afternoon folks and folkettes,
a query for those technically gifted swimming pool buffs.
our pools a good old age, built before jc, but still runs great. the pumps an old girl, but was checked last year and i was told to keep hold of it as 'they dont build them like that anymore'.....anyway, i'm having a problem ridding the pool of my recently flocculated waste (no sniggering at the back!).
[bit more info on the pump at the bottom if it may help an expert]

the problem is, i have no way of vacuumiing up the waste without it going through my pump filter before exiting via my big garden waste hosepipe. (hence the explanation of the oldness of the pump). this seems to cause it to re-circulate slightly back into the pool, so i'm not getting it fully cleaned.
i tried today to use the main drain in the bottom of the pool only, but that would only get rid of the flocc waste around it, so i tried to slowly sweep some more towards the drain, which became a wee bit messy - it 'dusted up' quite a bit, but may be the answer if i do it 3 or 4 times more. then i can probably vac normally to remove the rest.
just wondering if anyones used a better method, as i seem to recall me having a similar problem last year when, by just vacuuming, it took about 5 zillion years to get rid of the flocc waste.

[the pump has a basic set up of 4 settings (filter, backwash, drain, closed) and taps for the skimmer and the fondo. theres a seperate 'water to garden' tap which is opened when i want to clean the pool bottom through the filter/skimmer system, or when i drain the pool. thats it, nothing more.
the instructions i was left were as follows;
filter on; skimmer open, setting filter (thats simple enough!)
clean pool; skimmer open, setting filter, open 'water to garden' tap
backwash; skimmer open, fondo open, setting wash, 'water to garden' tap open
drain pool; skimmer closed, fono open, setting drain, 'water to garden' tap open]
dunno if that helps, but hell, its all i've got!!

They all go through the pump filter when you pump to waste, otherwise you will knacker the pump, you just have to stop now and again and empty the filter basket.
You will need to top up the pool with water also.

Has Tims kids been in your pool by any chance?

ta jdr, and whoops, sorry, didnt realize it needed to go in siesta time!!

and, not sure if tims kids were here - i was out for a few hours.....

It's ok, it's only happened the once!

The water shouldn't pump back into the pool whilst draining to waste. Perhaps the seals in the MPV (Multi-position valve) have gone? I believe this can happen if you keep changing the settings with the pump running.

Also - have you let the waste settle - i.e. pump off for 24 hours before attempting to vacuum? Even if you are very careful - it will cloud up a bit after a clean up.

i never change the settings when the pumps running, but could be a seal going as its an old pump - i'll need to live with that i think.
i let the waste settle for 2 days (thanks to the rain!) and will have another blatter tomorrow, then sunday. with any luck, i should have her ship shape and swim-worthy by the following weekend. therefore, all and sundry, do not plan a barbie, as its bound to pour!

aye, so far. pesky kids...(in a scooby doo voie)

Might not have been the kids. It could have been this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZEFQWQvgAY

That is the idea of the flocculent it takes all the crap to the bottom and makes it easier to vacuum out.
Are you sure you haven`t got an airlock in the hose, it should go out fast as it by passes the big sand filter when it goes to waste.

as twyntub said, may have a small seal leak letting some water back into the pool while i'm vaccuuming (too many uu's or cc's there me thinks). in fairness, the suction hasnt been as good as it usually is, there may be air in there somewhere.....

Hi Dug

I had the same problem and found if I backwash first then top up pool and take jets off skimmers, make sure you get plenty of water down your hose before connecting brush/handle until turn on your pump and then wait for small bubbles from your skimmers before starting to clean, then your ready to go, Trouble is at this time of year you have to stop after about 10 minutes and backwash again let the backwash water go from green to clear should only take a minute or so and then off you go again. Then two tabs in one of your baskets and one in the pool I am saving up for one of those pool robots but in the meantime once the over winter clean is done each time after that is rather therapeutic and satisfying when you pool is sparkling.

yeah, thinks thats a good point - stop and backwash regularly. i was trying to get half the pool done before stoppnig and backwashing. today though, there will be no cleaning,backwashing or anything as the weather has turned into uk weather!! argh!!!!

You def shouldn't need to backwash - as the drain setting bypasses the sand filter completely... unless there is a problem with the valve. Do you get a reading on the pressure gauge when you drain to waste? It should read something on 'backwash' (but not as high as 'filter') and zero on 'drain'.

The only filter you'll need to clean is the small pump filter basket.

The settings to vacuum the pool should be something like:

MPV - drain
Waste outlet - open
Skimmer - closed
Fondo - closed
Vacuum port - open

If the skimmer / fondo are open then you won't get much suction if any (but you do need to ensure the vacuum hose is primed with water first).

sounds good, but remember, this is an old pump system - i have no option but to vac through the skimmer, unless i simply drain the pool, which isnt working. therefore, to get rid of the focc waste, i must use the skimmer going through the sand, so i do need to backwash, i think?!?