I am planning on replacing my pump, pretty sure its too big

[leena]

Last yr I was unable to get my pool to filter thru the sand filter at all. We basically kept the pool clean enough to use by using skimmer socks. (those things that fit over the basket in the skimmer).I had to change them out daily. It was a nightmare, the water was clear but never sparkling clean. My pump shoots water thru the return so hard that it hurts to hold your hand there. It sucks water into the skimmer so hard that it has torn the socks before. Wasps would be sucked in and shot back out the return with their bodies parts easily visible. whole abdomens, etc. I put more sand in the filter, even tried the DE powder at one point. Boy that was a nightmare, like to have never got it out of the pool. Anyways, my pump is 10 to 12 yrs old, loud and runs up my electric bill. I have to beat it with a rock sometimes to get it going, otherwise it just hums until it trips the breaker. My husband 4got to unhook it before a freeze this winter so now the "lid" or something is cracked and its shooting out water. Im so ready to get a new pump! (possibly a sand filter too)

SO my question is: What size pump do I need for my pool? Its currently a 1.5hp, 200lb sand filter. pool is 24' round above ground. I see variable speed posted on here a lot.........is that something I should consider?

[Anonymous [GDPR] European in the UK]

Leena,
Your pool is about the same size as mine and your sand filter is 24" or 30" diameter? about the same as mine but your pump is way too big. For excellent filtration you want a slower flow not a fast one. There is no such thing as a high rate sand filter! I don't care what marketing department plaster over the advert there isn't they become high rate strainers and as you have described the debris, skin, insects etc get such a rough ride they break up and return to the pool. All you are doing is paying for a lot of electricity to achieve very little. Bigger pump = worse water. Commercial pools don't try and filter at the speeds domestics do. it's another of the pool industries wrongs.

Take a look at my signature, I run a similar sized pool on a tiny pump. Actually pumping is less than 0.1 hp, around the amount of a lightbulb in electricity per hour. You are using around 30 times more to achieve the same but your water quality relies on skimmer socks. Although I run my pump 24/7 as the electricity bill is so low I can afford to and that means there are no overnight leaves, dirt etc going to the bottom of the pool. The only downside is you have to empty the skimmer more often because they are actually doing what you want them to do, collect surface debris.

I sold my pool cleaning robot, didn't need it anymore and people are familiar with that little dust cloud in front of a manual cleaning head? The one where the water starts off clear but by the time you have finished cleaning there is a slight haziness to the water? That doesn't exist any more, there is no dirt to cause it.

Go tiny on your pump, if you have water features you may need more but if like me you just filter, go tiny.

[SunnyOptimism]

@leena

It sounds to me like you have two separate problems - a bad/dying pump AND a plugged up sand filter. The first problem may not be worth the time and money trying to fix BUT the second one might be. Have you ever deep cleaned the sand filter or changed the media? You say you get no flow from your returns if the pump is switched over to flow through the filter. That's really bad and tells me that your sand filter is basically completely blocked up (perhaps too much debris, or DE , or broken laterals, etc). Also, if your filter is plugged and the pump is trying to push on a blocked line, you can easily destroy and burn up a pump that way.

@mas985 posts here on the PF sometimes but I think is more active over on another pool forum. He is the DIY expert on pumps, hydraulics, etc. Here is a link to an incredible post he wrote on how to properly choose and size pumps and filters for a pool. Read it before you go off to buy a pump as the choices involved depend a lot on your particular situation such that a VS pump may not be the best choice versus a really efficient 2-speed pump.

[Anonymous [GDPR] European in the UK]

Leena,
Can you get the lid off your filter and examine the sand inside?

[leena]

hopefully my husband and I will be able to slow down and examine the sand filter this weekend. What should I look for when I take the top off the sand filter? We had put new sand in it when we first realized it wasn't filtering but that didn't seem to improve anything.
thanks for the link, I def wanna do my research before I buy another pump and I also know I want a smaller one.

[Anonymous [GDPR] European in the UK]

I see Leena, so you have changed the sand already so unlikely it's too clogged up.
So you are running with the multiport valve on recirculate?
What happens when you put the system on backwash?
What is the flow like when it's on filter?
Does the multiport feel as if it's moving ok with the handle?
This problem arose before you changed the sand out?

[SunnyOptimism]

Hi @leena!

@teapot has asked lots of good questions and I just like to follow on with another one. I'm not asking this to sound snarky or rude, I just want to be 100% clear that I understand what you are saying -

When you replaced the sand, did you just add new sand or did you actually fully remove the old sand and thoroughly clean the insides?

I ask only because it is important when you clean out a sand filter to not only replace the filter media (sand) but also to inspect all of the internal pipes and laterals for damage or blockage. During a filter tear-down it is also a good idea to open up the multiport valve (if your sand filter has one, some just have a push-pull valve) and inspect the spider gaskets and other components.

You said you added DE once to the sand filter. Is all of the DE gone now? Did any of your blocked filter problems occur after adding the DE? Again, I'm asking only so that we can be very clear on the history of the filter.

And you're definitely doing the right thing by slowing down and taking time to investigate new pumps! The natural impulse of a pool owner is "just get it fixed right NOW" which can often lead to more trouble. Taking time to understand all the options is definitely the best bet!

Let us know what you come up with as you study different pump options. There's lots of knowledgeable folks here on PF regarding pumps and I'd bet they have some great advice to give.

[kelemvor]

Just something I thought I'd throw out there. You should consider a two-speed pump. High flow is generally desirable when vacuuming. Low flow during normal operations. The electric savings by running a two speed on low can be tremendous. I don't know about Georgia, but in Florida single speed pumps have actually been outlawed due to energy waste.

[leena]

yes we cleaned out the filter when we added the new sand. At that time the laterals seemed ok.
No we haven't inspected the spider thingy, don't know exactly what that is.
The multiport valve turns easily.
When I tried using the DE it immediately shot right back into the pool, never could get it to "clog" my sand so that it would increase filtration. ( If Im understanding the concept properly of why DE is used...?) It took forever to get the DE cleaned out of the pool.
The reason we replaced the sand was because we realized it wasn't filtering properly so that was something we tried. After reading about pumps and filtering, I realized that my pump was too large and possibly forcing water thru the filter so hard and fast it wasn't filtering.
We installed a valve that I can almost completely close to reduce the water flow but it doesn't help the filtering problem. It does however slow down the strong suction at the skimmer enough to where the "socks" can be used. That's the only thing keeping the pool useable is the "socks" are catching just enough to get us by. When it gets really bad I use floc to settle all the debris then gently vacuum the bottom of the pool using the bucket method. Using the pump to vacuum doesn't work bc it pulls the water hard enough to stir up the debris on bottom, making it harder to vacuum.
For a while when I would backwash it was dirty so I felt like it was catching something. Eventually there was nothing when I would backwash, just clear water so I don't feel like the filter is working at all. I read about channeling? .........
I just feel like my filter isn't working properly but I don't know if the too big pump is(was) part of the problem or not. The lid on the pump is now cracked so I cant use it at all. So I for sure have to order a new pump . Its too cold here at night to use the pool anytime soon, so Im not rushing, trying to do my research properly before I order. I def want a pump that is atleast 2 speed so that I have the option of a gentler circulation but also to save electricity.
Im thinking 3/4 HP?
I had intended on getting a variable speed but now that Im looking, Im a little put off at the price.

[leena]

so to inspect the spider thing, I unbolt the top of the filter, then take the multiport valve apart? Im assuming I will see gaskets somewhere? Am I looking for broken or dried out gaskets? Is it gonna be like an O-ring type thing? Oh I also have the k-2006 kit now. Got that well over a yr ago. Gotta figure out how to update....