Should you backwash before or after vacuuming?

And this post explains what you need to know about keeping your pool clean and healthy and the proper cleaning techniques. Although a robot pool cleaner does most of the hard work, some conventional procedures such as backwashing and manual vacuuming are still necessary under certain conditions. So, do you backwash before or after vacuuming? Let’s dive into this topic.

What Is Backwashing?

Backwashing your filter is a method for cleaning the sand or diatomaceous earth (DE) filter in your pool, forcing water to flow out in reverse. This allows you to remove trapped debris and allow the filtration system to operate effectively. This extends pump life and keeps your water crystal clear.

Vacuuming Versus Using a Robot Pool Cleaner

For automatic cleaning, use a robotic pool cleaner that will scrub surfaces, like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro. A pool cleaning robot does not depend on your pool’s filter system, unlike manual vacuuming. But there are times that manual vacuuming is required, such as after a heavy storm or algae treatment.

How to Backwash a Swimming Pool Before Vacuuming?

If you use a traditional vacuum cleaner for pool cleaning:

Backwash Before Vacuuming

Backwashing first ensures that your filter system is operating smoothly and won’t become gummed up as a result of vacuuming. This is particularly true when the pool is filthy or if the filter pressure is high.

Inspect and Clean the Skimmer and Filter Basket

Clear out leaves and debris from the skimmer and pump baskets ahead of vacuuming to boost water flow and filtration efficiency.

Should You Vacuum and Then Backwash?

Vacuum Thick Debris and then Backwash

Vacuuming can clog the filter if the pool has a lot of dirt, leaves or algae in it. Backwashing your filter after vacuuming removes trapped debris and restores optimum filtration performance.

Avoid Backwashing If There Is Little Debris

If the pool’s pretty clean and your filter pressure is steady, you can avoid backwashing.

When to Use a Robot Pool Cleaner Instead

For periodic maintenance, an automation pool robot cleaner, e.g. Beatbot iSkim Ultra or Beatbot AquaSense, takes over your vacuuming needs and reduces the need for backwashing. Unlike regular vacuum cleaners, these high-powered cleaners operate autonomously, trapping debris in their own filters instead of taxing the pool’s filtration system.

Guide to Best Practices for Maintenance of Pools

Use a pool cleaner to clean the pool regularly and reduce the use of manual vacuuming.

Be sure to backwash your filter regularly, especially after vigorous individual cleaning sessions.

Keep an eye on your filter pressure gauge to know when backwashing is needed.

Weekly: Clean the skimmer and pump baskets.

Conclusion

Whether to backwash before or after vacuuming comes down to what your pool looks like and how you’re going to clean it. By keeping the pool regularly clean, a robot pool cleaner like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro, Beatbot iSkim Ultra, or Beatbot AquaSense can minimize the frequency of manual cleaning and backwashing. A quality pool vacuum robot is a must if you are a pool service company or a low-maintenance lover to make pool cleaning easy.

You will want to embrace modern technology and simplify your pool maintenance routine with a robot pool cleaner!