trying to diagnose Polaris cleaner problem

[bri3180]

It had not been running all season.

I have been cleaning the pool myself. The tip of the tale had worn off last fall and I was finally able to stop and buy a new tail for the cleaner. After I connected the tail and turned on the cleaner pump I could tell the cleaner was not working properly. The water flows from the tail and from nowhere else. The jets that propel the suction into the Polaris cleaner are not working. No water flow from those jets. What does that mean? Thank you.

[aylad]

What model is the Polaris? Does any water come from the backup valve that is about 3 feet from the connection to the pool? It's pear-shaped and has a hole in the bottom, and every few minutes there should be about a 30-second spurt of water coming from it that makes the unit raise up off the floor and move somewhere else--that's the first place I'd look for problems....

[bri3180]

Thank you, I took it apart and cleaned the jets. Problem solved.

[bri3180]

What model is the Polaris? Does any water come from the backup valve that is about 3 feet from the connection to the pool? It's pear-shaped and has a hole in the bottom, and every few minutes there should be about a 30-second spurt of water coming from it that makes the unit raise up off the floor and move somewhere else--that's the first place I'd look for problems....

Soon after I cleaned the jets, the cleaner was working fine. Now the pear-shaped jet is not doing its job. Does that thing come apart? I played with it a little bit and it seems to be pretty solid. Didn't want to take it a part due to fear of breaking it.

[aylad]

That's the backup valve--it's a solid piece.

[bri3180]

That's the backup valve--it's a solid piece.

Is this a part that must be replaced? Thank you.

[aylad]

It is necessary in order to make the Polaris work correctly. It's where the jet of water comes out that picks the cleaner up and moves it to a different spot. It should shoot water for about 30 seconds, then stop. If it's not working correctly, it does need to be replaced. It's expensive, though--I think the one I replaced ran around $50.

Janet