The vacuum water never reaches the filter tank but is sprayed out of the waste port into the backwash hose or pipe. What is the waste function on my pool filter? As an affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Sometimes, the multiport may have a setting to recirculate the water. Thats one of the very first questions that comes to mind when keeping up with the maintenance and cleanup of a pool. AnswersToAll is a place to gain knowledge. Attach one of the hose's ends to hole on the top of the. I normally check the chemical levels at this stage and add anything necessary to bring the levels to the correct reading.

Then insert a rubber expansion plug, usually a#11 or #12, down into the valve body. Turn off the pump. Sure, you can vacuum up the green stuff like you normally would, but the problem is that when the algae gets trapped in your filter, it can cause ongoing filter issues.

You should vacuum to waste if there is a lot of debris in the pool, especially silt, which clogs up the filter quickly, so you need to stop vacuuming and backwash or clean. This multiport valve allows you to manipulate the water flow through the system easily. Steps To Vacuum To Waste With Cartridge Filter, Why And When To Vacuum To Waste With Cartridge Filter, How To Use The Function Of Multiport Valve, pool pumps directly out, and the water pumps out through the backwash line, not the pool filter, vacuum valve is an essential part of a swimming pool, line for easy and effective pool vacuuming, Vacuuming to waste is an essential part of pool, water before you begin and run the pipe while vacuuming, What to Look for Before Buying a Vacuum for Pet Hair, When Was Vacuum Tube Invented In Computer, How To Use Intex Pool Vacuum With Garden Hose, What Type Of Oil Is Used In A Vacuum Pump, Why use a Biohazard Clean-up Company in your Office, Best Wall Mount Shop Vac Reviews in 2022, Top 5 Best Shop Vac For Woodworking in 2022 (Buyers Guide), Top 6 Best Shop Vacuum For Dust Collection in 2022 (Buyers Guide), Top 7 Latest & Best Shop Vac For Car in 2022, Top 4 Best Wet & Dry Vacuum For Car in 2022 Top Models, Top 5 Best Cordless Shop Vacuum in 2022 Expert Buying Guide. Mate the extension pole with the vacuum head, and attach one end of the vacuum hose to the end of the extension pole.

Disconnect the drain plug and install a 1.5 hose adapter and backwash hose with a clamp. How do you use the waste setting on a sand filter?

All rights reserved. The other reason you may need to vacuum to waste might be if you have had a heavy infestation of algae. Dont sweat, even seasoned owners will tell you that this problem isnt as uncommon as youd think. Expel the air from the vacuum hose and connect to the skimmer port after removing the skimmer basket. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. If you spend too much time trying to remove all traces of dirt then the water level will drop below the level of the bottom of the skimmer and air will start to get into the system.

You need to vacuum the pool to waste with a cartridge filter as follows: Step 1. Push pull valves use a piston with two disks, and have only two settings, Filter or Backwash. Adjust the multiport faucet by turning off the pump and aligning the multiport faucet with the drain. A clean and healthy pool filter is vital for ensuring the pool water is free from dirt and debris. Run out the backwash hose to a storm drain or an area that wont erode or oversaturate.

Step 3. Clean off any lubricant inside the valve body. Switch it to backwash, and you'll reverse the flow of water from the pool to wash the sand or grids inside the tank forcefully and then send the dirty water to waste. 113 0 obj <>stream This prevents the filter becoming clogged and fine particles going back into the pool. So in this situation vacuuming to waste is the best solution to remove the algae dust from the pool after it has been killed using shock treatment. to the skimmer that you vacuumed from. Once you have treated it, dead algae particles will settle on the bottom of the pool. CleaningBeasts.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Also, it is inevitable that while vacuuming quickly to waste that some of the finer dirt particles will have been disturbed and will be floating around the water in suspension. Because of this the level of water in the pool will go down as you vacuum at quite a fast rate too.

Go and make yourself a drink you have earned it!

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Vacuuming to Wasteessentially means that the pump pushes the water into the filter valve, which diverts it straight into the waste line, bypassing the filter sand, grids or cartridges. I think the drain only works when the filter is in backwash mode. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Monitor the water level and let it drain about 1 below the return lines.

Step 2. It would seem that there is no way to vacuum to waste a sand filter or is there? Almost. When your turn the pump back on, you should see bubbles coming out of the pool returns indicating that you are in the FILTER mode or the RECIRCULATION mode. In normal mode, the valve will pass water through to the pipe leading to the filter. The problem with cartridge filters is that they often lack this notable feature, which means youll spend much time vacuuming your pool. Dirty pools are home to all kinds, Why does swimming pool water get cloudy every now and again, even with the water filter working round the clock? Adjust the multiport faucet by turning off the pump and aligning the multiport faucet with the drain. 2 3 minutes Step 3. If you find yourself in the company of those that have to winterize their pools, you know well that when you open it up in the Spring, it looks a lot like a hurricane meets a tornado meets a Mississippi bog. Generally, people screw the 1.5 hose adapter into the waste port on the multiport and then use a SS clamp to secure a flexible vinyl backwash hose. Turn your pump back on and now you are draining. It was probably the best money I spent that year as I have saved thousands by doing it myself. There is a method, but it can be dangerous, so read carefully. Just dont flood the neighbors! Its no different than adding your fresh DE into the skimmer.

Ever wonder what a pool looks like in the winter under the safety cover? The pump pushes the water directly into the filter valve, bypassing the filter sand, grids, or cartridges. Since there's no valve setting for waste available, you have to improvise if you want to send the water to waste. Turn off the pump and screw the plug into the drain plug. Then, you can remove the grids, put everything back together, and when you backwash, you'll effectively run the system to waste. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. That can translate into significant savings for you by reducing the amount of maintenance you need and improving the service life of your filter. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Step 6.

Find the drain plug on the back of your filter and unscrew it. Make sure to empty all skimmer baskets. How do you backwash a pool filter with no valve label? Pourquoi la chimio avant la Radiotherapie ? Keep in mind that the water level is dropping. The grids will catch it. Turn off the pump. Stop vacuuming when the skimmer begins to suck air, allow the pool to refill.

If you are preparing your pool for winterization you can drain your pool using the same steps. Install your new fitting, attach a hose to it, and run it to someplace where you can dump water. Rotate the filter multiport valve to the Filter setting. If you have a multiport valve, a fairly standard feature, you'll see that there is a setting for filter, backwash, rinse, closed, and waste. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Instead it is sent straight out of the pool system, either down the drain into the sewage system or out into the yard somewhere via the waste line and a backwash hose, depending on your particular pools set up.

Copyrights Protected. One drawback to the old mesh safety cover is that it lets in a lot of light and silt. Submerge the open end of the vacuum hose to flood the hose with water, pulling the remainder of the hose into the pool as it fills with water and sinks. Cartridge filters dont have a backwash valve at all, because you dont backwash them, you remove them and spray them off with a garden hose. His articles have appeared in major print outlets such as "Popular Mechanics" and "Invention & Technology."

Stretch the vacuum hose out along the deck beside the pool to the skimmer vacuum port. So, you have to get creative if you want to run the system to waste. Close the pool main drain valve and the valves leading to any skimmers other than the one you will utilize for the pool vacuum source. What filter setting do I use to vacuum your pool? When using multiport valves, set the handle to Waste or Drain according to the valve type. Pool Pump Size Calculator (Flow Rate & Volume), How to Winterize Above-Ground and Inground Pools, Pool Care 101: Circulation, Cleaning, and Chemistry, How to Get Rid of Water Bugs in Your Pool, During an algae bloom (don't forget to consider an algaecide), After using a flocculant to settle particles to the pool bottom, The plug is fully tightened with a wrench, Open the air bleeder valve before starting the pump. The only difference is that you will be closing all skimmer valves completely. Connecting the vacuum system to the pump. 81 0 obj <> endobj This means using the waste setting on a sand filter multiport valve in conjunction with your pool vacuum. If you have a backwash hose, set it up and begin vacuuming as fast as you can. You can also buy heavy duty, firehose type of hose, in 2 diameter, that will last much longer. Since there's no way to bypass the tank entirely and keep the grids clean, you can open the tank and remove the grids. You may need to visit the hardware or pool supply store to find an adapter that fits the threads for the drain valve on the tank. Can you vacuum to waste with a cartridge filter? Is this a good setup to get the dead algae from the bottom of my pool? Although both settings send water out of the pool, when you backwash the water flows backwards through the filter first but on waste the water goes directly out of the pool. As the water does not go back into the swimming pool the water level will go down as you vacuum, actually at quite an alarming rate, particularly if you have a relatively small pool. Shut off pump and switch the multiport valve to the Drain to. When I vacuum my pool the dirt comes back in? Reset the valve lid to allow the water to flow straight through the valve for normal filtration, or take a hard 90 turn and go out port #3. If you vacuum to waste, you are bypassing the filter all together and you dont run the risk of the algae bypassing your filtration and/or sanitation system and kicking back out into your pool. Since the water containing the dirt does not pass through the filter if vacuuming a pool to waste there would normally be no need to backwash afterwards. hVnF}LPr#rbH}g%E^@rn={hF9QAEaQ G\ 1 Since there is no Drain setting on a push pull valve,it would seem that there is noway to vacuum to waste on a filter with a slide valve or is there? Using the extension pole, move the vacuum head in a back and forth pattern over the bottom of the pool to remove unwanted debris. Cleaning your cartridge filter for the first time may seem daunting, but youll be pleased to know its not, Pool owners know that even chlorinated water can be a breeding ground for a number of pests. Shut off the pump motor and push the T-handle back down into locked position. It would seem that there is no way to vacuum to waste with a cartridge filter or is there? Discontinue vacuuming if the pool water level drops below the bottom of the skimmer you are using as a vacuum port. I have actually adapted an old vacuum hose to use s a backwash hose to distribute the water around my garden (see photo above). If your pool system does not expel the water down a drain then it will run out into your yard somewhere via the waste line. Since you dont backwash them, you would need to remove them and wash them with your garden hose. Vacuuming to waste is helpful when there is a lot of debris in the pool, especially silty dirt, that clogs up the filter quickly, requiring you to stop vacuuming to backwash or clean the filter. pic.twitter.com/ADRR35LnFs, About 2 years ago from Platinum Pools's Twitter, 5900 South 77th Street

Gus Stephens has written about aviation, automotive and home technology for 15 years. Take off the filter lid, remove the cartridge, and replace it securely, fully tightening the clamp. When using multiport valves, set the handle to Waste or Drain according to the valve type. To begin vacuuming your pool: This option allows you to vacuum the algae up and send it out through the backwash line, avoiding getting algae into your filter sand.

Dont flood the neighbors! Using the filter setting will save water, but. Forcing the owner to clean the filter sooner rather than later. Turn the valve whenever you want to vacuum to waste on a cartridge pool filter, or when you need to lower the water from too much rain. When you select waste on the multiport valve, and run the pool pump, the water does not go through the pool filter, nor does it return to the pool via the pool return.

There are not very many times you have to remember how to vacuum to waste because they are few and far between. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Hello just back from a long August vacation, and while away I received an email from a customer about their threadbare winter pool cover. Fill the pool before beginning, and run the hose while vacuuming. These are quite expensive and it was a number of years before I bit the bullet and bought one. These are the pool cleaning tools I have found the most useful since I have had my pool. Just open the drain on the back of the filter and the majority of the water will go out the drain. Since you dont backwash them, you would need to remove them and wash them with your. Step 4. When I first bought my house with a swimming pool, I knew nothing about cleaning and maintaining it. When you vacuum to waste you are sending the water through your sewer line which will drain the pool slightly, but it expedites the algae removal process. How to remove air from a pool vacuum hose, Swim Universitys Pool Care Handbook and video course, Aquatix Pro Pool Step & Corner Vacuum Brush, Solar Pool Covers 19 Things to Know Before You Buy, Best Pool Cleaning Tools The Essentials. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible.

Clean as quickly and efficiently as possible to reduce water levels. If the push pull plunger falls down, into the filter position, use vice-grips or a small wrench to hold it in place. There is a way to vacuum waste with a cartridge filter. Step 5. It is important to remove debris from the pool dirt before the filter can clog up. The Stargoods Pool Skimmer Net gets under the leaves easily. Do you leave skimmer basket in when vacuuming pool? Then you'll have to open the tank again, reinstall the grids, and resume regular operation. There are different ways to vacuum a pool to waste, depending on which type of filter valve you have a multiport valve or a push-pull (also called slide) valve, or even no filter valve at all. It would be best to let the backwash port on the filter just blast out into the yard, if it does not cause any erosion or spraying on furniture or into the pool. (Pac-Fab push-pull valves have a reverse operation, up for Filter, down for Backwash). endstream endobj startxref Turn the pool circulation pump off if it is on. The above photo was taken half way through vacuuming and you can hopefully see the brighter area above the water line. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. Turn on your garden hose, or let it keep running if you have left it doing this while you vacuum to waste like I do. Turn off the circulation pump. The Waste position bypasses the filter and diverts water drawn in through the suction line from the pool down the sewer drain, instead. Perfectly fitting liners here we come! If you find yourself with an algae problem mid-season, because you finally took that driving vacation to the Grand Canyon that you have always dreamed of, you may have some work on your hands when you get home. In the down position, the water is directed through the tank on Filter mode, returning to the pool after it exits the filter tank. Your pool's filter system starts by sucking the water into a drain or skimmer when it's in regular operation. There are quite a few different ways to use the waste valve. Cloudy pool water is a much more common occurrence than youd imagine. The Filter setting is used for light to moderate levels of pool sediment. When you notice that the skimmer is sucking air, let it rest for a while so that water can re-enter your pool. Just like this. Begin vacuuming the pool as normal however the water level will start to go down rapidly so you really need to work quickly when vacuuming to waste. pic.twitter.com/ektkMdMbZ7, Who is ready for swimming season?? 101 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9DB2A3B4E470964C8F7772223A388259><8AD8F347BCCA58498FB3A452A98A2F3B>]/Index[81 33]/Info 80 0 R/Length 98/Prev 169972/Root 82 0 R/Size 114/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Just dont flood the neighbors! The way you vacuum a pool to waste will depend on what kind of filter valve you have; a multiport valve, push-pull valve, or you may not have one at all. There are various valve switches for controlling the flow and switching pressure, depending on the process. Bet the first to get the best offers delivered directly to your inbox. Move the backwash hose frequently to avoid erosion and oversaturation. Since there is a lot of pressure involved, this is a pretty dangerous technique, so make sure: After vacuuming to waste, you'll need to put everything back together. Shut off pump and switch the multiport valve to the Drain to Waste Position. Is it better to run your pool pump at night or day?

Adjust your skimmer and main drain valves for maximum suction through the skimmer, and voila! Let it run until it reaches its normal level. Vacuuming to waste is also helpful in some other situations: After the water is cleaned and processed by your filter, it passes through return pipes that bring it back to the pool. Cartridge filters don't need backwashing, so there usually isn't a valve between the pump and the tank. Glue a short piece of pipe to the valve, and clamp a length of backwash hose to the pipe. Do I need to backwash after vacuuming to waste? Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters have grids or fingers inside the tank. Remove the plunger from the slide valve housing or body by loosening the large union nut, small bolts or nuts on the top, under the handle. For multiport valves, those that have 6 settings, set the valve handle into the Wasteor Drain position. A filter to waste arrangement allows the water separated in the filtration cycle to be disposed of or made usable again after it washes back. This is an easy one. Find the drain plug on the back of your filter and unscrew it. Use the rinse to clean the pool's side of the filter by sending the water in the same direction as usual, but right across the media and then to waste. There is no doubt that one of the valve modes on a multiport pool filter will have a 1-1/2 waste line built-in. pic.twitter.com/Z35mgGbkua, About a year ago from Platinum Pools's Twitter, The liner laser was out again today! This method removes a lot of water from the pool in a short period, so make sure the pool is full before you proceed. See my post How to remove air from a pool vacuum hose to find out how to do this. Not every pool has the advantage of a multiport. Ive read that you can take the vanes filter out of the filter and close it back up, vacuum and then clean out the filter housing but I really dont want to have to take the whole thing apart again. The concern of how to vacuum to waste with a cartridge filter arises frequently and results in many confusing answers. Flocculant will normally leave debris on the bottom of your pool so vacuuming to waste will prevent this debris clogging the filter, as would happen if vacuuming on the filter setting. Aquatix Pro Pool Step & Corner Vacuum Brush. Filter to waste merely refers to the volume of filtration created. Once in awhile though, the how to part gets a little fuzzy in the old memory bank. %%EOF The pump is the heart of the circulation of the water, drawing water from the pool, through the pipes, and into the filter tank. Along the way, Gus earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications. Raise the water level in the pool to its highest point without overflowing. Vacuuming a pool involves pulling the water out of the waste port and pumping it out in the pipe or backwash hose instead of to the filter basin.

Pool Care Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Step 2. Vacuum your pool just as you would vacuum your living room, picking up debris or algae as you go. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. If the pool doesnt appear clear after this, repeat the process. Step 3. We may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Once the vacuuming finishes, remove it from the pool and detach the hoses. I had to learn how to clean, maintain and fix them the hard way. What Is the Setting on a Filter to Vacuum a Pool? Option #1is to remove the filter lid, and remove the cartridge, and replace the lid securely, fully tightening the clamp. After the hose fills with water, backwash your sand filter for 2 3 minutes, or until water runs clear. The best example of this is when you first open a pool for swimming season. How often should you vacuum your above ground pool?

Fill your pool with water before you begin and run the pipe while vacuuming.

Disconnect the drain plug and install a 1.5 hose adapter and backwash hose with a clamp. Rotate the lever on the filter multiport valve to the Waste setting. We are making them sparkly again. Move the backwash hose frequently to prevent oversaturation. Beautiful houseplants that also repel mosquitoes, cockroaches and other pests. Step 4. Unplug the vacuum hose from the skimmer port, and remove it from the pool. If you are a new owner, then youve probably faced the dreaded green pool! Open discharge valve at very bottom of filter. There sometimes no waste setting on a cartridge filter, at least in a Hayward system, so you cannot filter to waste. a garden hose would not be good as a backwash hose, because it would put back pressure on the pump and slow down the vacuum suction. Stay up-to-date with the latest safety info, regulation changes and special offers. Move the backwash hose frequently to prevent oversaturation. For routine vacuuming, the filter valve is left in the normal Filter position.

Also, I have the Aqua EZ 11-in Swivel-Handle Pool Vacuum Head and a Aqua EZ 1.5-in x 36-ft Vacuum Hose with a 1.5 in adapter for the drain plug. If you have a very dirty pool, particularly when you open it in the spring, it is likely that the only way to clean it properly will be to vacuum pool to waste. Start your pool pump and let the water run until it reaches the level that you want to vacuum out the water. The Proper Way to Vacuum an In-Ground Pool. Remember, the water level is dropping! Sand filters with a push-pull valve are harder to use to waste. Raising Pool Equipment for Flood Protection, Flooded Inground Pool: 10-Steps to Recovery. It will allow air to be sucked in if its out of the water. You will have to top the pool up afterwards. I therefore let the swimming pool settle down for 24 hours, allowing all the finer dirt to resettle on the bottom, and I then give the pool a thorough vacuum on the filter setting. 0 Press J to jump to the feed. You should just be able to put a vac hose in the skimmer and vac with the pump running. Turn your pump back on and note the lower pressure. Open the pool drain valve and any valves to other skimmers that were closed before vacuuming. Make sure the backwash hose is not kinked and open the filter air bleeder before starting pump. Bypassing the filter tank can spare it from a dirty vacuum.

When the pump is run and you vacuum then the water will come out of this hole. Make sure you place the backwash hose near a storm drain or a place that wont erode. ForDE filters, you can remove the grid assembly and reassemble the filter tank tightly, being sure that the clamp is properly positioned and very tight. pic.twitter.com/hoUGFyvLjJ, Goodbye Winter, hello Summer! If you use your vacuum to suck it up while the filter is in its standard-setting, all of that nastiness will enter the tank, overwhelm the filter, and spray back into the pool through the return plumbing. How do you unhide a post you're tagged in? If you vacuumed on waste, you will need to turn your filter to the rinse setting, turn on the pump and let it run for about 30 seconds, and then turn the pump back off. Place the vacuum head into the pool at the deep end, and hold on to the extension pole to stabilize the vacuum head as it sinks to the bottom of the pool. (Best to wait until the ice melts #protip) pic.twitter.com/YfGuso6NrE, About 5 months ago from Platinum Pools's Twitter, Time to give those pools a good vacuuming. Simply follow the below steps to vacuum your pool to waste: Step 1. Far-reaching of super massage in our day-to-day schedule, How Cryptocurrency Can Change the Entertainment Industry, Enhancing your Cybersecurity as a Remote Worker, What To Do If Your House Is Damaged By An Act Of God. Open A Pool With Clear Water In The Spring.

I also have an automatic top-up facility which keeps the pool at the correct lever, and you my have too, but it is much quicker to supplement this with a garden hose too. I would recommend not trying to get the bottom of the pool completely clean in this first clean. Vacuuming pool to waste will remove all dirt or dead algae from the bottom of the pool by sending it via the waste line either to your sewage system or into your yard, instead of going through the pool filter system. If the pressure is high then you may wish to backwash to reduce it and improve suction. You can buy roll up backwash hoses quite cheaply on Amazon. I replaced the vanes and everything else in the filter and now its running great, but I have no way of vacuuming to waste. *BYS-?K&+zSF6K*_n5_?Suz>7fTnb]repa/,WtkUC

One end of the valve will receive water from the pool. A vacuum valve is an essential part of a swimming pool that controls the flow direction. Add water to the pool if necessary to return it to normal level. Step 2. A straight sided pressure testing plug will hold stronger than a tapered winterizing expansion plug. If it flies, drives or just sits on your desk and blinks, he's probably fixed it. Hopefully you have it plumbed to go somewhere. Vacuum as fast as possible, the water level can drop fast. With the pool pump off, move the multiport selector to the Waste position. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.