Tips for emptying pump pot needed

[dragonbird22]

Hi all, it’s that time of year when the entire neighborhood’s leaves blow directly into my pool.

I needed to empty my pump pot today but when I release the pressure from the top of the filter housing before opening the pot, the water flows backwards pulling nearly all of the debris out of the pump pot. It’s always like this but much more annoying this time of year when I need to constantly empty the skimmer & pot. So I empty what I can, then restart the pump and all of the debris just fills the pump pot again. Is there a different way to release pressure or a different order to doing things so that I can keep more debris in the pot before I open it? Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Hope you all have a nice holiday season!

 

[Newdude]

The filter should have a bottom drain. Empty it completely and it will likely be better.

If that still doesn't help, a check valve could be installed in the straight pipe before the pump. That would ensure water flowed to the pump and not back from it.

 

[dragonbird22]

Gotcha. Will try the bottom drain in a few hours when I need to go out and empty everything again it’s a windy day here today. Thanks @Newdude !!

 

[Poolbreh]

You don’t need to open air relief before opening the pot. There is no pressure when the pump is off. Open the air relief after emptying the pot to release any trapped air when you start the pump up. If it still happens you can use the 3 port valve to close the intake side of the pump while it’s off. If you have a suction side cleaner I would recommend a leaf trap.

 

[ajw22]

Turn the 3-way valve on the pump intake so the handle points away from the pump. That prevents water flowing backwards.

Make sure you reset the valve before turning the pump back on.

 

[dragonbird22]

Well, did not consider that the valve had a 4th position like that Thanks, ya’ll!

 

[Newdude]

Well, did not consider that the valve had a 4th position like that Thanks, ya’ll!

Both of my pools were configured so that i couldn't accidently dead head the pump. While the feature would come in handy in this instance, i wouldn't trust it to the general public if I was the PB, and I bet yours doesn't turn the right way either. (But I hope I'm wrong as it's the easiest answer).

 

[dragonbird22]

Was just considering the same thing @Newdude - I’ll try it but I won’t force the handle just in case it doesn’t actually turn that way.

 

[ajw22]

and I bet yours doesn't turn the right way either. (But I hope I'm wrong as it's the easiest answer).

In all the diverter valves I have used you loosen the handle screw and raise the handle above any stops that prevent turning it.

 

[JamesW]

https://images.inyopools.com/cloud/documents/ispsv.pdf

 

[JamesW]

Putting a check valve between the pump and filter is usually a good idea.

 

[Newdude]

My goodness a pic says 1000 words. I dunno know why but I had it in my head that the stops were inside the valve body, not the handle itself.

I opened my first one recently and didn't notice the handle stops over all the 4 letter words being thrown around that my 1.5 year old valve was leaking.

@dragonbird22 , @Poolbreh nailed it above. Try just opening the pump basket upon shutting it off and chances are that will stop the back flow. Purge the air upon startup. It's the way I've always done mine and the filter drains the other way towards the returns.

If that doesn't work beacuse the pad is too elevated in regards to the water height, then mess with the valve handle.

 

[dragonbird22]

@Poolbreh ’s suggestion is the ticket. Was able to easily open the pot lid after shutting off the pump with little movement of the collected debris.

Tried rotating the handle also but despite loosening the knob as much as I was comfortable, my handle does not turn to that 4th position.

Thanks all! Appreciate the help and education

 

[JamesW]

Tried rotating the handle also but despite loosening the knob as much as I was comfortable, my handle does not turn to that 4th position.

You can take the handle all of the way off, it won't hurt anything.

The stops are on the lid and the white part.

The white parts comes out.

The white part is called the Indexing Disk.