Spigot for vacuum to waste?

[robmaxfli]

Hello, I have a circa 1980 pool whereby I don't have any vacuum to waste option or valve. However, someone installed a spigot right where the pipe leaves my DE filter. It is "T''d into the return line. I've wondered what that was for. I'd like to vacuum my pool and not have it clog my filter so fast. Can I vacuum and then just open that spigot to drain the gunk onto the ground? Better yet, can i remove my de filter altogether and then do this?

thank you

 

[PoolStored]

Can you post some pictures of your equipment pad so we can see what we are dealing with?

 

[robmaxfli]

ok done - ty!

 

[PoolStored]

Thank you.

The spigot is to lower the water level. You can open the spigot with the pump running and that essentially allows you to drain some water. Opening the spigot will drain filtered water because it is after the filter. It won't remove any "gunk."

As to the slide valve, there are two positions. Filter (slide valve handle down), and Backwash (slide valve handle up).

In the filter position, vacuuming will put the water through the filter.
In the Backwash position, vacuuming will put the water backwards through the filter, "backwashing" the filter and removing the dirt, and DE from the filter through the blue hose. However, anything thing you vacuum will embed in the grids on the wrong side. You cannot vacuum in backwash position.

You have no real option to vacuum to waste. The best option is to vacuum in the filter position and backwash to clear the debris, then recharge the filter and continue to vacuum. Repeating the backwash when the filter gets full.

Slide Valves - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[robmaxfli]

thanks for your reply

I've never vacuumed the pool with the slide valve in the Backwash position. I didn't know it was possible to do. I will give that a try.

 

[PoolStored]

I've never vacuumed the pool with the slide valve in the Backwash position. I didn't know it was possible to do. I will give that a try.

I would not do that. I'm sorry that my answer was not clear, I corrected. I was explaining what it would do, not recommending it.

Anything you vacuum will embed in the grids. You have no real option to vacuum to waste. The best option is to vacuum in the filter position and backwash to clear the debris, then recharge the filter and continue to vacuum. Repeating the backwash/recharge when the filter gets full.

 

[1poolman1]

thanks for your reply

I've never vacuumed the pool with the slide valve in the Backwash position. I didn't know it was possible to do. I will give that a try.

Don't do it.
You will fill the inside of your grids with debris that will be very difficult to remove and will end up back in the pool when you start filtering again.
If you want to vacuum to waste, install a 3-way valve right after the filter pump that will divert the water, but be aware that you will lower your water in the pool very quickly.
You could also install a multi-port valve instead of the push/pull one. They have waste ports that can be used. Again the water will quickly drop.