Cleaning a foot valve.

[swimmer_spe]

Our house draws in lake water. A visual inspection turned up that it is not sitting in the silt, but may need a cleaning.
How can I clean it such that:
1) I do not need to take it off or out of the water
2) pump does not lose prime
3) the sediment/stuff that is removed is not sucked into the pump.

I am a scuba diver and the foot valve is in about 6 feet of water.

 

[JoeD]

If the foot valve is just hanging in the water then it is probably covered in algae. A good scrub brush should clean it off.

 

[billshack]

I also have a 1 1/4 foot valve in my lake. they are cheap like $15 , i would just replace it .

 

[swimmer_spe]

If the foot valve is just hanging in the water then it is probably covered in algae. A good scrub brush should clean it off.

How do I prevent the pump from sucking that which I scrubbed off from being sucked in?

I also have a 1 1/4 foot valve in my lake. they are cheap like $15 , i would just replace it .

As far as I can tell, there is nothing wrong with the valve itself.

 

[Blue Jay]

How do I prevent the pump from sucking that which I scrubbed off from being sucked in?

As far as I can tell, there is nothing wrong with the valve itself.

Turn the pump off first and then let it set a bit before you turn it back on.

 

[swimmer_spe]

Turn the pump off first and then let it set a bit before you turn it back on.

I was planning to do that. I wasn't sure if it would be enough.Good to know my intuition was correct.

 

[bud16415]

If the foot valve is working properly and is just scummy on the outside and in a lake, then do nothing.



Old saying I believe in, “Let a sleeping dog lie”.

 

[swimmer_spe]

If the foot valve is working properly and is just scummy on the outside and in a lake, then do nothing.



Old saying I believe in, “Let a sleeping dog lie”.

My thought before looking at it was that it was sitting in the silt as we are fowling filters fairly quickly. The foot valves looks to be about 6''-12'' off the bottom.So, my next thought is whether the scumminess of the foot valve would cause that, and would a simple cleaning of it be a good solution.