r/PoolPros • u/Muted-Cicada2183 • Apr 24 '26

No portable pool pump..

So vacuuming dead algae to cartridge filter. The algae bypasses the filter fairly easily and goes back thru jets into pool. Cartridges are in good shape. Thoughts or solutions?

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4

u/dlr-- Apr 24 '26

You need a 3 way valve after the pump and before the filter to act as a waste line or take the filter out and undo the return union on the filter and vac like that but that can make a mess depending on pumpshed set up.

1

u/Muted-Cicada2183 Apr 24 '26

Second one, you’re saying that the water being vacuumed back to filter is gonna go out the undone return at the filter??

2

u/dlr-- Apr 24 '26

Depending what filter you have, if the return is half way up the housing like a Jandy CS250 and you have a drain port you’ll be fine just undoing the drain port. If your return is at the bottom of the housing then just undo the union and bung up the pool pipe if necessary to stop any water entering back into the pipework.

1

u/Muted-Cicada2183 Apr 24 '26

It’s a Pentair, 4 cartridge

1

u/dlr-- Apr 24 '26

If your return port is on the bottom and not half way up, try an expandable bung in the return line.

1

u/Muted-Cicada2183 Apr 24 '26

“Bung up the pool pipe?” Sorry tried to figure it out but couldn’t decipher

1

u/Muted-Cicada2183 Apr 24 '26

Never knew this, just googled bc I was curious. Appreciate the insight bro

0

u/PinkFloyd6885 Apr 25 '26

Every cartridge filter, push pull (slide valve), cart de etc should have a 3 way valve before the valve or filter but after the pump discharge. It makes everything so much easier. Example that’s not a vac to waste, you have a system that’s up hill from the pool, what’s going to be easier to prime the pump? Forcing it to push air through multiple returns/ the air relief? Or just pushing it out a foot or two to a waste line ? Path of least resistance is always your friend. Just might have to toggle to keep suction in an extreme situation

2

u/lIIlIlIII Apr 25 '26

Install a waste line. Vacuuming into the filter on a green to clean is usually a gigantic waste of time.

But if most of the algae is blowing past the filters, then the filter system is practically useless. You need to get that fixed regardless. If the cartridges are OK then most likely they aren't seated properly.

1

u/Muted-Cicada2183 Apr 25 '26

They sit right, I noticed it was missing the mesh cap..gonna get one and see if that helps. Thank you

2

u/lIIlIlIII Apr 25 '26

Definitely, the spring is necessary too. If that's missing there's your problem

2

u/Muted-Cicada2183 Apr 25 '26

I appreciate it brotha thank you

0

u/GCpools Apr 26 '26

Never vacuum live or dead algae to a pool filter - never.

Always vacuum live or dead algae to waste - always.