Using filter drain to pump pool?

[davelinde]

I'm trying pump a few feet of water out of my pool to address a leak. I thought I could get a 2" hose and do it faster, but after a bunch of futzing with it I gave up and went back to pumping out through a garden hose. For future reference, how is this done?

The bottom of my filter has a drain that is really big - 3" or so OD on the threads... I was able to get a 2" pipe inside and get the 2" blue hose on that... but the whole thing was held together with duct tape. The tape might have been OK but with the drain open I could not get the pump to prime? The same thing happens with the hosebib on the outlet open too.. the pump will not prime.

Is there a trick?

 

[duraleigh]

Hi, Dave,

Can you just set your multiport on waste or backwash?

 

[jblizzle]

It is a cartridge filter ... so guess they do not have a multi-port.

I think ideally you would want to find a fitting that will screw into the drain. Then either add a ball-valve and then a hose fitting and leave the setup in place, or just remove it when you are done.

 

[4knights]

Is there a union between the pump and filter? If so you could remove the filter, hook a hose up and turn the pump on. Lots of water pumped out fast! (once you figure out why it won't prime that is)
Possibly junk in the main drain- can you push air back through and see bubble coming out the drain or is your skimmer connected to the main drain and the little slide valve in there closed?

 

[samiguy]

Just my $.02....but something just don't sound right here. (Yes, I am southern). If the filter is "down-line" from the pump, then the "open" drain opening should not keep the pump from keeping or getting a prime UNLESS the filter line/drain is sucking the water out of the pump. Just my thoughts...hope this gives you some ideas. Good Luck!!

 

[davelinde]

If the filter is "down-line" from the pump, then the "open" drain opening should not keep the pump from keeping or getting a prime

I didn't think what was on the output side of the pump would matter either. But, I've had it happen twice now... once with the filter drain open and once with the hosebib mounted directly to the pump output open. The pump would not prime. Close it off, and the pump primed quickly. It could be my imagination - 'cause I agree I don't understand why the output matters...

 

[bobodaclown]

I added a drain to my cartridge filter. 1.5 threaded pvc fitting, schedule 40 and a shut off valve works great.
Heres what I did
viewtopic.php?t=35088

 

[davelinde]

I just realized that at least part of my problem getting the pump to prime is the fact that I'm pumping down the water and I now need to lift it an extra 2 1/2'... It still seem that having the open lines right at the output of the pump causes issues...

 

[JasonLion]

Somewhere around 3' feet below pump level it starts to get really problematic to prime the pump, regardless of output configuration.

 

[davelinde]

Somewhere around 3' feet below pump level it starts to get really problematic to prime the pump

yep... that was about where I was. Learning and learning over here - I'm 'bout ready to do more swimming and less learning soon.