Pump Not Pulling Enough Water To Run Properly

[ssbuswell]

We have a STA-Rite sand filter with a 1 hp pump. For the past 2 weeks it has only pulling enough water to fill the filter basket about 25%. We are not losing water so not sure if that rules out a hole in the skimmer line. We are stumped and could use help!!!!

[Rangeball]

Some things that jumped to mind, in no particular order.

1- Something clogging the line between the pool and the pump.

2- An air leak.

3- Pump basket needs cleaned.

4- Pressure way up in filter, filter needs backwashed.

5- Pump impeller damaged or restricted.

[PatL34]

Have you lubed the O-ring on the pump filter basket?

Are you getting air from the filter?

Rangeball's suggestion #5 is highly possible.

Let us know.

Pat

[ssbuswell]

Hi,

Thanks for the responses. We checked the filter basket and the connections and there weren't any air leaks there. How would I go about determining if there is a block in the line? We are VERY green pool owners, thanks again.

Susan

[Rangeball]

I'd run a garden hose on full blast from the pump basket back through supply line and see what kind of flow you get.

[ssbuswell]

How do I determine if I am getting air from the filter?

[PatL34]

There should be a vent valve on top of the filter for this.

Pat

[ssbuswell]

Thanks Patl and Rangeball. My wife started this thread. We bought our house last year and are new to pool life. Our Filter is less than a year old but our pump motor is much older. We have an inground 18 x 36 vinyl lined pool. When we opened the pool our PSI was around 10-12. Now it is at 0 most of the time and the basket is half full. We had a pool company come out and he spent an hour looking over the filter and checking all the pipe couplings. I love to learn and have spent a few hours reading about pools. Too many questions right now but they told us we have a leak in our line from our skimmer to the pump. We don't lose any water so I find that hard to believe. Is taking the pump motor off difficult and will the shape of the impeller be obvious to a neophyte? The hose in the line and the impeller are my next two tries before breaking ground to fix this issue. We barely have enough suction to vacuum light dirt from the bottom and our jet back into the pool is weak with lots of air. Any advice is appreciated. Maybe by next year I will know what the heck we are doing with this hole in the ground.
Thanks,
Scott

[Rangeball]

Scott, your welcome :)

Prior to this problem, were you vacumming leaves and large debris up through the hose and into the pump basket? If you aren't losing water, I'd suspect a blockage.

I'd try that before I took apart the pump.

[ssbuswell]

Rangeball,
No big leaves in the pool but we have only had it for 2 months last season and this summer. Having the line pressure checked today. We have been told our motor may be going up or that the line may have collapsed causing good pressure at first then a decline over time. Hopefully we will know today. Thanks for your help.
ssbuswell

[Mojo1]

Did you get this fixed and or find out the problem?

[ssbuswell]

Mojo and others,
We had a pressure test done and we have a hole in the line under the concrete decking. We hope to cut a square, dig down and repair the line. The pressure test company drilled a few holes in the decking to pin point the area to lessen the amount of deck that needs to be broken up. We shall see.
SSBuswell

[lmnharris]

I'm curious to how much that pressure test cost you, and how long it took them. Looks like i'm heading down the same route.

[ssbuswell]

We finally have the problem solved. It was a 4" split in the line. The pressure test was about $180. We had another bid that was $250. They did a great job testing for and repairing the leak. During the pressure test they drilled a few holes in the deck to pinpoint the leak so less of the deck needed to be cut. They ended up cutting a 12" x 20" hole. Filter and suction are perfect and the deck doesn't look horrible. About $450 for the whole job including the pressure test. Hope this is helpful.
SSBUSWELL:)