Equipment

  • Suction side and valves
    • The suction side is placed directly out the front end of the main pump. It controls your skimmer lines and main drain, occasionally your pool sweep
    • Ex: Kreepy Crawlies, Barracudas, and Navigator Pros
    • In the event you can’t get enough suction to vacuum a pool out of one skimmer, turn off your main drain and other skimmer. When there aren’t enough controls to turn off both skimmers plug the one you aren’t using with a water bottle.
    • When opening the pump to empty the basket it is always best to close all of your suction valves to increase priming time when you turn the pool back on.

 

  • Return side and valves
    • The return side is placed out the top of the main pump, the line runs through the filter and into the heater, if applicable, and down the return lines.
    • The return lines consist of the pool, spa, water feature, fountains, and sometimes pool sweeps. In many cases fountains have a separate pump and motor that controls their flow. These pump baskets need to be emptied and run every time you service a pool to help with flow and to stop algae growth in the piping.
    • Pool sweeps that run off the return side are commonly the 360 model Polaris. There will be a return line that passes through the energy bowl, be sure there is appropriate pressure showing on the gauge by adjusting the valve connected to the energy bowl return line. The miniature filter inside the bowl casing needs to be cleaned on a weekly basis to ensure proper working capability and to prevent algae growth inside the bowl.

 

  • Filters

 

  • Diatomaceous Earth(D.E.)
    • Backwash once a month and recharge with D.E. that coincides with grid size.
    • Backwash time= 1 minute then rinse 35 seconds, waste for 10 seconds.
    • Grid sizes: 36”=4lbs 48”=5lbs 60”=6lbs 72”=7lbs
    • If DE blows back after recharge or debris blows back while vacuuming recommend service call.

 

  • Cartridge
    • No need to backwash, monitor filter pressure.
    • If debris blows back while vacuuming recommend service call.

 

  • Sand Filter
    • Backwash every week for 1.5 minutes, if it has a multiport valve be sure to rinse for 1 minute and waste for 10 – 20 seconds before putting it back in filter mode.
    • If an excessive amount of sand is appearing during vacuum or is blowing back in to the pool throughout the week or after backwash, inform the customer that there is something wrong with the filter and they need to have a service call performed.
    • Expect a minor amount of blowback occasionally due to the lines becoming back up with sand and dead algae.