Cleaning pump filter w/o water draining out.

[les_smith]

What does everyone do to keep the water from draining out through the pump when you clean the pump filter? I tried a few things, but water always seems to gush out when I take the lid off the pump filter area. Thanks, Les.

[PatL34]

There should be a check valve downstream of the pump to prevent backflow, especially for above ground pools. This is standard practice in ALL chemical plants and IMHO is not used enough in AG pool service.

Just my two cents.

Pat

[duraleigh]

Shut off the valves from the suction side and pressure side and the water will not drain out,

[posguy]

Pat,

Just curiuos...wouldnt a check valve restrict water flow?

I understand check valves at a chemical plant, but an above ground pool?
I dont see the potential danger other than some spilled water.

Anthony

[PatL34]

In a chemical plant you can get spin back of the pump and motor possibly destroying one or both. In a pool this would not be a problem so much, but a check valve would be needed for an AG pool, unless there are inlet and outlet block valves to the pump that can isolate it. IMHO a check valve is more reliable, even if there is a slight drop in pressure.

There is no potential danger as such, just be aware when the pump basket lid is opened. This is not the problem with an In-ground pool.

Pat

[les_smith]

I don't have any check valves, but I do have a valve on my sand filter. I just cleaned the pump filter and it went great. Maybe a quarter gallon of water was lost. This is what I did: I turned the sand filter valve to closed I then put a short piece of vacuum hose in the skimmer plugging the hole and let it hang over the skimmer outside of the pool. I opened the the pump filter lid and only lost the water that was in the vacuum hose. Sweet, no wet feet.

[hrsdennis]

We use check valves on systems with auto chlorinators. If placed between filter and chlorinator they prevent high doses of chorine from getting back into the filter and causing damage. I was not aware of other needs, not to say there aren't.

Since most multi port valve assemblies have an closed position, the skimmer to pump hose is the most important place for a shut off valve. If you have PVC or flex PVC get a valve with slip openings on each side. The line can be cut anywhere and the valve glued in. If your pool uses regular pool flex hose they make a valve that has threads on one side (to screw into your hair and lint pot) and the other side is a hose adapter for using your existing pool hose.

Other options, if the opening at the base of your skimmer is threaded you can get a 1 1/2" MA and about a foot of PVC pipe and glue them together. When it is time to clean the basket, screw this fitting into the skimmer and turn your filter valve to closed.

If your fitting is not threaded, a tennis ball works good.

I could go on and on but I won't. I have seen, and done, a lot of different things to avoid installing those shut off valves.

Dennis

[hrsdennis]

Les, You got in while I was typing. I have used your idea also. This really does not have to get expensive or complicated.:)

Dennis

[les_smith]

I really like the tennis ball idea. I'm going to give that a shot next time. Thanks for your input.