And is it safe to run the pump with the filter in poor condition? No bubbles are in the filter basket area...yet. I do have a main drain.

If I put the black valve in position where the handle is straight down and the off label is at 12:00, it just circulates the water through the pump only (and makes it hot, producing the steam I saw the other night I suppose), and the water isn't circulating in the pool? Is that right?

K