Hi, I am also new to the forum and was about to post a similar question. I moved into a new house last month with an inground pool (my first time owning a pool). I have 5 return valves throughout the pool and after a couple of hours, one of them usually loses steam and eventually stops working. Three of them also lose steam, but after 4 hours or more. One of them seems to last longer than the rest, but does get weaker. Is this normal or a sign of a problem?
Returns loses steam and eventually stop working
- Thread starter pisstol27
- Start date
How are your pressure readings on the filter while this is going on? How does the water look? Does the pump strainer basket stay full of water?
The pressure reading stays constant. I just opened the pool last weekened and it was pretty bad, but I got it to only a slight green color after shocking it a few times and adding alkaline powder. I'm new to pools, so I am not sure what a pump strainer basket but therether is a recangualr glass compartment near the pump that I can see water flowing through. I think that is what you are referring to. I did notice that when the valves stop working, I am no longer able to see water flowing through.
Something isn't right if the gauge doesn't change. Does it go to zero when you shut the pump off?
Hmm, i will have to check. I am not sure, but I do not think the guage goes to 0. I will check tonight. The guage does increase gradually, it goes to 20 after backwashing and it was up to 25 two days later.
I just got home from work and the guage is on 20 with the filter off. Is that a bad sign?
That means the gauge is broken, very common. You can buy a new one at a hardware store or pool store for $10 or less, and replace it yourself with a little teflon tape and a wrench.
Bad gauge. Likely your pressure was rising more than you think and you should be backwashing more often.
After a thorough backwashing/cleaning of the filter. Record the clean pressure and then clean your filter whenever the pressure goes up by 20-25% of that clean pressure.
After a thorough backwashing/cleaning of the filter. Record the clean pressure and then clean your filter whenever the pressure goes up by 20-25% of that clean pressure.
Thanks, I went out and tapped it and sure enough it went to zero. I'll make sure to get a new one b/c you may be right, I should have had to backwash more.