baffled - low flow

[duraleigh]

Rick,

does your pump and filter sit above the water level of the pool? Your description sure sounds like it. If so, are you giving the pump enough time to prime?

I may take as much as 2-4 minutes. If you are above pool level, post back and I'll give you some tips.

[rickpx14]

hi dave - thanks. yes - it does sit above the pool. i do give it quite a while to build up pressure but this time i'm not getting anything more than a very low flow of water coming through. at this point, i've taken everything apart and put it back together again. the frustrating part is that it was working when I first fired her up. I vaccumed for a bit (opening pool) and lost pressure about half way through the clean up. I didnt have a whole lot of crud in the strainer but I did empty nit a couple times. My gut says its an airleak on the suction side but I'll be darned if I can find/fix it...

[duraleigh]

Rick, can you turn off the suction line leading into the pump?

If so, try this.

Plan A

Turn off that suction line...completely

Put multiport valve in the filter position

Open the pump basket...there should be no water flow either direction.

Next, get a 5 gallon bucket and fill the pump basket 'til it overflows. I know some will go into the suction line...that's what I want.

Now, replace the basket lid and turn the pump on...keep the valve closed...you won't hurt the pump.

Most of the water should stay in the basket, since the pump can't suck it out because you've got the line closed.

Now, slowly open that suction line. It'll slosh around in the basket a good bit but, but hope fully, it will start to draw a larger and larger volume of water 'til it primes. It'll happen very quickly once it primes.

Plan B. If that fails to prime after a minute or so or you dont see an ever increasing flow of water into the pump, close the suction line again...pump running....it wont hurt it.

Next, Repeat Plan A above.....if it doesn't prime then, I am waaay off base.

[rickpx14]

thanks. ok - i did exactly as you said. first of all, the only way I can shut the suctions ide off is plugging the inlet hole at the base of the 'skimmer hole' - I did that, turned the multiport to filter and all the water in the basket rushed out - attempting to go toward the filter. I shut down the pump and all the water gushes back into the basket to the previous level. I tried it all oveer again - this time letting the pump run for a couple minutes, but same thing happens...low flow...and gauge reads about 4 psi...

[duraleigh]

Hi, Rick,

Sorry I couldn't respond...out for the evening.

First, I am assuming you filled the pump basket to overflowing after you plugged the skimmer...you don't say that but I'm assuming you did.

So, if you plugged the skimmer hole and filled the pump basket (and the suction line) with water, there is no air left on the suction side. Right?

Then, when you turn on the pump, all the water rushes out of the pump basket. That means it is replaced by air. In a working system, what should happen is nothing....the water can't rush out of the pump basket cause the air can't get in to replace it.

My next thought would be to fill up the entire suction side with water again, turn the pump on as before, then shut the pump off never opening the skimmer hole. If all the water is pumped out of the basket, It shouldn't refill into the basket because now the water (on the pressure side) cannot push the air back out. Make sense?

Rick, I'm stumped. Poconos always has good insight into this type of issue...maybe he'll come along with a good idea.

[rickpx14]

Hi. I really didn't expect much in replies since most everyone hopefully are ENJOYING thier pools this weekend . Yes, I did everything you said but the water still moves out-then gushes back in...Would the fact that thw vari-flo has a cracked plastic o-ring (just under the handle) have anyting to do with this problem (it was cracked last year too but never had any probs) Might it be the pump?

[waste]

Rick, met you over on another thread, it certainly sounds like an air leak on the suction side. If you bring a hose over to the filter pad and have it run a slow stream, you can direct the stream at any questionable connections or the valve itself (if your hose won't reach, you can use a bucket of water, slowly poured, to do the same thing). You used the words 'vari-flo' which indicates to me that you have a Hayward SP 733 valve (3 way). This would explain the problem - those valves are ^%#$&&$%&&$#$ !!!!. As I understand they have been or are being discontinued, they suck! (air mostly). If I'm right, you need SP 733Z1 for the replacement o-ring (if you can't get one, I can get it for you - in fact I have a couple in my basement, you don't mind that they've been through the laundry?)