Newbie question: How to empty pump strainer basket without a flood

[ShelleyAnn]

All you need to do is get a $4 stopper at Home Depot to put in your skimmer hole...after you turn the pump off of course.

Then unscrew the little drain at the bottom of the basket housing, unscrew the lid on top, remove the basket, whalaah! If you're quick, you can use the draining pump water to rinse the pump basket of those last little specs. Inspect the housing where the basket came from for any debris that didn't get caught and reverse the process.

Shelley

[Karen_in_TN]

I usually turn my pump to closed and then take the skimmer basket out and put a lid off a tupperware bowl over the hole. When the pump basket is opened the water sucks the lid down and only a little water trickles out. After I get the lid back on, I put the skimmer basket back in and set the pump back to filter and start it up.