For light vacuuming, you can leave your multiport valve filter set to “Filter.” For bigger jobs and larger amounts of debris, set your filter system to the “Waste” setting, which does sends the water down the drain, rather than through the filter.
Backwashing a filter will lead to your pool being dirty temporarily. For a clean pool, do not backwash your filter before vacuuming.
If you're using your wet-dry vac to clean a dry surface, check that the filter has been correctly placed. You'll need it—the filter prevents dust from blowing out of the top while you're cleaning. For wet surfaces, however, you'll need to remove the filter entirely.
Reasons why dirt might return to your pool through the jets during vacuuming or after backwashing include not rinsing after backwashing, a damaged spider gasket, damaged filter or the pool pump being too large for the filter.
For proper vacuuming suction, it is important that the filter is clean prior to vacuuming. If necessary, backwash before vacuuming also. Check and make sure pressure gauge is reading within normal psi before starting to vacuum.
WASTE/DRAIN: Another filter bypass setting, but this setting sends the water out of the waste pipe (hose), instead of returning it to the pool. This setting is used to lower pool water level or to vacuum to waste, which is best when vacuuming algae or heavy amounts of dusty, silty debris.
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.
Your filter collects all of the foreign particles that might have entered the pool. But the dirt at the bottom of the pool does not go into the pool's filter. This is the main reason why you should backwash your filter.
If you are using a sand filter, make sure sand is in good shape, should be replaced every 5 years or so. Make sure valves are set to recirculate the water and turn on the pump.
Slowly close the Main Drain valve about halfway, this is the optimal setting for vacuuming. Make sure the skim-vac did not come loose over the skimmer basket and is sealed securely over the basket. Push the pole/vac/hose into the pool and release all the air out of the hose.
Cleaners aren't meant to stay in the pool 24/7. This is true for all cleaners. Pressure side cleaners run on a schedule every day so why take it out? Leaving the cleaner in the pool 24/7 increases its exposure to corrosive chemicals in the water, such as chlorine or shock.
What's The Correct Filter Pressure Gauge Read? Most filter systems are designed to operate in the 5-15 psi or 10-20 psi range. The way to find out your particular correct pool filter pressure is to clean or backwash the filter thoroughly and empty the pump and skimmer baskets.
The Recirculate setting allows water to move through the filter without going through the filter media. Note: You can also use the Waste setting for this if you'd rather completely remove the dirty water rather than recirculate it back into the pool.
If you don't clear out your sand filter regularly through backwashing, it means your filter can't work as efficiently and eventually debris will make its way back into your pool. Backwashing keeps your pool equipment healthy and your pool clean and safe.
We often have people who try to vacuum green, black, or mustard algae out of their pool before actually killing it. It may remove some of the algae, but the remaining algae will rebloom. It is recommended to use a three-part algae treatment. 1) Brush and then perform a heavy shock on your pool.