Not having vacuum-to-waste is undoubtedly a disadvantage. For that reason, I've been in discussion with a local repair guy (whom I've used before and throughly trust his work) about revising the plumbing after the pump to provide a means of doing it. I think there'd be some value in being able to allow for this option.
I wouldn't say I'm going through any greater amounts of oxidizer than previous seasons. What I AM going through in unprecedented amounts is DE. That's what's so weird about whatever is going on - that everything else pretty much seems the same as in recent years with the exception of the rapid filter pressure increase and very short cycles. Next step is to try the Line Clean (without doing any sort of floccing). I'm also ordering a new set of grids to replace the ones I have now. I have two sets - so that I can always use one and chemically clean another without having to temporarily shut down the pool. It seems the one set of grids is pretty well clogged up even though it has been chemically treated.
I wouldn't say I'm going through any greater amounts of oxidizer than previous seasons. What I AM going through in unprecedented amounts is DE. That's what's so weird about whatever is going on - that everything else pretty much seems the same as in recent years with the exception of the rapid filter pressure increase and very short cycles. Next step is to try the Line Clean (without doing any sort of floccing). I'm also ordering a new set of grids to replace the ones I have now. I have two sets - so that I can always use one and chemically clean another without having to temporarily shut down the pool. It seems the one set of grids is pretty well clogged up even though it has been chemically treated.