Vacuum to waste

rparker36

New member
Mar 10, 2023
1
Greenville South Carolina
Hello, I have a problem with my pool being cloudy this year. I have all the chemicals on point right now and have added clarifier a week ago and it is still cloudy. The articles I have viewed online says that I need to add flocculant and the problem with that is that my filter doesn't have a waste position so that I can vacuum to waste. What can I do or how can it be hard piped to be able to vacuum to waste and maybe recirculate to keep water from going into filter? What kind of valve would we need to divert water away from filter back to return so it could be set to recirculate when adding some chemicals and divert water away from filter to a waste pipe to vacuum and then set it back to run through filter when finished ?
 
Welcome to TFP! :wave: Here at TFP we base everything do and advise on accurate at-home testing wiht a proper test kit - either a TF-100 (in my signature) or Taylor K-2006C. Can you provide test results from one of those? That would be our starting point.

As for the clarifier and flocculant, we avoid those like the plague with very few exceptions. They cause more trouble than they are worth and do not kill/remove algae. If you have algae, you need to follow the SLAM Process.

As for the basic question of vacuuming to waste, it depends on your pool type and pad set-up. Please update your signature with all of your details. See my signature as an example. Post some pics of your equipment pad and we can advise you on how to modify your plumbing if needed. Be sure to save our Pool Care Basics page to your favorites!

Enjoy the forum. :swim:
 
Oh, Please don’t use floc especially if you don’t have the ability to vac to waste. You’ll just have an even bigger mess!
Do as @Texas Splash said & get a tf100xl or taylor k2006c on order, read up on the
SLAM Process, get plenty of liquid chlorine ready & have a place you can get more.
Until your kit comes just add 5ppm worth of liquid chlorine daily to prevent things from getting worse (pour it slowly infront of a running return away from the pool wall & brush the area)
PoolMath will tell you how much to add based on your pool volume & chlorine %.
Post up your test results here once you have them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Newdude
I occasionally get pollen in my pool that my filter does not remove.

I am a big fan of Slime Bags in these cases.

Home - The Slime Bag (you can find them a various retailers too)

They go on your return and provide an even finer level of filtration. No need for floc or other magic chemicals. Just put the bag on your return, vacuum as normal, and lave the bag on the return for 2-3 days
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: YippeeSkippy
Whenever I have faced cloudiness problems, more chlorine has always solved it. Even when I did not perceive a chlorination or algae problem.

SLAM method basically. Although I'm not that rigorous and often just aggressively shock for an extended period instead.
 
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.