I joined this forum just to ask this question on this topic. My first post!
I just replaced my ancient 1.5 hp pump with a half horse pump (Pentair Challenger High Flow). Everything runs to exactly the specs that were predicted, i.e. flow rates, amperage draw! I'm quite please except for one thing. With the old mega pump, when the solar system first kicked on, it would purge air through the lines for about a minute, and then it would be clear and run with water only coming through the pipes.
Now, with the smaller pump and reduced flow, the air bubbles do not cease when the solar is on. While the initial "blow out" of air subsides, there is still a small stream of bubbles and an occasional burp of air. My theory is that the vacuum break is not seeing enough pressure to keep it sealed? It is mounted on the top pipe.
My "repair theory" is to remove the vacuum break on the header pipe, and replace it on the lower pipe?
Would this solve my problem satisfactorily? Are there any other considerations or solutions that I should think about? (Other than adding back a larger pump, lol!)
Thanks for your help,
Mike
I just replaced my ancient 1.5 hp pump with a half horse pump (Pentair Challenger High Flow). Everything runs to exactly the specs that were predicted, i.e. flow rates, amperage draw! I'm quite please except for one thing. With the old mega pump, when the solar system first kicked on, it would purge air through the lines for about a minute, and then it would be clear and run with water only coming through the pipes.
Now, with the smaller pump and reduced flow, the air bubbles do not cease when the solar is on. While the initial "blow out" of air subsides, there is still a small stream of bubbles and an occasional burp of air. My theory is that the vacuum break is not seeing enough pressure to keep it sealed? It is mounted on the top pipe.
My "repair theory" is to remove the vacuum break on the header pipe, and replace it on the lower pipe?
Would this solve my problem satisfactorily? Are there any other considerations or solutions that I should think about? (Other than adding back a larger pump, lol!)
Thanks for your help,
Mike