Vacuum to Waste- DE Filter

We have a DE filter and were told by a pool professional to vacuum to waste in order to clear out the mess after opening the pool this season. We're having a hard time figuring out exactly how to do this. Could someone help walk me through setting up the vacuum to waste. We have a waste line but that just empties the water.

Thank you for any help you can give me!

If you have a multiport attached to your filter that changes from filter, waste, backwash, etc....then all you have to do is submerge your vac, fill the hose with water, insert the other end of the hose into the pipe that pulls from the skimmer, and turn the pump on in "waste" mode. Keep in mind though, that the stuff you're vac'ing up is still going through the pump basket, so if you're vac'ing up a bunch of solid stuff, you may have to stop once in a while to empty that basket out to keep the suction strong.

Thanks for the quick reply! Our filter does not have a multiport valve- its a DE filter with a bump handle, so I am trying to figure out how to vac to waste bypassing the traditional setup.

There is no waste mode with a DE filter, it is not possible to bypass DE filter. Water goes into the filter from the pump and then goes back into the pool OR out of the drain valve if it is open. You can vacuum the pool with the drain valve open and the water would go straight out but it is still going through the filter and all of your DE would be sent out as well.

@KSCronk: without a multiport valve (which many DE filters lack) it's usually not possible to vacuum to waste. I'm not sure what alternatives may exist for you but, it's much easier to answer your questions, when we know something about your pool. We often 'waste' the first few posts back and forth collecting information. So, please complete our new Pool Chart form -- it takes about 30 seconds, but will save much more than that.

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@Creamy: that's true with some -- but not all -- DE & cartridge filters.

Hey, welcome to The Forum!

Tomorrow I'll write up something on bypassing or vacuuming to waste DE filters without a multiport.