Just Bought A House With A Pool...Where to Begin?

[Guybrush3pwood]

How do I tell?

July 21, 2016 - YouTube

I set it to backwash for a few minutes, switched it to rinse and then put it back on filter. Oddly enough it looked like it shot a bunch of stuff back into the pool.

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Oh, pressure is always at just below 20.

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I'm supposed to open up some kind of waste line? Where the heck is that? How am I supposed to know these things?!

 

[cj3737]

Ok... leave the pump running.. Just below 20 will be your normal pressure.. If it spikes much above that, time to backwash again.
There should be clear sight gauge on the side of the unit... When you are backwashing, watch that closely.. Itll turn mucky then back to the color of your pool water.. When it changes back, back wash is done.

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

Whatever man. I'm just going to let the filter run until I can get a tube sock so that I can do that dumb stuff. Getting close to plan B, which is fill the pool with gasoline and light it on fire.

 

[cj3737]

Is that your actual set up?

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

There's alge in the sight tube so I can't really tell much of anything.

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Yeah I just filmed it.

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What a nightmare.

 

[cj3737]

There's alge in the sight tube so I can't really tell much of anything.

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Yeah I just filmed it.

Ok.. I see an issue...
First.. that white cap with the slit is your backwash port.. It should have a fitting on it that allows the water to be dumped thru a backwash hose...
2nd, when you pulled the cap off the skimmer, it wasnt sucking any water down. You may have debris stuck somewhere in there...
Can you feel any water coming out the jet in the pool?

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

That's when I had the setting on backwash though. Should it be sucking water on backwash?

 

[cj3737]

yes.. it will still cycle thru the filter and pull water from the pool

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

Here's what it looks like ok filter.

July 21, 2016 - YouTube

I'm assuming it wasn't pulling since I didn't have a waste hose hooked up? I don't know. How can I tell? Ackkkkkkkk.

 

[cj3737]

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Here's what it looks like ok filter.

July 21, 2016 - YouTube

I'm assuming it wasn't pulling since I didn't have a waste hose hooked up? I don't know. How can I tell? Ackkkkkkkk.

Ok good.. no clogs.. It wasnt pumping cuz the port is blocked by the white cap.

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

Ok, what should I take away from that?

 

[cj3737]

No worries... easy fix.. Pool store may have that fitting and you can get a backwash hose from wal mart... or for now you can just remove the white cap and let it fly... gonna be wet but at least your filter will be clean..

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

Is this the hose?



I tried unscrewing the waste cap and a bunch of water started gushing out the sides, so I screwed it back on. Please, somebody tell me what to do here. Should I even be backwashing since I'm under 20psi as you said before?

 

[cj3737]

Nope thats the vacuum hose to clean the pool..
The waste cap has water built up behind it because the previous owner had no clue... that should remain open unless the valve seal is shot. Let it gush for a few sceonds and it should stop completely

Under 20 psi is fine.. Im running at 18 just like you

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

Well, I am now completely soaked by this disgusting water, but I did figure it out. But I think I need to be done with this for a little bit.

 

[cj3737]

Since it is capped, im betting the previous owner never backwashed....

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

There was an adapter and then the hose went on the adapter.

 

[cj3737]

Thats fine... you wont find a pool owner that hasnt been soaked...

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There was an adapter and then the hose went on the adapter.

That will prolly work

 

[Guybrush3pwood]

No, there was water behind it because I had the setting on backwash. Apparently you're supposed to hook up the hose before you turn the handle, not after you turn it and before you power it on like I had thought.

Bits of information like that are being left out and it's sabotaging me.

 

[cj3737]

You put it back to filter in the vid so I thought you were good...