does Push-Pull type Backwash Valves operate?
- Turn pump off
- Twist valve handle
- Pull up on valve & move into backwash position
- Turn pump back on & H2O will start to come out backwash line.
- Backwash for 3 min.
- When H2O runs clear from backwash line, turn pump off
- Push valve handle to filter position & twist to lock
- Turn pump on & bleed air from filter
If you are not as familiar with Push-Pull Valves or Slide Valves and have been living around Multi-port selector handle valves like myself then read this article and familiarize yourself with how they operate.
Push Pull Backwash Valve
The Push-Pull valve also called a Slide valve, mounts to bulkhead fittings on the side of a Sand or D.E. filter. The advantages of a Push-Pull valve are that they are simple to operate along with simple to understand, have very few parts, and are less restrictive to water flow than the multi-port valve selector type valve found on sand filters. 
It is how you can start your backwashing using a push-pull valve.
- Turn the pump off, twist the valve handle, and PULL UP on the valve to move it into the backwash position.
- Turn the pump back on and the water will start to come out of the backwash line.
- Backwash for at least 3 minutes.
- When the water runs clear out of the backwash line, turn the pump off.
- PUSH the valve handle to the filter position and twist it to lock it.
- Turn the pump back on and bleed any remaining air from the filter tank.
- Once the water begins circulation through the system, slowly add a full charge of DE to the skimmer to recoat the filter grids.
How to Backwash a Pool with a Multiport Valve?
- Shut pump off
- Roll out the backwash hose
- Turn the multiport valve handle to backwash
- Turn pump on
- Backwash until H2O from the hose or sight glass runs clear, about 2-3 minutes.
- Shut pump off
- Turn the valve to rinse-Turn the pump on for 30 sec.
How to Backwash a Sand Filter?
- Turn the filter system’s power off
- Attach backwash hose
- Set to Backwash position on the multiport valve
- Turn the filter on & backwash for 2-3 min or until the sight glass clears.
- Turn the filter off again
- Set it to the Rinse
- Turn the pool filter on & rinse for..……………………………………. Read more
Pentair Push Pull Backwash Valve
Because of this high flow, low-pressure advantage, Slide valves especially the Pentair Push Pull Valves on their filters have gained new popularity among variable speed pump owners, looking to gain more energy savings from their investment.
Push-Pull Valves use a plunger with two disks attached and a handle at the top of the piston. The only action is to either pull the handle up or push the handle down.
Sand filters usually operate in filter mode with the plunger in the up position, and backwash by pushing the handle down, and just as you would a multiport handle, always shut off the pump before changing a backwash valve.
D.E. filters are usually in filter mode when the plunger is down, and backwash by pulling up on the handle. Keep that in mind, if converting from a Multiport to a Slide valve.
When you pull up or push down on the plunger of a push-pull valve, you are reversing the direction of water into and out of the filter.
This is where we get the word back-wash because we are sending the water through the filter backward, to flush out trapped dirt.
How to Backwash a Pool with a Multiport Valve?
- Shut pump off
- Roll out the backwash hose
- Turn the multiport valve handle to backwash
- Turn pump on
- Backwash until H2O from the hose or sight glass runs clear, about 2-3 minutes.
- Shut pump off
- Turn the valve to rinse-Turn the pump on for 30 sec. ……………………………………………….. Read more
JimGalloway Author/Editor
