What do all the settings on top of the Sand filter do and mean?

most multiports on sand filters have the following settings

* Filter Runs the pools water from your pump through the filter media then back into the pool. this is the setting that is nearly always used.

* Backwash Runs pool water from your pump over the filter media and out to waste. This removes dirt that has been collected during filtration. A backwash is required when your pressure rises about 10 pounds over the normal pressure. Most sand filters have a clear bubble situated near the multi port where you can see the water running to waste, watch it and you will see that the water is dirty at first run the backwash until it clears then stop the pump. * Rinse Runs pool water from pool through the filter to waste further rinsing the top of the filter media. this should always be done after backwashing to stop cloudy water returning back into the pool * Re-circulate Simply keeps the water circulating from the pool through the pump and back into the pool. It does not put the water through the filter, stops the water from stagnating but still puts it through the static skimmer.

* Winter/Closed shuts all the ports and is used when the pool is winterized shut down or to stop water from passing through the valve.

* Waste Runs Pool water directly to waste without running it through the filter. This setting if manually vacuuming the pool and the dirt load is too high for the filter to handle. It is also the setting that is used for hand vacuuming when removing settled contaminant and flocculate after flocculating the pool. Never keep the pump running when changing the setting on the multi port as it will cause it to be damaged.