Swimming Pool & Pump Info Needed?

Question

My friend had a 15X52 above-ground pool installed but the pump did not come with instructions for use. He knows where the motor is, the pump basket is, the skimmer basket is but is not sure where the filter is. He was told to try removing the top of the pump tank to access the filter but did not want to remove it without being certain. If someone could answer a couple questions, it would really help!

1. On a Proline pump, where is the cartridge located? If in the tank, how do you remove it?

2. When the pump is off, should the air pressure and drain plugs be loosened and then tightened prior to starting again?

3. The hoses going into the pump from the pool have ball gaskets attached that turn off & on, so as not to lose a ton of water when maintaining. What positions should the gaskets be in when pump is on? How about when the pump's off? He is getting confused as to when they should be turned to "on" & when they should be turned to "off."

Thank you for any help offered!

Answer 1

The Cartridge on a proline pump.  that would be the cartridge inside the filter or the large tank sitting next to the pool pump.  First things first.  Turn off your pump, and then on your water lines <which goes with question #3 and ill answer that following in more detail> turn the handles to the off position on both lines.

Now, Open the Air Relief valve on top of the filter if you have one, Some models may not have one.  Give the water a few minutes to drain down so that when you remove the top half of the filter you do not get drenched with water from the filter.

Take the Filter cartridge out, and hose it off, nothing else, and replace it back into the filter, replace the cover. and secure the cover.

When restarting your pool system, you need to open both "ball valves" to the open position. before starting the motor.

As the motor starts running,you will hear air escaping from the air relief valve, when it starts spitting out some water, the tank is full, and you can close the air relief valve.

#2:

I think i answered it above.  But If the pump is just going to be off, and not being opened to be cleaned or anything else, No.  You should never have to touch the drain plugs, There is no reason to ever remove them except for cleaning the filter tank if you have alot of gunk at the bottom,  the Drain plugs in the motor should never be touched, there is no reason to drain the pump basket area of the motor.

Only if you are removing the filter cartridge should you open the air relief on the tank, and if necessary, the drain plug at the bottom of the tank.

For #3:

The Ball valves for the hoses only have 1 purpose, and that is to stop the water flowing back to the pump when you are servicing it, by cleaning out the pump basket, or the filter cartridge.  All other times, they should be left in the OPEN position.  IF you close them, and depending on your electrical setup, like lets say you have a switch in the house you can flip to start the pump, if you closed them the night before <the ball valves>, and didnt open them before you started the pump, you will burn out your motor.  The Motors use the flow of pool water to keep them cool.  Water that keeps getting churned in a pool motor that can not go anywhere will become super hot, almost boiling, to the point that it can and will melt the pump basket. and make it all deformed, and you will have to purchase a new one.

So the simple answer to #3.  Unless you are taking something apart on the filter, you always leave these OPEN.  There is never any reason to close the valves unless servicing the pool pump.

Your pool system is water tight, and leaving the valves in the open position will not harm the pool.

Answer 2

i would need more info before i could answer #1. question #2 the answer is yes open all air bleeders then take lid off of filter. clean or what ever you are going to do to it. after work is finished then put lids and tops back on. then you would reopen all valves.question #3 the handle on the valves should be parallel to the pipe or hose when in the open position. then opposite when in the closed position.the only time you would have the valves closed is when you are cleaning the filter !