Pump pressure?

[John_A23]

I just started working on my pool last week and it seems the pump doesnt have as much pressure as it did last summer I cant even use my auto vac because of this Would the need for a little more sand in the filter cause this? or could it be some other problem? Thanks In advance!

[ytngt]

Have you tried backwashing? All skimmers clean? Pump basket clean?

Maybe debris is clogging a suction line?

Suction side air leak? Is there a lot of air in pump basket?

[John_A23]

well I thought of backwashing last night so I backwashed and rinsed both for about 1 or 2 mins I hadnt check the suction line yet or checked for air leaks first thing that came to my mind was maybe it could be not enough sand might be causing it

[ytngt]

Did you acheive a "good" backwash and rinse flow rate (visually)? If so then I am a little baffled. Could the problem be in your vac?

[Poconos]

Low sand level won't cause this problem. To eliminate the filter try switching the valve to 'Recirculate' or 'Bypass' or something like that. I'm assuming you can do this. This setting bypasses the filter entirely. Any air bubbles visible in the pump basket or out the returns? How about some specifics on the filter and pump models.
Al

BTW: Welcome to the forum.

[John_A23]

well in the pump basket you can see a decent sized bubble on the lid from time to time backwashing seems a lil light as well I was vaccuming to waste today and just had enough suction and the flow rate out of the hose wasnt as it used to be as for the pump and filter specs its a watsons ball filter the sticker is kinda faded but I can make out aqua something on the filter ball on the pump says Hi flo waterway 1.5 HP

[xoroniox]

Hey,
something very similar happened to me with a 3/4hp hayward pump and 50sq cartridge filter. all the skimmer baskets and the cartridge was clean and all valves open and pump was primed but still seriously low suction, no air bubbles came out of returns. after a couple days of very slow and low suction/return the pump started to make a ton of noise not 2 long after that the pump died completely and wouldnt even turn on anymore. i hope your problem is not serious though because a new 1hp hayward maxiflo pump fixed it but cost me $218+install time everything works perfect now. Good luck

[John_A23]

ick I hope my pump isnt dying and just some leafs or something stuck I'll check it out today
And thanks for the welcome! :)

[Poconos]

Also wondering if some debris somehow got past the pump basket and got into the impeller. Hair, goo, found some stuff in mine once. Easy to check. Make sure power can't come on, remove the pump basket. Impeller should be just behind the exit hole of the basket chamber.
Al

[John_A23]

welll I checked the filter today and found a bunch of dirt and muck in the propeler cleaned it out and its working great now! :)

[John_A23]

say for example I put a cup of DE into my sand filter and it comes out the return I know my laterals *think thats the right spelling*are ok Any other ideas as to what it could be? This happen last summer as well just never got round to fixing it

[Poconos]

John,
If you throw in DE and it comes out the returns, and you know the laterals are OK, then something else has happened or there is a sneak path for fine stuff. All I know is how my Hayward filter is constructed. The center pipe from the laterals mates with a pipe in the variflow valve assembly. (top mount valve). Valve pipe slides over the center pipe. Very loose fit. I suspect they designed it this way to allow air to bleed off the top of the sand chamber. This gap could be a sneak path for the DE. Last Summer I was in there for some reason and found this situation. Wrapped a few layers of plastic electrical tape over the center pipe to close the gap and get a snug fit. Now any trapped air bleeds very slowly but that's OK. Just a thought.
Al

[John_A23]

I think thats the way mine connects up the valve that has the settings for the filter backwash etc sits ontop of the pipe from the laterals and then then lid screws on so do I wrap the tape around the pipe or ontop of the opening to close off the open end?

[Poconos]

Tape is wrapped around the top of the center pipe. Only takes a couple layers and I had to keep trimming, removing layers of tape, to get a good fit. You're increasing the diameter of the inner pipe from the laterals where it mates to the pipe in the valve assembly so the slip clearance between the pipes is reduced. You still want air to bleed out of the top of the sand chamber, but not as fast as the original design.
Al