Low Pressure / Pump Noise

When starting my pool pump the presure starts off at 18 PSI, all equipment working fine, but after 10 minutes the pressure drops to 8 PSI and the pump motor starts making twice as much noise like its straining. I notice the return water going into the pool amounts to half the flow it first started with. I do see a very few amount of bubbles coming out in the return water lines. Do I need to replace the rubber seal in the pump cover over the skimmer, or replace the seal in the cartridge filter, or replace the air release valve on top of the filter, or do I have to go as far and replace the seals in the pump motor. I am troubled as to where to search for the air leaks, can anyone help!

Welcome to The Forum!

It sounds like a congested filter - when was it last cleaned?

Please clean the filter and get back to us :)

I had a similar problem, and it ended up being the impeller in the pump that was clogged with stuff that managed to get through the pump basket. Take out the basket and use your hand (carefully) or a wet vac to pull anything out that might have gotten in there. When I did that I got the pressure back to where it should have been and have had no problem since.

Hey Handy, how's your pool doing this season?

As a note of general interest, I discounted the impeller because the the problem abates for a while after the pump has been shut off. In my experience, a clogged impeller stays clogged, even after the pump turns off. The filter (not sand filters) can drop congesting debris off the grids or pleats when the pump turns off and run normally for a short time before that debris clogs them again. On a similar note, I discarded the likelihood of the pool water being too low because jameslr didn't mention a ton of air in the pump.


I'm an honest man and will, instead of erasing what I've written so far and editing my previous post - I'll eat some crow and acknowledge that, after re-reading the first post the pressure DROPS instead of RISES.

This leads me to ask if the water is at least 1/2 way up the skimmer mouth and if the skimmer weir is not going down. (& is there a ton of air in the pump after the system has been on for a few minuets)

THANK YOU Handy!, for making me rethink this!!!!