adoptolderkids said:
I haven't gone back out to vacuum - but I am certain that I must have lost suction, because that is what caused the pump to drain out.
This is certainly a learn-as-you go thing. I hope I haven't damaged anything. I feel good that everything seems to still be working, other than the vacuum. I will try again - and this time NOT lift it up out of the water to see if it is sucking water. I am so stupid - but I can be reformed, I swear!
You will need to vacuum again as soon as possible because the chlorine you're adding is being used oxidizing the material on the bottom. You want it to be put to a much better use working on the organics suspended in the water.
I have a very similar pump and filter setup as you. When I vacuum I follow these steps:
1. Attach the brush to the end of the pole, the hose to the brush, and the suction plate to the other end of the hose.
2. Clean skimmer basket.
3. Submerge the pole & brush and allow it to lay:
...A) somewhere on the bottom with no debris
...B) suspended halfway to the bottom.
...(another person helping and/or wedging the pole between ladder rungs can be helpful for doing this)
4. Take the suction plate end and walk it over to the return jet and throw the rest of the hose into the pool.
5. Put the opening of the suction plate over the return jet
...(This will fill the hose with water quickly and easily but will create turbulence around the brush head as bubbles are forced out and finally just water. Thats why positioning the brush in a good spot in step 3 is important as to not disturb the debris.)
6. If vacuuming to waste, now is a good time to turn the pump off, change the valve to the Waste setting and turn the pump back on.
...(Make sure someone is still holding the suction plate submerged)
7.
Keeping the suction plate always submerged, carefully slide it through the skimmer opening and position it above the basket. Then allow the plate to be sucked down onto the basket.
...(Be sure the plate is flush and properly seated over the basket. I usually position the plate as far back into the skimmer as possible before allowing the suction to pull it down onto basket. You may need to open the Weir door outward before feeding the suction plate into the skimmer to accomplish this. If all went well you should see little or no air entering the pump basket view port.)
8. Vacuum your pool. You'll want to move the brush head slowly along the bottom so you don't stir up the debris but still realize you are draining the pool at a high rate so be efficient with your vacuuming method.
Do not allow the brush head to leave the water or you will have to change back to the filter setting and start again at step 6.
