Hi Zacc44,
Welocme to TFP! Youve come to the right place to find out how to maintain you pool. I will give it a go to start. Some others will prolly chime in also,
Regarding the pump running, it is NOT necessary to run it 24/7. Most folks use a timer to control how long it runs.
Somewhere on the wall or maybe inside box 2, is a switch that turns the pump on and off.
If the house has been vacant, the pump may be running to prevent freezing. During freezing weather, you definitely want the water moving, else you might suffer a broken pipe.
During warmer weather, you need the pump to run long enough to keep the water skimmed, and long enough to allow the chloring generator to produce enough chlorine to keep the pool sanitized and sparkly clean.
I would highly recommend 2 things right now.
First,
you will need a water test kit so you know what to add, or not to add to the pool. Here is a link to the highly reliable test kits. (Dont trust pool store testing, they are notoriously wrong).
www.tftestkits.net I think most everyone on this forum would recommened the TF100. Its definitely awesome!
Secondly, start reading Pool School. Big button at the top of the page. There is an infinite amount of info that you will need to learn so maintain your pool.
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/
As for cleaning the trash.
At pool side, on the deck, by the skimmer (the skimmer is where the pump sucks in the water from the pool), is a cover, most likely plastic square shape with a hole in the middle of it. Remove that cover and inside is a basket that collects leaves and other stuff that gets sucked in. Keep that basket cleaned out. There is a handle on the basket. Just grab it and pull it out. Recommend to do this with the pump turned off.
Also, on your pump is a lid with a "clear top" on it. The lit probably unscrews off of the pump. Under that lid is another basket that collects stuff that gets past the skimmer basket. Keep the pump basket cleaned out.
Pic 1.
. I think #1, might be the saltwater generator (SWG) controller, but its hard to tell without a close up pic.
Pic 2, I think is the Pool Control panel, Given that you have electric actuated valves means that there is a probably a remote controller somewhere. The remote controller controls the relays in the Control Panel, which in turn opens and closes the selected valves. The RC also can program the saltwater system and the pump on/off and run time and probably control the heater and pool lights too. There is probably a control panel in the box too, in case the remote goes on the blink, you can manually control the equipment.
Pic 3 is the filter - looks like a pentair cartridge filter - which is excellent one. This filter removes the fine particulates in the water.
It will need periodic cleaning.
Pic 4. Cannot tell what it is by the pic.
Pic 5 is the pentair 2 HP pump
Pic 6 Is the saltwater generator cell. This thing uses electrolysis to turn the saltwater into chlorine.
Pic 7 is the heater.
Pic 8. Those are valves and it looks like they probably control the flow from the equipment pad back to the pool/ spa/ fountain, or whatever water features you have. (Return side)
Pic 9 These are also valves and control the flow from the pool skimmer(s) and main drains/spa or whatever (Suction side)
