stupid me

[raptureready1953]

I think I broke my pool. :confused: I did not know how to clean the filter. (I do now) ( you know what I am about to say, dont you) Please dont laugh too hard. Anyhow, I unscrewed the top. Water went flying everywhere. I had to call hubby from work, and he came home to try to fix it. Well I got the plugs on and the water stopped spraying. But now I cant get the O ring back on top of the pump. I did the best I could, reset the strainers and it still was leaking like crazy. So I put the plugs back in. What do I do now?

Thanks in advanced. I am upset because I cant run the pump, cant put in the chlorine, and do not want my pool green.

[hrsdennis]

Hi, I would love to help you out but more info is needed.

Are you talking about the lint basket in front of the pump, and if so what kind of pump?

Or are you talking about the top to maybe a cartridge filter?

They both have o-rings and both leak a lot of water if the skimmer and return are not blocked.

A Photo would be the quickest way to get help.

Later, Dennis

[raptureready1953]

cheap intex above ground. No skimmer basket with it, just the jet for in and one for out. Ok ..i put plugs on them so the pump would stop leaking. the O ring is like what I call the hat of the pump. Where the cartridge filter goes. right below the air release button....

[CarlD]

Ok, now that I know it's an Intex I can help.

Now that the lines are plugged, pour the water out of the filter. Dry out the o-ring's slot, and the ring. If you have teflon o-ring lube, that's better.

Next you need to force the o-ring into its slot all the way. Don't use anything metal or you'll tear it--a thumb is best. You need to work the o-ring slowly into slot all the way around--it may be a little big (a real pain) so you'll have to sort of distibute it around the whole slot. Then you can put in the filter and put the cover back on, tightening it down. Then pull the plugs and see if it's sealed. Remember to put the spacer on the cartridge (if they still use them) and situate the cartridge correctly on the pipe at the bottom of the chamber.

At least I think that's how it all works--it's been several years since I opened my Intex pump--it's retired 4 years now.

[poolmom06]

I think Carl pretty much covered it, but you sure brought back alot of memories of my intex pool... for some reason I really don't miss that thing at all!!!

[CarlD]

I don't miss the filter, but the pool served us well for 3 seasons and doesn't owe us a dime, despite the fact that it now costs about 1/3 of what it did then.:cool:

[raptureready1953]

Thanks y'all. I know one day I will laugh at this. Ha ha. Right now I just want my pool fixed. LOL. I just had all the water right, just warming up to where I was enjoying it, just got the ph and chlorine correct, and just was adding the stablizer. UGH.

I have done dumb things before, but this has to be one of the dumbest. I will post when I get it fixed. I also need to add another inch or so of water, so back to the drawing board on chemicals and temp. Ugh ugh ugh. Thanks again.

[DreamGaz]

One last thing.... Don't forget use the top twist valve to let get the air out to the filter before you run it again.

Also releasing the presser from the top twist valve before unscrewing the whole top makes it easier to twist and keeps your feet dry. That way you will know if your drain plugs are in.

Have fun.

[Mom2Czars]

We used those Intex pools for a few years and got every penny's worth of value from them. What I used to do when the filter needed to be rinsed or changed was lift the whole thing up onto a chair or table so it was above the water level of the pool. That way I wouldn't lose much water when I had to open it and I could fuss with it at leisure. That stupid gasket thing is a pain, just stuff it in the best you can and screw the top on as tight as possible. Good luck!

[CarlD]

One last thing.... Don't forget use the top twist valve to let get the air out to the filter before you run it again.

Also releasing the presser from the top twist valve before unscrewing the whole top makes it easier to twist and keeps your feet dry. That way you will know if your drain plugs are in.

Have fun.

Dang! They've updated them! Mine didn't have ANYTHING that slick!

[CarlD]

We used those Intex pools for a few years and got every penny's worth of value from them. What I used to do when the filter needed to be rinsed or changed was lift the whole thing up onto a chair or table so it was above the water level of the pool. That way I wouldn't lose much water when I had to open it and I could fuss with it at leisure. That stupid gasket thing is a pain, just stuff it in the best you can and screw the top on as tight as possible. Good luck!

Y'know, I forgot I used to do that too! I think I used a picnic bench or table...Memory is the 2nd thing to go as you age....:confused:

[raptureready1953]

Well I figured out my O ring is ok, but now I realized that I lost the cover seal that I was not suppose to lose according to the book. OH OH OH. Looks like I will have to go to Walmart later and buy a new pump. I could cry. I looked through the yard and cant find it. Gosh, where could a good size ring hide?

[prh129]

Try to replay in your mind what happened - knowing where this ring was, think about where it could have gone when you first opened your pump. What did you do at that moment? Did you put any parts down anywhere nearby? Could it have fallen inside and is now covered by something else when you put it all back together?

Peter

[SBaker]

You can buy replacement parts from the Intex website. I suspect that would be significantly cheaper than a new pump. Not sure how long it would take to arrive.

[raptureready1953]

Yep... I know I can replace the parts, but I want to swim this season. LOL. LOL. LOL. I will get replacement parts asap and keep on hand with the pump. Never know when one might need an extra. :D I looked outside everywhere. I figured the water sent it flying. I looked even all around the pool and under the tarp too. A frog jumped out at me and thought I would faint...good thing it werent a snake. Ugh.

Thanks again for all the help. You guys are great.

[hoffmans]

Raptureready1953
I have an Intex too. 16'round. You will find life much easier if you bring a little table over to your pool when you want to do a filter change. Lift up your pump off the ground slide you little table under there and put your pump back down on the table top. Unscrew the little screwwy thing to let the air out then take the tops off. Get your dirty filter cartridge out - spray it off w/ the garden hose or get a new one. Reassemble the thing. Remove the table, set the pump back on the ground, unscrew the airvalve screwy thing till water comes out like a fountian then screw it back closed.
I don't hate changing/cleaning my cartridges anymore. Last season,I never lifted the pump off the ground. I used to do it while water was pouring out the whole time. Can you imagine doing that every week for the entire summer? This summer my husband saw me doing that and he waltz right over and picked the pump up, put it on a lawn chair and waa-laaa changed the filter w/o all the mess. I almost fainted, then i wanted to punch him for not showing me this last year. Then i kissed him and told him he was my hero. Man .... i must be stupid..... why didn't i think of that myself? Must be all bleach going to my head!;)

BTW- I ordered parts from the Intex website this summer. The parts came in less than 8 days.

[raptureready1953]

Thanks so much. Guess I will have to order from intex. Hope my pool doesnt turn green for that long without a pump. Thats 8 days with no swimming. :(

I went everywhere. I got to walmart, the one an hr away. They had a sunland pump but was bigger than mine and did not know if it would fit, and also way too much money. The walmart in my area are out of these kind of pumps and are not getting any more. That was why I went the trip to walmart an hr away. So you put the pump on the table, no taking of the straining baskets and blocking with plugs? Wow. Next time I know better now. Going to the intex web page now.