Operate And Vacuuming A Swimming Pool With A Cartidge Filter Lid Removed

by Anthony
(Alstonville, NSW Australia)

Question about swimming pool cartridge filter and vacuuming...

Our pool was only recently installed so the grass around has yet to grow back. A recent heavy downpour has seen a lot of mud in the pool. The local pool shop has told us to use a solution to solidify the dirt particles. This should see them fall to the bottom of the pool to allow vacuuming.

We have been advised that when we vacuum we should take the lid off the swimming pool cartridge filter to reduce the amount of dirty water that goes back into the pool.

Is it O.K. to operate the cartridge filter with the lid removed?

Thanks for your question Anthony

I honestly have never heard that a pool owner can vacuum a pool with the cartridge filter lid removed.

This goes against everything I know about swimming pool pressure, vacuuming a pool, pressure, and have a closed loop of water from the pump motor through the plumbing and filter.

Swimming Pool Filter Cartridge..Care..Water Maintenance

Swimming Pool Vacuums..Cleaners..Care..Maintenance

Just because I've never heard of this before doesn't mean this can't happen, but I would ask your pool guy a few questions before doing this:

1. How exactly does this work?

2. Don't I need pressure and suction to vacuum?

3. If the lid is open won't that introduce air into the system?

4. If air gets into the system how will the pool build up enough pressure and suction to vacuum?

5. If enough air is in the system what will that do to my pool pump motor? Won't that reduce the amount of water that's in pump motor filter housing?

6. If there's not enough water and pressure in the pump won't that burn it up?

My understanding is a pool filtration system needs a "closed-loop" of pool water to operate correctly. The means water goes into the drains and skimmers, through the pipes and pool pump filter housing, through the filters, and is returned to the pool and clean water.

I think he might be saying to vacuum the pool with the cartridge filter lid off so the dirty water will just spray out into the yard.

If you can't vacuum your pool with the cartridge filter lid off, maybe your best bet is to buy a couple of replacement cartridges and have them on hand when the others become dirty.

Thanks for your question and I hope this clears some things up for you

All the best

Robert