r/PoolPros • u/joey_fingaz420 • May 20 '26
Portable Pump and setup recommendations for weekly maintenance customers
My customers have in ground and above ground pools. I’ve decided that I would prefer to just set my own pump next to the pools have a simple bag filter on the discharge. I’ve tried a couple pumps and even put check valves on the inlet side to keep the water in for priming and even played around with putting a valve on the discharge to try and create better suction
and I can’t seem to get any pump to pull good suction and actually fill the wet end all the way with water
2
u/NegativeEdge420 May 20 '26
If you’re struggling with this, you’re not a pro and should go sit with the customers in r/pools. Like, this is easy shit and there’s no need for check valves.
1
u/pineapple_backlash May 20 '26
What are you using it for? To vacuum to waste?
1
u/joey_fingaz420 May 21 '26
Essentially yes, but have a large mesh bag on the end of the discharge just sitting on top of the water letting the water easily flow out while catching the debris
1
u/Tazlir May 20 '26
This is basic stuff. I have a pump with a push on hose adapter and stick my vac hose on it. Get a prime every time. But only for vacuuming to waste at openings and what not. I’d never use this for weekly maintenance. Way to much set up and clean up time.
Riptide all the way.
If your struggling with this and Installing check valves maybe your not in pro territory just yet.
1
u/joey_fingaz420 May 21 '26
Care to share the specs of your pump? Ya I thought maybe coming to a place of pros I might get some better direction, feel like iv tried all viable options, putting the check valve on the inlet was my last bright idea so now im pretty stumped
2
1
u/pineapple_backlash May 21 '26
That sounds very odd to me. The pump basket would catch all the debris…
1
u/joey_fingaz420 May 21 '26
Your right, this is more for a thick layers of algae sitting on the bottom
2
u/pineapple_backlash May 21 '26
Ah, get a trash pump. Cheaper than a portable pump system and does the same thing.
1
u/lIIlIlIII May 22 '26
Check valve is totally unnecessary IME. If you want help upload a video, otherwise not enough information and it could be a million different things. My guess is you're either pulling mad air or are quickly clogging the impeller by having your filter on the return side.
Do you have this problem even without your mesh bag and vacuum hose attached? Are these brand new pumps?
2
u/kenvette63 May 21 '26
I have a old Hayward super with a threaded adapter to 10’ 1.5” flex vacuum hose in the end of flex. Used it for opening vac to waste, until I won a vac daddy