Pentair diverter

[beachhouse]

Hi,

I am about to open my swimming pool, and I had a big doubt.

Last year a new filter was installed, and the old Pentair multiport valve was replaced with a 3-way diverter valve (see picture below).
In the old valve, the filter and the backwash positions were clearly indicated on the valve itself.
The new diverter valve has no writings.

1) What the correct position of the valve for normal pool operation? (i.e. the equivalent of the "filter" position in the multiport valve).
For the sake of communication, let's use the "off" label in the picture as a reference. In the picture, the "off" label is pointing at "3 o'clock".

2) I purchased a vacuum head, and I'd like to vacuum the pool immediately after opening the pool cover. The vacuum head connects through a hose to the skimmer hole. My understanding is that while using that vacuum head, I need to switch the valve to "backwash".
In the picture below, what is the correct position for backwash?

Thanks!

 

[Texas Splash]

Now that you have a cartridge (Clean & Clear) filter, there is no multiport valve to select backwash, rinse, etc like you had with sand or DE. You simply vacuum everything into the cart filter and clean it afterwards if it got dirty enough to require cleaning. Looks lie the installer gave you the 3-way valve as an "option" to open that valve and allow you to vacuum directly to the waste line (bypassing the cart filter) if you ever needed to do so which is a nice bonus if needed. So if you had a ton of dirt and silt at the bottom and didn't mind loosing some water, you could open that waste port and pump the dirty water directly to the waste line. Otherwise, just vacuum into the filter and clean it when it gets full enough to do so.

Make sense?

 

[Texas Splash]

As it stands right now in the pic, vacuumed items will go directly into the filter. If you wanted to vacuum to waste, turn the handle 90 degree counter-clockwise to block the filter line (Off tab towards the filter) which would open the waste line.

 

[beachhouse]

@Texas Splash Thank you so much for the detailed explanation!

Yes, I expect a lot of dirt at the bottom of the pool, and I don't mind losing some water.
I'll follow your instructions and turn the handle 90 degrees counter-clockwise ("off" tab at 12 o'clock) for the initial vacuuming.

After the initial vacuuming, I'll move the handle back to the 3 o'clock position.