When to vacuum to waste?

[Texaspoolmariposa]

We live in the western part of Texas where the winds and dust are bad. I am wondering when we should vacuum to waste vs. vacuuming through the filter?

Couple of pictures attached of the dust from yesterday's high winds. Looks like it will be windy through Thursday and warm up for the weekend. Wondering if I will need to vacuum to waste to get it ready for the weekend.

 

[Richard320]

Vacuuming to waste will use a lot of water. If you're on a well, or you have a hard time balancing it, that could be a problem. Vacuuming to filter might overload the filter, necessitating a backwash. Or two. Your call.

Only you know how much you like/dislike backwashing. Only you know if disposing of a couple thousand gallons of water will be a problem.

 

[justinc]

An automatic pool cleaner will save you lots of time vacuuming and doesn't send waste to the filter. ;-)

 

[Texaspoolmariposa]

An automatic pool cleaner will save you lots of time vacuuming and doesn't send waste to the filter. ;-)

The guess I don’t know what that is. Where does it send the dust/dirt?

 

[Texaspoolmariposa]

Vacuuming to waste will use a lot of water. If you're on a well, or you have a hard time balancing it, that could be a problem. Vacuuming to filter might overload the filter, necessitating a backwash. Or two. Your call.

Only you know how much you like/dislike backwashing. Only you know if disposing of a couple thousand gallons of water will be a problem.

We’ve only been in the house a couple of weeks so I have no idea what I prefer. I haven’t had to backwash yet but we do have a DE filter so I know I have to add that back when I do.

 

[justinc]

The guess I don’t know what that is. Where does it send the dust/dirt?

An automatic pool cleaner like a robot will have a self contained bag or filter basket to contain the dirt, dust, leaves, etc.

 

[Texaspoolmariposa]

An automatic pool cleaner like a robot will have a self contained bag or filter basket to contain the dirt, dust, leaves, etc.

Is there one you recommend?

 

[justinc]

Is there one you recommend?

You can check out the forum - Pool Cleaners "Pool Cleaners"

There are 3 types. Suction, pressure, and robotic. Suction will send everything to your filter but pressure and robotic have their own contained bags/baskets. Pressure requires a booster pump which you may or may not have. If you do, you can get a pressure side cleaner for about $500. If you don't have the booster pump, I would suggest robotic because the cost of the pump + pressure cleaner will be more than just a robot itself and the robot does the best job at cleaning. The most popular robotic cleaners on this forum seem to be Dolphin as you can see by the # of posts/replies to this thread: Doheny's Discovery, S200, Active20, Triton owners club

For your pool, an S200 from About Marina Pool Spa & Patio | Marina Pool Spa & Patio Marina Pool Spa and Patio would work very nicely. They run about 600-700$. You have to call and place a phone order to get the best prices. Free shipping and no tax for you since you're in Texas.

 

[Richard320]

We’ve only been in the house a couple of weeks so I have no idea what I prefer. I haven’t had to backwash yet but we do have a DE filter so I know I have to add that back when I do.

In that case, go look at the filter. Find the waste port. It may have a hose connected to it or it may be hard plumbed. If it's hard plumbed, you need to find where it goes. If there's a hose, you need to figure where to drag it. If there's no hose, but should bem you need to find it or buy one. Then look and see what you may flood. If you have a couple acres of pasture, great. If you have fancy planters and a neighbor two feet lower than you it could be a problem. Figure out where the water is gonna go, whether waste or backwash. That may sway your decision.

 

[Texaspoolmariposa]

In that case, go look at the filter. Find the waste port. It may have a hose connected to it or it may be hard plumbed. If it's hard plumbed, you need to find where it goes. If there's a hose, you need to figure where to drag it. If there's no hose, but should bem you need to find it or buy one. Then look and see what you may flood. If you have a couple acres of pasture, great. If you have fancy planters and a neighbor two feet lower than you it could be a problem. Figure out where the water is gonna go, whether waste or backwash. That may sway your decision.

You mean where the backwash goes? It goes into a pipe in the ground which goes into the sewer line. We had to drain the whole pool when we moved in.

 

[justinc]

You mean where the backwash goes? It goes into a pipe in the ground which goes into the sewer line. We had to drain the whole pool when we moved in.

That's nice. Be thankful for that. Some people have to attach a hose and drain into the yard etc.

 

[Richard320]

You mean where the backwash goes? It goes into a pipe in the ground which goes into the sewer line. We had to drain the whole pool when we moved in.

Then you're golden! Backwashing ought to be a piece of cake. No hose to mess with.

 

[Texaspoolmariposa]

You can check out the forum - Pool Cleaners "Pool Cleaners"

There are 3 types. Suction, pressure, and robotic. Suction will send everything to your filter but pressure and robotic have their own contained bags/baskets. Pressure requires a booster pump which you may or may not have. If you do, you can get a pressure side cleaner for about $500. If you don't have the booster pump, I would suggest robotic because the cost of the pump + pressure cleaner will be more than just a robot itself and the robot does the best job at cleaning. The most popular robotic cleaners on this forum seem to be Dolphin as you can see by the # of posts/replies to this thread: Doheny's Discovery, S200, Active20, Triton owners club

For your pool, an S200 from About Marina Pool Spa & Patio | Marina Pool Spa & Patio Marina Pool Spa and Patio would work very nicely. They run about 600-700$. You have to call and place a phone order to get the best prices. Free shipping and no tax for you since you're in Texas.

Thank you so much. I just watched a youtube video on the S200. Looks pretty cool. So they pick up the dust pretty well and are able to keep it in their little basket until it is emptied at the end? We don't have a lot of trees to drop bigger items, but the dust is likely going to be a constant issue.

 

[justinc]

Thank you so much. I just watched a youtube video on the S200. Looks pretty cool. So they pick up the dust pretty well and are able to keep it in their little basket until it is emptied at the end? We don't have a lot of trees to drop bigger items, but the dust is likely going to be a constant issue.

The ultra fine filter included is what I use 24/7 and it picks up dirt, sand, dust. It is a pleated filter. This is what it looks like: