You should run the filter on your 18 x 4 pool for at least 6 hours per day or for as long as direct sunlight shines on the pool. In very warm climates, you will need to run the pump for at least 8 hours.
10 - 15 minutes
A pool filter is there to remove particles of foreign matter from the pools water. Without a filter to remove this material it would not take long for the pools water to become cloudy and dangerous to the health of the swimmers.
The cleaning schedules varies from filter to filter, but a general guideline on any swimming pool filter is to take a reading when the filter is clean, then clean the pool filter when the pressure rises about 10 psi.
No so long as you are maintaining the proper chlorine levels in the pool.
Draining the water from the "pump" (I'm assuming you mean the filter) should only take a few minutes. How long it would take to drain the water in the pool down to the winterization level would depend on the size of your pool and the pump you are using.
The "Rinse" will also take water out, but you should really have a waste setting. Call a local pool company or the maker of your filter system.
Use a filter and a chlorine guage.
32000. Ten percent is 16000 (take of a zero), Twenty is therefore 32000
It should only take about a day or so. The best thing to do is add the Water Clarifier to the skimmer with the filter running, add Flocculant as a filter aide and let run for 8-12 hrs, vaccum to waste, and chemically clean the filter. It is very important to chemically clean the filter because while vaccuming to waste the water mold will trap itself in the filter and can filter back into the pool and start to form again. It is best to chemically clean the filter to kill off any water mold that may be left over.
half an our
My pool which is a small to medium sized pool took about 2 days.
You have three main types of pool filters... Sand, Cartridge or DE (diatomaceous earth). Although they all filter pool water - the mechanics of each are different. To view schematics of all, take a look at these links: http://www.poolpartsonline.com/s-12-filter-parts-cartridge.aspx http://www.poolpartsonline.com/s-11-filter-parts-de.aspx http://www.poolpartsonline.com/s-4-filter-parts-sand.aspx