I cannot get one of the filter valves closed

Air release valve for air trapped inside filter chamber

Intex 1000 GPH Easy Set Pool Filter Pump Instructional Guide 637R

The link has a set-up video for the 637R pump. Make sure water flows out of the air valve on the top of the filter cover. This will purge air out of the filter and prime the pump. Hope this helps you....

with out seeing your set up not to easy,but lets try
1 your pump room is below surface of pool, make sure your pool level is high enough to return water to pump via the skimmer hole in side of pool at surface level. water should fil pump basket. check that you have a good seal on glass cover. no water in basket check if valve from pool is open still no water close valve fill filter chamber with a hose close glass cover start pump and open valve immediately.
2 pump room above pool level, close inlet valve fill pump filter with water close glass cover securely start pump and open valve.
a good drawing of you equipment and its position relative to pool how and ware u connect vacuuming hose

The greatest odds are that you have a broken lateral or a few broken laterals. Another less likely cause for getting sand in your pool on filter setting is a cracked/broken stand pipe. This is the vertical pipe running through the center of your filter. Open, clean, rinse, inspect, repair/replace, fill halfway with water, add correct sand weight, and close back up. Always start back up with the key assembly(star valve) in the backwash position so that you don't pump any residual sand back in the pool. After running 15-25 seconds, turn off pump and set to filter position.

The problem is definately in the backwash valve. There are two major types of valves, the push pull valve and the rotory valve. In either case if the valve is disassembled you should be able to find something wrong with it. On a push pull valve there are O-rings that could fail valve part that holds the O-rings could be broken. You can buy a replacement part or the whole valve at a pool supply store. If the valve is a rotory valve then a spider seal may be broken or the valve head could be defective. If the spider seal is bad you can glue a new one in its place but it is tricky to glue in a new one. The head can be purchased at a pool supply store. I hope this helps. If you can't get the parts immediately then you can plug the drain temporally until you need to backwash the filter or the defective parts are replaced. This is important so you pool can remain in service. I hope this helps.

it sounds like your valving for the return water is set wrong. check to make sure that some water will return to the spa when the pool is running. It's a valving problem more than it is a filter problem.

When backwashing or rinsing the same water is used as in filtering.(skimmer and main drain) so I don't think skimmer damage is the issue. Check if the pool water is low at the skimmer after the backwash cycle, Also check to see if the skimmer weir gate (flapper) is stuck in the upright position. I would suggest 2 main checks. Fill the pool higher than usual, back wash, ensure the pool water level is 1/2 way up the skimmer level and try again. Also, if your lines are valved right, shut off the skimmer during the filter cycle and see what happens. Lastly, the gasket on your multi-port valve may be bad.

Check the o-ring and bushing on the pump diffuser.You will need to open the pump. Also try opening the air vent valve on the filter to help discharge air.

To Flush out the filter with the backwash setting. The backwash setting releases trapped particles from the filter back into the swimming pool. You may need to alternate between the rinse and backwash settings until the water runs clear in order to unblock your filtration system and flush out clogs. To Rinse away dislodged items from the backwash setting. The rinse setting flushes clean water through the pipes and carries away any particles or clogs freed during the backwashing. To Drain the pool select waste on the multiport valve. This sends the water directly to the drain rather than back into the swimming pool. Close the filtration equipment and stop the pump with the closed setting. You should only use the closed setting when you turn the pump off. This function allows you to remove the strainer basket, clean the filter tank and perform other swimming pool maintenance on the filtration system.

IF IT DOES NOT FILL CONSTANT FROM POOL IF IT IS AN INGROUND YOU WILL HAVE TO HELP IT BY PUTING A GARDEN HOSE WATER ON IN SKIMMER PUT A RAG AROUND HOSE FILL CUP TURN OFF RETURNS OPEN BLEEDER VALVE ON FILTER LET WATER FILL START PUMP AND OPEN RETURN VALVE SLOWLY YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES MAKE SURE AFTER YOU GET WATER FROM BLEEDER YOU CLOSE MAKE SURE ALL CONNECTIONS ARE TIGHT INCLUDING CLEAR CAP ON PUMP THESE ARE AIR BLOCKS IF ABOVE GROUND CHECK ALL HOSES AND CAP