
Can You vacuum a pool to waste?
Before vacuuming your pool to waste, you will need to check your water level. Since the dirty pool water empties outside of the pool, you will want to run water into the pool with a hose while vacuuming.
Do you have to backwash after vacuum to waste?
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. If the pressure is high then you may wish to backwash to reduce it and improve suction. How to vacuum to waste with a cartridge filter?
What does vacuum to waste mean on a sand filter?
This means using the waste setting on a sand filter multiport valve in conjunction with your pool vac. Vacuuming to waste will remove all dirt and algae from the bottom of the pool by sending it via the waste outlet pipe either to your sewage system or into your yard, instead of going through the pool filter system.
How do I vacuum to waste?
Here are the steps to vacuum to waste: At this point you are pulling water from the main drain as all of your skimmers are closed down. You are circulating water through your filter and sanitation system as you normally would.

Should you always vacuum to waste?
0:451:51When To Vacuum To Filter Or Waste | It's Really That Easy!! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow vacuuming to the waste setting is normally reserved for those times when we have heavy debris inMoreNow vacuuming to the waste setting is normally reserved for those times when we have heavy debris in our pool. Such as clearing up our pool or after a heavy windstorm.
Do I need to vacuum pool on waste?
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.
Do you vacuum on waste?
If you vacuum to waste, you are bypassing the filter all together and you don't run the risk of the algae bypassing your filtration and/or sanitation system and kicking back out into your pool.
Do I need to backwash after vacuuming to waste?
Use the filter setting, or you can vacuum to waste, which means the water is discharged out instead of returning to the pool. Using the filter setting will save water, but you have to backwash the filter when you are done.
What's the difference between backwash and waste?
Drain/Waste: Opting the drain or waste setting will remove pool water without forcing it through the filter. Backwash: This clears out any debris, dirt and other contaminants that may have accumulated on the filter. Closed: if you choose this setting, then the flow of water to the pool and filter will be stopped.
How do you get sediment out of bottom of pool without vacuum?
Use a rake to gather the debris pieces into a pile, and then remove the pile by hand. Bag it and dump it in a garbage. If the debris is floating and not in the bottom of the pool, you can opt for a leaf net to trap the debris along the water's surface.
Should I vacuum my pool before I shock it?
Although vacuuming should be combined with pool shocking, it's better to vacuum the pool before you shock the water. A good scrubbing and vacuuming of the pool walls and floor will ensure that dirt and debris that can affect the water chemistry is removed before the chlorine is added.
How often should I backwash my pool?
about once a weekAs a general rule, you should be backwashing your pool about once a week or in conjugation with your scheduled maintenance. Another industry standard is to backwash when your filter's pressure gauge reads 8-10 PSI (pounds per square inch) over the starting level or “clean” pressure.
Does backwash drain the pool?
The backwashing process reverses the flow of water to flush out contaminants from a swimming pool filter. It should be carried out until water runs clear through the waste line.
Is it OK to run pool pump 24 hours a day?
A Rule of Thumb Generally running your pool pump for 12-hours a day is a good option. This is based on the assumption that your average pool pump has a turnover rate of about 8 to 12-hours. That means that the total volume of your pool water will filter through your system 2 to 3 times per 24-hour period.
Do you remove skimmer basket when vacuuming to waste?
Now, here answers the question earlier: do you leave skimmer basket in when vacuuming pool? YES, you need to remove the skimmer or strainer basket before attaching the open end of the hose to the inlet. Finally, plug the open vacuum hose into the suction port.
Why is my pool dirty after I vacuum it?
If dirt is reappearing at the bottom of your swimming pool after you've vacuumed it your pool's filter may be working poorly. Pool filters often work poorly because they're in need of cleaning. If you have a sand filter for your pool you need to make sure that the sand is sharp and freshened up.
Do you remove skimmer basket when vacuuming to waste?
Now, here answers the question earlier: do you leave skimmer basket in when vacuuming pool? YES, you need to remove the skimmer or strainer basket before attaching the open end of the hose to the inlet. Finally, plug the open vacuum hose into the suction port.
When vacuuming a pool What setting should the filter be on?
To begin vacuuming your pool:If you have a sand filter and are vacuuming to waste, set filter to “waste” option. ... Otherwise, leave setting on “filter” and turn pump on to begin vacuuming. ... Vacuum your pool just as you would vacuum your living room, picking up debris or algae as you go.More items...•
What is the waste setting on my pool filter?
Waste. This setting draws water from the pool and sends it straight to the waste outlet without passing through the filter. You would use the 'Waste' setting to drain or partially drain your pool or you may use it when vacuuming if there is a lot of dirt and debris on the bottom of your pool.
How do you vacuum an above ground pool with waste setting?
1:074:01How to vacuum and remove dead algae from the bottom of your poolYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you start vacuuming. But you're going to turn off the filter. And you're going to want to setMoreOnce you start vacuuming. But you're going to turn off the filter. And you're going to want to set your valve you have a multi-position bound you don't want to set it to waste.
Why do you vacuum to waste?
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 . When one vacuums to waste, the water never enters the filter tank, but is jettisoned out the waste port, and exits through the backwash hose or pipe.
How to vacuum a pool to waste water?
HOW TO VACUUM TO WASTE A POOL: Fill the pool before beginning, and run the hose while vacuuming. Shut off pump and switch the multiport valve to the Drain to Waste Position. Vacuum as fast as possible, the water level can drop fast. Stop vacuuming when the skimmer begins to suck air, allow the pool to refill.
How to vacuum a pool with a push pull plunger?
Open the air bleeder and set the push pull in the backwash position. Adjust your skimmer and main drain valves for maximum suction through the skimmer, and voila! you can vacuum the pool to waste. If the push pull plunger falls down, into the filter position, use vice-grips or a small wrench to hold it in place.
What is a pool vacuum to waste?
Vacuuming to Waste essentially 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. 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, ...
Can you vacuum sand from a sand filter?
For Sand filters using a push pull valve, you can’t remove all of the sand. It would seem that there is no way to vacuum to waste a sand filter – or is there?
Do cartridge filters have backwash valves?
Cartridge filters don’t have a backwash valve at all, because you don’t backwash them, you remove them and spray them off with a garden hose. It would seem that there is no way to vacuum to waste with a cartridge filter – or is there?
How Often Should I Vacuum My Pool to Waste?
You will not have to vacuum your pool to waste very often if you keep it maintained and cleaned regularly. Large amounts of debris and algae are not likely to build up in a pool that is skimmed, vacuumed on filter and chemically treated often. To keep your new pool looking nice, you will need to keep a healthy cleaning routine.
What happens if you don't vacuum a pool?
If you do not vacuum quickly enough, the water level may reach the bottom of the skimmer opening. If it falls below that then it is possible for the pump to run dry and become damaged. So before it gets to that point you should stop the pump and top the pool up again.
Why do you vacuum a pool?
You will need to vacuum your pool to waste when there is heavy debris, dirt, or algae in the pool to prevent it clogging up the filter. Using the waste setting on your pool’s pump will bypass the filter system and the dirty water expelled rather than going back into the pool. Here are some tips on when to vacuum to waste and how to do so correctly.
How often should I clean my pool?
The times I clean my pool to waste are generally: 1 When I give the pool its first clean of the season, after it has not been used over the winter. 2 After a big storm that has blown lots of leaves and other debris into the pool that has settled on the bottom. Where I live we get a wind called a Calima which carries lots of dust across the sea from the Sahara Desert and dumps it here. That settles on the bottom of the pool and is so fine that the filter would struggle to trap it. 3 If I have a heavy algae infestation (which has only happened once in 8 years) then vacuuming on filter is likely to deposit some of the algae back in the pool as not all of it will be trapped by the filter. So ejecting the water out of the pool prevents this.
How to keep a pool clean?
Keep the paved/decked area around your pool clean by sweeping frequently to prevent any dirt , dust, leaves etc from blowing into the pool. If you have trees near your pool, particularly if they overhang, then keep any that drop leaves etc into the pool trimmed to try and reduce this.
Can you use a multiport valve on a pool without vacuuming?
The other time you may use the multiport valve on waste, without vacuuming, is if you have had heavy rain and the pool level is too high. Running the pump on waste for a while allows the water level to reduce to its properly level, ie. roughly half way above the skimmer opening.
Do you need a backwash hose for a pool?
You will need a backwash hose to attach to the pump outlet to enable you to direct the water where you want it to go. The backwash hose you purchase depends on where you plan on emptying the dirty pool water.
What happens when you vacuum to waste?
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. 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 pool’s set up.
Why do you vacuum to waste?
The other reason you may need to vacuum to waste might be if you have a heavy infestation of algae. Algae particles can be too small to be caught by the sand or other filter medium so if vacuumed on the filter setting they will probably just end up being redeposited back into the pool. So in this situation vacuuming to waste is the best solution to remove the algae from the pool after it has been killed using shock treatment..
What happens if you remove dirt from a pool pump?
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 will then have to turn off the pool pump and let the water level go up again from the hose before you can start again.
How to vacuum a pool to waste water?
Step 1 – Top up the pool. When you vacuum a pool to waste the water does not return to the pool but instead is expelled either down a drain or into your yard. Because of this the level of water in the pool will go down as you vacuum – at quite a fast rate too. So to compensate for that it is a good idea to run a hose into ...
Where is the drain plug on a vacuum pump?
Some cartridge filters have a drain plug on the back of the filter housing which you can unscrew. When the pump is run and you vacuum then the water will come out of this hole. Once finished you put the plug back in.
Can you vacuum a pool with a garden hose?
So to compensate for that it is a good idea to run a garden hose into the pool for a while before you start to vacuum to raise the level of the water. It is also prudent to leave the hose running while you vacuum too.
Can you vacuum a pool in the spring?
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. This means using the waste setting on a sand filter multiport valve in conjunction with your pool vac.
