Pump Pressure

[rilesworld]

I have a Hayward S200 sand filter and a 1.5hp (I think) pump that operates clean at 26psi and I let it get up above 30psi before I backwash. Is that operating pressure too high?

I have an inground pool, 20,000 gallons with two returns and two intakes. One intake is at the skimmer basket and the other intake looks like it may have been for a suction side cleaner. I typically keep this one plugged because I don't have suction side cleaner and it is installed rather close to the surface so when the water level drops it seems like I would get air in this intake.

Is my thinking OK here?

[nater]

My initial reaction is that your pump is oversized for your pool (a common mistake by pool builders). I have the same filter and a 3/4 HP hayward pump in a 19,000 gallon pool with similar returns. My filter pressure is about 13 psi just after a backwash.

Of course, your pressure will depend on piping size, length, number of fittings and elbows, water features, etc but that sounds pretty high. Double check the name plate on your pump for the model# and rated HP.

Do you find a lot of sand in the pool? That would indicate the pump is overpowering the filter and water is "channeling" through the filter bed and carrying some sand back to the pool. If not, and your water stays clean, worst case is that your electric bill is higher than it should be.

Some of the experts like CarlD or Waste may have some additional thoughts...

[rilesworld]

Thanks, I will double check the pump size when I get home this afternoon.

This is my first year with the pool and we have just been getting it cleaned up. Silt does appear on the bottom after I vacuum, but I was assuming that it was just silt that I stirred up during my cleaning that just settled back down, rather than coming from the filter. I guess I could try the panty hose trick over a return to see if any silt is coming through the returns.

Is there any harm in operating at this pressure? I doubt I would replace it just to prevent some silt from channeling through unless there were some other reason.

I was also thinking of using some DE in my sand filter as suggested on this forum, but this would raise my pressure even more. Is that a bad idea?

Thanks.

[rilesworld]

I checked this morning, and my pump is actually a 1hp pump. I'm not sure if that changes anything.

Thanks.

[mas985]

What is the service factor? A pump's true braking HP is really the labeled HP times the service factor.

Also, high pressure could also mean small pipes. What is the diameter of your pipes?

[Sardian]

Also, check to see what your pressure is with the pump turned OFF. If there is any water at all left in the pressure guage over the winter, it will freeze and mess up the reading of the guage.

With the pump turned OFF you should get a pressure reading of ZERO. If it is anything other then you need to subtract this from your pressure reading to get your actual pressure. If this is the case, the guages aren't hard to replace.