No Vacuum to Waste - other options

[robmaxfli]

My plumbing is such that I do not have a valve that I can turn in order to vacuum to waste - it all has to go through the filter. Are there any other tricks that I am not aware that would allow me to bypass the filter when vacuuming? Or are there any inline filters that catch junk?
thanks

 

[JohnT]

There are skimmer socks, which stretch over the basket in the skimmer. If you are after large debris, make sure your vacuum hookup lets you leave the basket in place.

 

[robmaxfli]

Well, my vacuum hole is under my basket so I have to remove the skimmer basket when vacuuming...

 

[zea3]

You can also use an inline leaf canister, that will catch things that will fill up your pump basket in a hurry!

 

[waste]

Can you tell us more about your system? There are ways to vac to 'waste', even if you don't have a valve for it.

 

[JohnT]

Well, my vacuum hole is under my basket so I have to remove the skimmer basket when vacuuming...

You need to use a vacuum plate so you can leave the basket in place.

 

[robmaxfli]

Here's a pic of my setup if that helps:

 

[JasonLion]

What some people, with setups like yours, do is to remove the top of the filter housing. Then the water will overflow out of the filter and onto the ground, a messy but workable approach to vacuuming to waste. In practice, a leaf canister is probably a much better solution for most situations.

 

[ivyleager]

Well, my vacuum hole is under my basket so I have to remove the skimmer basket when vacuuming...

My vacuum hole is under my basket too, but I have lots of gum tree "balls" that make me hesitant to suck up directly into the plumbing. So I use a skimmer vacuum plate and place directly over top of skimmer basket.

 

[robmaxfli]

So I'm guessing that you put that over your basket and then connect your hose to the top of it...Do you still get strong vac. suction from such a setup?

 

[JohnT]

So I'm guessing that you put that over your basket and then connect your hose to the top of it...Do you still get strong vac. suction from such a setup?

Yes. It's the preferred way to go since it cuts the risk of a clog in your line back to the pump. It completely seals the skimmer, so all the flow is through the hose.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

Do you have a traditional vac hose/vac head that attaches to a pole?

 

[robmaxfli]

Yes -

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

Never mind...I'm sorry - checking your older posts I see now this is an inground pool. What I had in mind probably won't work for an inground, cuz of gravity etc, if you were to prime the hose to get a syphon action going, the hose wouldn't stay primed, would it?

Can you add your pool specs/equipment to your signature.... go to User Control Panel, top left, then Profile, then Edit Signature. Thanks in advance!

 

[waste]

(just a quick $.02 & )

Whoever plumbed that filter 'valve' is an idiot!