Hey guys im new here so if this is in the wrong place I apologize. Well i just took over my buddies weekly pool vacs not many only 10 but they are big pools vinyl and gunnite (any tips on vaccuming would be greatly appreciated) right now i have a portable set up with a hayward 1 hp pump and a hayward cartridge filter all pipped in 1 1/2 pipe. right from the start my prime/suction sucks compared to doing a power vac but i can vacuum just have to go slow. my problem is the cartridge gets clogged very quick (and yes i do have the basket in the pump) and i loose 1/2 my prime/suction im talking about 15 min into vacuuming then i have to clean filter yada yada yada. im wondering if its worth it to up the hp to 1 1/2 or even 2 and then pipe in 2 inch. or up the hp and change to a sand filter that i can rig up on a hand cart to handle the weight and pipe in 2 inch. I actually have an old clean machine sand filter with a multiport on top that i can use. It holds 300 lbs of sand but i think i can get away with half of that for just doing quick vacs. what do you guys think. I just cant vacuum these pools this slowly i need to speed things up and i think one of these ideas would help. Any input is very much appreciated thanks
portable pool vac help
- Thread starter xtremeone
- Start date
If you are losing prime then there is an air leak on the suction side of the pump. Do these pools all have a lot of debris? You may want to add an inline leaf canister to your set up to catch the debris. Is there a reason you don't use the pool owner's equipment to vacuum the pool?
i dont think i am getting any air it doesnt seem that way anyway. I have already done the initial power vacs to these pools so there is not too much debris just the Crud that comes off the trees in the spring and this is the stuff clogging my cartridge. it just seems like the cartridge filter is restreicting the flow right from the start. maybe i just need a new cartridge. i just always go with the "more power" the better. and bigger is better methods. and none of these customers have any pool vac equipment. thanks again
What size cartridge filter do you have?
I'd stick with the cartridge filter for your type of jobs.
I would however, go to a very large one.
I'd stick with the cartridge filter for your type of jobs.
I would however, go to a very large one.
If the pool is very dirty, then I would just vacuum to waste. Valve the discharge to control the suction, and water loss rate.
If the pool is not too bad, then just vacuum through the customer's system. Use your equipment, but their system. Vacuum through their skimmer using a vac plate over the skimmer basket.
If necessary, vacuum the worst with the side vac, and the rest through the customer's system.
If the pool is not too bad, then just vacuum through the customer's system. Use your equipment, but their system. Vacuum through their skimmer using a vac plate over the skimmer basket.
If necessary, vacuum the worst with the side vac, and the rest through the customer's system.
A C500 is a very small filter. I'd want at least a 200 ft² or even larger filter for the type of work you're doing.
i thought it was on the small side too thats why i was thinking of making something out of my old sand filter would a 1 hp pump be strong enough to run through the sand filter and give me good suction but i just ordered a new cartridge so i will see hoe that one does if i dont like it im going sand
I can't see that lugging a sand filter around as being practical. Why aren't you using the customer's filter?
yea i thought about the size thing as well and i already thought of ideas to make it easy to wheel around pump and filter mounter to a hand truck all plumbed up and ready to go. as far as just hooking up to customers fitler i would need to sped money on another vac hose long enough to reach some of these pools and when your vac a pool its easier to shut there system off to make it easier to see the bottom without the water rippling.
Most decent sized sand filters have about 200 to 300 lbs of sand in the not counting the vessel itself, and putting less sand in them is just asking for issues. I still vote for a large cartridge filter.
Don't they make a fine mesh bag for your power vac that would capture a lot of the stuff that is overwhelming your cartridge vac? I've seen them clean some pretty dirty stuff out with those.
I was thinking the same thing. I can't find all the links here on the site, but you can search for Slime Bags and 1 micron biodiesel filter bags from Duda Diesel. Those seem like the might provide some of the additional filtering needed.keastman said:
I'm not endorsing them - never used 'em. They do sound interesting, though. I was thinking about using them to filter my backwash water and return it to the pool vice wasting it to the storm drain.
Cheers.