As a first time homeowner / poolowner can someone please take a look at the pictures below and answer some very basic questions about what all the levers and pipes are doing? I have been trying to watch vides and self educated but am getting stuck at some very basic concepts I have a swimming pool and spa. PIC 1 is view of the system. The only thing I know for a fact is that the big cylinder is the filter while the cube is the heater. PIC 2 is a close up of the filter. The green arrow goes to the drain. PIC 3 shows a vertical handle connected to the outlet of the filter. My first question is "How do I use a swimming pool vaccum with this system". I am having an algae problem and want to vaccum as much of it off as I can. My understanding is that I can buy a vaccum head, attach it to a hose that then goes into my skimmer basket and run the pump. But I need to do something so that algae and water go into drain and not the filter. right? I am suspecting that the vertical handle marked in pic 3 has something to do with it but for the life of me I cannot move it in any direction. Any ideas? Also, my wife had someone come from craigslist and look at the system. He left with a simple "everything is working fine" comment but since he left when I start the system, I don't get any water in pump. In PIC 4, there is this glass window type thing that used to have water come in but when I start the pump now, it is all empty. I don't think he broke anything I must be making a simple mistake but I cannot figure out what am I doing wrong. Also, I have 2 valves as shown in PIC 5 that I cannot move. PIC 6 and PIC7 are closeups. Am I suppose to be able to move these or should I just leave them alone? There are 2 valves that I CAN move, one is shown in PIC 9 while the other is shown in Pic 8. The one is Pic 8 is also marked in PIC 4 has moveable. I am assuming that the one in PIC 8 is for water coming in from pool. My question is what is on and off. Is the position in PIC 8 allowing water into pump or blocking it? What is the purpose of the valve in PIC 9? Actually, what is the purpose the pump in PIC 9 ? PIC10 is just the control panel in case it is important. Thanks folks, sorry for the barrage of questions but as you can see I am truly out of my league here. In case you think that I am missing something please feel free to add it.

When I purchased my home it came with a hot tub. I was told that the hot tub needed a new heater. As much as I want to believe this, I would like some validation before purchasing one. I am hoping to tackle the diagnosis and repair myself as the local hot tub repair shop wants $90 an hour, plus $90 for coming to my house. How can I verify that the heater is not working and it is for sure the heater is bad? Then if the heater is bad, how much is involved to repair this? I attached a photo of my hot tub for reference. Thanks [attach]109483[/attach]