Low, next to NO pressure

My pump seems as though it's sucking tons of air, but the line from the pump to the skimmer is airtight. I used a bladder type pressure device to charge the line and waited for leaks. After about 30 sec. it shot the plug I had in the pump inlet out like a shotgun. Didn't see any leaks.
My pump motor basket is only about half full of water. Its sloshing it in there fast but can't keep up. I've stuck my fingers in all the holes and the impeller feels normal and clean. After I turn my pump on and back off there is so much pressure I can't even get the lid off the pump basket.
Lastly the filter is running at 0-4 lbs pressure. When I turn the valve to recirculate it does the exact same thing minus the filter pressure.

Is my pump trashed?

Welcome to the forum.
Are you sure it isn't something as simple as the gasket for the pump basket lid leaking air somewhere? For air it only takes a tiny, sometimes almost invisible leak to let enough air in to mess things up. This could also be the reason for low pressure. Clean the gasket thoroughly and coat it with a good silicone lube....Jacks or equivalent. Available at most pool stores.
Not sure what you meant by this statement.....'After I turn my pump on and back off there is so much pressure I can't even get the lid off the pump basket.'

Al

Hello and thanks for the reply.
I've cleaned off any debris and put silicon on the O ring. I'll stop off and get a new one today just to make sure.

What I was trying to say was that when I shut the pump down the vacuum on the basket lid is so tight I can't hardly get it off. It had to open up the bleed valve on the filter and use a rubber mallet to get the lid off the pump basket once today.

If your pump is above the waterline of the pool, it will take, in some cases, minutes to "prime" (i.e....pull all the air from the system). Are you giving it that time?

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but if you are new to pumps, than can sometimes surprise you.

Regardless of the reason for the air in the pump, you will not get good pressure 'til that air is withdrawn from the system...I'm pretty sure that is why your guage is indicating 0-4.

With that much vacuum on the lid with the pump shut off I'm guessing the pump is a few feet above the pool water level. Something doesn't compute. If that is the case I'm surprised it even primes. Seems like you definitely have an air leak somewhere.
Al

I had a similiar situation when the o-ring to my offline chlorinator failed....don't know if that helps or not :confused:

Looking through all these posts, I get the feeling you have a partial blockage from the skimmer to the pump. If you have a main drain, try opening it up to see if that makes any difference. If it improves substantially, then you definitely have some form of blockage. The high vacuum you mention seems to imply that. You say you have to open the filter bleed valve to release the vacuum.

Is there a valve in the skimmer line that is not fully open?

Is the pump overized for the duty?

Have you tried to get a water flow back to the skimmer frm the pump basket housing?

Trying to look at all the things you need to help you fix this.

Pat

It seems as though I've found a new home when it comes to pools. Thanks everybody. I am pretty new to pools, this will be my third season. The first season I made all the rookie mistakes and then some. Ended up with black alagae and every other hideous std in my pool.
Second season I drained, scrubbed and pressure washed and had a pretty good year last year. I never had equipment issues till this year so I am a ameatuer with pumps.

Today I ran a snake down my skimmer towards the pump. I only had a 20 ft. snake so I went as far as I could. When I ran water to waste the pump basket actually filled 90% with water. I turned to filter and I'm getting the same. Now running almost 10 pounds of pressure but still have the white water effect in the basket. I'm wondering if I partly dislodged something in the skimmer line.
Next step is to find a longer snake, unless you guys have any other ideas on how to clear it out?

update: The only way I can get the filter working is to get a good prime using waste. When I waste there are very few bubbles in the basket. I then quickly switch to filter and it works as above (I do turn off the pump first). If I just start off in filter I never get enough water flowing to have any pressure.

Im currently letting it recirculate. Waters flowing pretty good, but still have some bubbles coming out of jets.

I had this problem after opening last season, and battling an algae bloom. Couldn't figure out why pump wouldn't prime! Checked o-ring seals on both pump basket and chlorinator (which is now never used), etc. After many backwashes, my pool water level was a little low. Low enough to cause air to enter through skimmer. Once I added more water, actually put hose directly in skimmer, problem went away.

May your problem be that easy!

CaryB

I've put the hose in the skimmer. Relubed both O rings. My chlorinator won't fill with water unless I unscrew the lid a little with pump running. Then it fills to the top and i (assume) its circulates. Don't really know.
Also, the pump won't prime unless i put it in waste, and only without the blue hose on. If the pump has to fight any resistance at all it won't prime. Once it gets a good prime i can switch to filter and hold my 10 lbs of pressure. There is alot of very small bubbles coming out of the jets still though.

I really appreciate all the suggestions.