Quasi-newbie needs help with vacuum-to-waste for swamp

[TwinsPool]

Situation: Moved into our 60 y.o. house with pool (we've never had a pool) last summer. The Pentair DE filter, which has had a frozen backwash valve since day 1, soon after blew an o-ring and has been out of commission since then. Pool became a swamp complete with amphibians. I am repairing the filter o-ring/backwash gasket situation, but not finished yet. That is my first goal.

I will attach a picture of the plumbing around the pump and filter, in which you will see that the PVC pipes going to and from the filter have been cut (by my plumber neighbor) to aid the filter repair. I will finish that myself and do the PVC work (with unions this time) too.

I have no dedicated vacuum-to-waste capability at present although the filter's drain pipe, which I think was the backwashing drain, can (I think) be used for vacuum-to-waste. But since I am doing some significant PVC work to reconnect the filter, would it be better to insert a valve between the pump and the filter with a pipe specifically for vacuum to waste?

Which way (use filter drain or add new valve/pipe between pump and filter) is actually better for a swamp situation and for future vacuum-to-waste needs? Many thanks!

 

[Jimrahbe]

TP,

Adding a 3-way valve between the pump and the filter is a great thing to do.. This will allow you to vacuum to waste, but it will also allow you to open your pump lid without all the water draining back into the pool.

It should be a requirement for all cartridge filters.

Where does your drain line go? Street, sewer, open air, or septic tank?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TwinsPool]

Thanks, Jim. I also like the idea of a 3-way valve between the pump and filter. I guess it should go into that 1.5" longish horizontal pipe that crosses over toward the filter? FYI, there is 2" pipe coming out of the pump and changes to 1.5" pipe after the 3rd 90-degree turn. Also, it appears that there is 1.5" copper pipe going undergound to and from the pool. The pool was built in 1977.

The "drain" exit on the bottom of the filter went to open air (my back patio, actually, so I don't want waste water there). I would like it to go (probably via a lay-flat vinyl tube) to a cleanout on either side of the house that drains to the sewer, but the side of the house that's closest to the filter is next to the kitchen and that cleanout drain goes under the house foundation slab to the other side of the house before going toward the front to the sewer, and I am afraid that I may get a clog under there with pool debris that is difficult to fix. It's probably just 20 ft to the closest cleanout, and about 50 ft to the one on the other side of the house that is presumably "safer".

I could also send it to the street relatively easily (a straight shot (~35 ft) from the filter to my driveway sloping to the street), but the street gutter doesn't drain well and pools in front of my driveway. I'm not sure I want the algae mess there, but I suppose I could get out there with a push-broom and push it over the nearby highpoint in the street to clear my driveway gutter area. That may actually be the "safest" and easiest way, although requires some push-brooming work, so maybe that is the best way? I'm open to all suggestions and thoughts anyone may have. Many thanks for any discussion.