PORTAVAC: Portable Filtration System by Advantage Manufacturing - Overview

[@rhondawymer5230]

Thank you for your time and effort into these videos. I watched one from 2012 that I think will help me get our pool lines primed and ready after cleaning our filter cartridge. Six months ago I finally had enough of our last pool guy and took over our pool maintenence. I got tired of telling them to quit beating the baskets into our block walls because that was what was breaking them. Was tired of not having a pool really clean, and it just seemed I could do a better job, save the $$ and enjoy our pool. it's been a lot of work and certainly a learning curve but I love it! Thanks again!

[@SPL]

Thanks for the great feedback! 👍

[@atomatom6442]

Approx 1,300.00 at Dohenys and 1,600.00 at Amazon!! I'll build my own for about 600$.. Great starting idea!!

[@SPL]

You can make your own unit if you have the time and skill. The one advantage of this one is that the Propritory Impeller spins slightly slower so the motor gives off only 15 amps of power. Plus the cart is designed to attach to a service cart hitch for easay transport. Many guys make their own.

[@atomatom6442]

My favorite of all Pool Maintenance Channels!! Good work!! If you were on the East Coast I think we would be great business partners!

[@SPL]

Sounds like a missed oppertunity for me when I moved from New Jersey to California! 😀 Although you can't beat the weather.

[@franzfms86]

This is an awesome item for an alternative cleaning job for pool.

[@SPL]

Yes, it works great and the overall design is perfect.

[@DriveBetter]

Could I wheel this out in the Spring as the primary pump and filter for a 20k gallon pool? The equipment on the pad is in poor shape and the plumbing below grade is broken.

[@SPL]

Yes. You can use it as the primary system for your pool.

[@giancolapools4816]

Cool product!

[@Seriokillz]

Hmm.. Mine came with a different GFI trip plug and a different pressure gauge. it really is a great tool on my route! I did think it was going to be a metal filter but its really hard plastic instead. just funny how mine is just a tad different though. Nice review!

[@SPL]

Interesting. They are hand made here in Orange County CA. I wonder if it is just an inventory thing. But I am sure whatever parts they used are still high quality. How do you like it?

[@Seriokillz]

Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1 yeah probably just the inventory thing. I like it alot the hardest part is just getting it to where you're going and setting it up but after its setup plugged in and primed it's like a no-brainer freaking good suction. From a service stand point Am I Wrong to think that this would be an added service when I use this? I know we all charge differently but I feel like their equipment should be in good working order to where I shouldn't really have to use it unless there was some Santa Ana winds that came. Most of my accounts are in San Jacinto and they do get hit with winds pretty hard once or twice a year. And on the other hand I was thinking that it just makes filter cleanings that much easier because if I use this to suck up dirt from storms then they shouldn't be as much dirt in their filter when I clean it. I don't know sometimes it's hard when it comes to pricing and added services. I mainly just see what everyone else is doing that way it's fair across the board and I'm not just some pool guy doing outrageous extras.

[@beaukidd8146]

First of all love your channel. Thank you so much for taking the time to put out such valuable info. I have this vac and it has been a bit of a pain lugging it around on a trailer. Where can I find one of those awesome hitches that you have. I did a quick google but couldn't find it.

[@SPL]

You can get the hitch from two places. One is directly from Advantage, just use this link from my website: www.swimmingpoollearning.com/portavac-advantage-manufacturing -scroll to the bottom. Or at T.Dula.com - www.tdula.com/hitch-ii.html

[@raultorres-bonilla5649]

Would you say this type of filter would work on and in ground pool that's feed by a natural spring? We let the water stand for a couple of weeks to get it heated. Wonder if this system would allow for longer use. Thanks!

[@SPL]

Yes, this is basically an equipment pad on wheels. It can circulate an entire pool - I would say up to 15,000 gallons easily.

[@robwasnj]

I built one of those myself probably 30 years ago, it worked but being attached the the cart was a bit of a hassle getting it into some vehicles. The root problem though with these was always the strainer basket being too small for a lot of leaves. The pipe returning water to the pool was also an issue at times because it made it hard to see. After all was said and done I found it was just easier to use the customer's system and my own vac hose. If the customer's system didn't work right, well, sell them some repairs, all pools should be running well enough to vacuum them using the built in filter system. Something like this though with a special vacuum head that used a return path for the water to be used as a venturi (ie, leaf master) to assist the head in picking up larger leaves along with a large strainer pot, now that would be a good invention. I saved some pieces and parts to try that including some old DE separation tanks but never executed it. I think CA is probably a better place for full service accounts being year round and having so many pools.

[@SPL]

You were ahead of the times. Wow - 30 years ago. This particular unit is very versatile and for Commercial Pools, Hotels or Resorts this is a must have. Thanks for the feedback! 👍

[@AdvantageManufacturingTustin]

We have our own huge priming pot addon option at advantageman.com. Great minds . . .

[@nkengafactheophile2905]

Please I'm about doing a pool for personal use and need a system like this. Needing a price tag. I'm in Cameroon

[@SPL]

You can see pricing on their site. www.swimmingpoollearning.com/advantagemanufacturing

[@ANDERSONEXPRESS7]

Is the waterway and cartridge filter brand a good brand as far of pool products go

[@SPL]

Waterway is not bad at all. They are a local CA company with a decent market share.

[@riverrat9412]

@@SPL the pumps always seem to have air in the wet end for some reason.. it's sketchy when a brand new pump is pulling air. I quit installing them for this reason, as customers are not used to seeing that. I take that back, I have seen 2 or 3 that primed up no problem with zero air. But that is out of several pallets worth. Thoughts on that?

[@joencrypto8133]

My filter broke and skimmer line is clogged on my inground pool. Can I use this a temporary replacement to keep water clean?

[@SPL]

Yes, this will work great for that.

[@lozblessed8609]

That filter unit does NOT filter. I bought it brand new and used it a few times and every time dirt bypass filter and goes right back to the pool. So I’m just using it for vacuuming to waste and not through filter.

[@SPL]

I would check the cartridge. It should filter the water very well.

[@lankyboxfan5600]

How can i order for one?

[@SPL]

Call Advantage Manufacturing and they will help you out.

[@SpyroTDragon]

What's GFI?

[@SPL]

This article can explain it better than me. www.networx.com/article/gfi-outlets

[@atomatom6442]

Ground Fault Interrupt, It monitors and will nearly instantaneously shut off power when a short is detected. Thus, saving your life or someone else!!

[@SpyroTDragon]

Atom Atom I see. Outside my home, the one outlet is the standard GFI.

[@johnnada586]

In Calif. GFIs are required on all outdoor outlets and indoors in your kitchen and bathrooms splashboards ( anywhere there might be water) . Basically it is a small ,sensitive breaker that is dedicated to a single circuit , designed to prevent shock from water or overload . Read Daves article , linked above .

[@DontNeedToKnow84]

This is so overboard and unnecessary for the vast majority of ordinary accounts. Not only that, but it'll also actively undermine your bottom line: 1. Many customers have fenced-in pools with insufficient clearance for this thing to move about easily (especially if the pool is irregularly shaped, in which case this thing won't be able to simply move in a square or a rectangle). 2. Most poolmen aren't going to want to physically take this off, lug it around, and put it back on the truck when done. 3. Most poolmen also won't want to hitch this to the back of truck and drive around with it. 4. It'll likely be a hindrance in densely populated roadways or when driving through areas with narrow, curved (e.g., mountain) roadways-it's an extra headache you don't need. Cool in theory. Not so cool in practice.

[@drdrew3]

This product is designed for a very narrow demographic of customers. You are outside that demographic so not of value to you

[@DontNeedToKnow84]

@@drdrew3 I was a bit flippant in my original comment. Can’t remember why (not that it matters). I actually think there are great use cases for this. One being to use this as a temporary filtration mechanism for systems that are down. I have a few accounts where that is precisely the case. A portable vac can’t do the job of sucking dirt, sand, and silt alone (that’s where this comes into play). With that said, I certainly don’t see this as an everyday item (pretty sure it’s not being advertised as such anyhow).