Low suction pressure

[john509]

I am not sure how long this has been a problem. I recently put my pool sweeper into the shop and bought a vaccuum hose. The skimmers are working but at low pressure. There is not enough suction to get a vaccum at the end of the 25 foot hose. I can not turn off the drain. The plumbing turns off either the spa drains or the pool drain and skimmer or lets you run both. I do not think this is related because I think now the sunction has been low since we move into the house. I can feel suction and verify the skimmers work somewhat from dumping chems into the skimmer.

Although, i think it is probably unrelated I will mention it. I failed fun with math and reading directions when I cleaned the filter for the first time last week. I dumped the DE into the pool, hence i need the vaccum to get it out. I also put too much in. Some near the drain, some in the skimmer So, I recleaned the filter dumping the DE slowly into the skimmer this time. The skimmer did pull the DE in the system somewhat slowly. There have also been some big storms lately in which I pulled a basket full of pine straw out of the pump baskets and the skimmer baskets were full of straw.

Most of the time the water in the pump filter basket area is not up to the top either. There also seems to be an air bubble at top. Vaccum hose works on and off I can hear a sucking sound when I pull it out at times at best there is just a little suction on my hand.

Any ideas of what to check? I want to see if it is an easy fix before calling my home warranty company for an service call.

[Poconos]

First, the air in the pump basket is an indication of low flow which you already know. What is the pressure gauge reading? High pressure indicates a blocked filter. Low pressure is usually a suction side blockage, an air leak, or a pump problem. Are any air bubbles coming out the returns? If they are continuous then it could be a suction side air leak. Most common place is the pump basket lid. Only other thing that can really go wrong with a pump is a gunked up impeller. I'm amazed at how common a problem this is because I can't imagine enough junk getting past the skimmer and pump baskets to clog the impeller but it does. Kill the power by dumping the breaker. Be absolutely sure the pump cannot come on. Pull out the basket and reach in the hole and see if there is stuff tangled on the impeller. You can use a hook fashioned from a coathanger or anything to pull the stuff out.
See if any of this helps.
Al

[john509]

Thanks for the response. I will check the pump when I have chance to kill the power. Thinking about it more I think the pool suction line is either clogged after the drain and skimmers merge or it is the pump. Both skimmers and I think the drain are having low suction. The spa drains seem to be working too well in that if all drains are on the spa will drain out and the pool back flows into the spa. The spa does have 2 drains the size of the pool drain and a lot less water though so that could be meaningless. Increased flow from the pool might fix that though.

Hopefully there is just gunk in the impeller. It does seem likely with so much pine straw around here. That stuff sticks in the basket with half of the piece of straw often out sticking out the other side so small pieces could get sucked into the pump.

It could also be the pump. I have no idea how old the thing is. All I can tell is that it looks newer than the booster pump. I suspect the problem was there when we moved in December but I did notice it until the sweeper was out and I needed to vacuum.

[waterbear]

When you add DE powder you mix it into a thin slurry in a bucket first and then slowly pour it into the skimmer, correct?
If not that could be the problem. DE can block pipes and form a cement like obstruction if added improperly.

[Pool Clown]

I noticed that in your post, that you keep stating "skimmers" as in two? That could be why you cant get good suction for your vac. Can you isolate the skimmers (turn one off)? If not, a tennis ball, or a threaded plug in the size of the skimmer, 1 1/2" or 2" works best.

If you have the short pine needles, they will get their way to the impeller to clog/block it. I've never been able to stick my hand into the pump to feel the clog, you have to either take the pump apart, or get a mirror and look that way for the blockage. The mirror is easier than taking the pump apart.

Another note: If you have a variable speed pump, or a two speed, you will normally get a bubble in the pot basket (with low speed(s)), especially the Jandy e-pump, the pot is way too big to begin with!