Newbie question: How to clean pump strainer basket without a flood?

[poolfngy]

I have a really simple question. I have a Hayward Power-Flo Matrix pump and a Hayward XStream filter for my 24' AG pool. The pump has a large strainer basket on it. When the time comes, how can I take the top off the strainer to clean the basket without either getting flooded by water coming from the skimmer or water in the filter? It seems to me that as soon as I unscrew the strainer top, gravity and pressure will work against me and I'll end up soggy. I don't really want to learn the hard way if at all possible.

Any help would be appreciated.
Pool Fuhnewgee

[ScottS]

Welcome to the site.

I noticed you posted the same question in two different sections. As an FYI that's not necessary.

Now to your question. Before I "re-piped" my system and added shut off valves I used a 1 1/2" rubber plug in my skimmer to plug it up. Just remove the basket and install the plug. This keeps the water from rushing in through the skimmer.

Again, welcome and enjoy your stay.

[CarlD]

You are absolutely right--that will happen.
You can do either of two things:
1) Get some plugs. They look like tapered rubber corks with a wing-nut attached. You put them in the return, the low drain (if you have one) and the skimmer to plug the lines. Then you open the pump strainer. For threaded outlets, you can also use a threaded plug. Remember to remove the eyeball or screen first.


2) You plumb in ball-valves to isolate the pump from those lines to clean the pump's basket.

1) is cheap but you have to do it everytime
2) is a little work but it make shutting down instantaneous.

[poolfngy]

You are absolutely right--that will happen.
You can do either of two things:
1) Get some plugs. They look like tapered rubber corks with a wing-nut attached. You put them in the return, the low drain (if you have one) and the skimmer to plug the lines. Then you open the pump strainer. For threaded outlets, you can also use a threaded plug. Remember to remove the eyeball or screen first.

For give me for sounding dense here: if I plug the skimmer and plug the return and then open up the strainer lid, which is lower than the level of water in the filter, won't that still cause the filter water to backwash into the pump and out the strainer lid? Or is there a vacuum created in the filter because there is no air available to displace the exiting water?

2) You plumb in ball-valves to isolate the pump from those lines to clean the pump's basket.

1) is cheap but you have to do it everytime
2) is a little work but it make shutting down instantaneous.

I like instantaneous! If I can get it to work with plugs first then I'll go down the path of ball valves.

Thanks!

[sevver]

Yes, the water will flow out of the hoses, but it does not matter, the water will push the air out of the system. I have valves on mine, previously I did it your way: flood city.

[poolfngy]

Just following up on my own post here . . .

I ended up installing ball valves as CarlD suggested and it worked like a charm: twist, twist, pop the cover off, clean the strainer, replace the cover, twist, twist. I get maybe 2 - 3 cups of water overflowing the from the strainer basket now.

It was so easy to do that I went a step further and got rid of all my hoses and hard-piped the entire system. I wish I had done that about two years earlier!

[JohnT]

Just following up on my own post here . . .

I ended up installing ball valves as CarlD suggested and it worked like a charm: twist, twist, pop the cover off, clean the strainer, replace the cover, twist, twist. I get maybe 2 - 3 cups of water overflowing the from the strainer basket now.

It was so easy to do that I went a step further and got rid of all my hoses and hard-piped the entire system. I wish I had done that about two years earlier!

Just be aware that the hard plumbing can be an alternate ladder for kids if you don't have a fence or rely on a removeable ladder for security.

[Vinyl_Guy]

Just following up on my own post here . . .

I ended up installing ball valves as CarlD suggested and it worked like a charm: twist, twist, pop the cover off, clean the strainer, replace the cover, twist, twist. I get maybe 2 - 3 cups of water overflowing the from the strainer basket now.

It was so easy to do that I went a step further and got rid of all my hoses and hard-piped the entire system. I wish I had done that about two years earlier!

Don't forget the second set of "twist twists". They hate running dry .