Low, next to NO pressure

[MaryLee]

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

[PatL34]

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

[lmnharris]

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.

[ivyleager]

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

[lmnharris]

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.

[ivyleager]

RE: air bubbles via return jets

My return jets did this and it was due to "channels" and an air pocket in my sand filter. A good minute on the RINSE feature to stir up and resettle the sand did the trick. No more bubbles! I did not, however, pay attention to pressure gauge during this episode. I'm pretty sure my pump primed and suction was good, though.

Hope this helps and keep us posted.

CaryB

[Poolsean]

You're going to see constant bubbles in the return line for one or two reasons. Suction side leak or cavitation.
Air leaks after the pump, will not cause bubbles (air being introduced into the lines) as this is pressure side. The ONLY exception is a venturi jet or spa hydrotherapy jet, that are designed to suck air in. Otherwise water will be pressurized out of the pipe.
Suction side leaks will appear as bubbles in the pump basket or the pump basket not being able to fill with water. Since you've managed to snake it and get it 90% filled, most likely Pat was correct in diagnosing a blockage in your suction line.
Blockage in the line will not be bubbles coming into the pump basket area, but rather, the pump basket not filling up. Can you send the snake from the skimmer side? Perhaps some straight muriatic acid into the skimmer side and let it sit an hour to let it dissolve whatever may be blocking the line?? Then flush it out with your garden hose into the skimmer port, before turning your pump back on. Watch the debris buildup in the pump basket though.

Cavitation would make your pump sound louder than normal.

[dep78737]

Any chance there is a malfunctioning check valve that could be making the problem worse? Sounds like a suction side air leak somewhere to me since you keep seeing bubbles even after getting is primed.

[Filandras]

I just had a low pressure problem after a day of vacuuming. The symptoms were the same as stated here. Eventually after messing around with the rinse a few times, and then waste, the partial blockage blew out of the way and water just started gushing out of the waste line. What I'm saying is, what appears not to be a blockage just may be.

[mshumack]

At the top of the filter there should be a bleed valve. Are you leaving this open to expel all the air in filter when first running the pump?