need help on this one Low to no PSI after new DE.

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T

travelcat18

0
Apr 12, 2018
57
Indianapolis, IN
New to pools, but gained knowledge here.

Opened my own pool, and all was well running 14 PSI prime went well, ran the pool a few times and was normal.

2 days ago I added 3 lbs of DE powder as a slurry and slowly as suggested in my manual seemed fine and continued to run at 14psi.

Last night I tried to start the pump because we had a freeze warning in our area and could not get the pump to run more than 3-4 PSI.

I tried to prime again several times, I've opened and closed the main and skimmer valves which did not provide a solution.

I open the air valve on the filter and it slowly bleeds air and will spray water, but not near as strong as it had previously, the filter is measuring 0 PSI, the water valve is 3-4 psi with pump running.

Is this a situation where the DE clogged something? backwash??, any tests I can perform?


Thank you for any info.
 
Well first, if you have a DE filter you should never be running it without de. I'm a little confused as it sounds like you are running for a while before you added the 3lb.

Regardless of that, running without de would tend to clog up the filter making your pressure go up and not down. The only way for the pressure to go down is if you have a clog in your suction line, or debris in your impeller, or a clog between the pump and the filter, or your gauge is broken.
 
jblizzle said:
Well first, if you have a DE filter you should never be running it without de. I'm a little confused as it sounds like you are running for a while before you added the 3lb.

Regardless of that, running without de would tend to clog up the filter making your pressure go up and not down. The only way for the pressure to go down is if you have a clog in your suction line, or debris in your impeller, or a clog between the pump and the filter, or your gauge is broken.
Click to expand...

I ran just for a few to verify my jets were working and noted my pressure before DE, that's about it, added DE and ran for maybe 15 min. Had not ran since until now. Both the filter valve and water valve was reading the same pressure prior to last night. I've been extremely carful and thoughtful about opening the pool so just not sure where to go from here.
 
I verified no clog in the impeller, I watched several youtube vids on this and it seems that I'm not getting full prime, water is not up to the top of the lid nor has it ever been. Attempted to prime a few more times, I always get filter pressure up to 10 psi, but it does hold. Ive tried closing main drain and skimmer as a prime method. I'm starting to think pool repair man is needed on this.
 
jblizzle said:
Have you checked the seals on the pump lid and pump drains? Use a good lube on the seals?
Click to expand...

I lubed all the seals with the correct lube when I opened. I messed with this a bit more and still have no idea why I can't get full prime. I'm wondering if there was a partial clog in the system from last season, and with my weak prime and inexperience / failure to recognize a good prime I made it worse with the DE powder.

My plan as much as I want to DIY this is prob to consult a professional this week. I think I need to move forward with my partial drain plans and have a guy come out once I refill.

Any other ideas I'll keep checking back.
 
jblizzle said:
The water level was high enough that you weren't pulling air in through the skimmer right?
Click to expand...

Correct is mid skimmer for opening.

2 days ago I could hear the water running through return water valve, I only hear that now when I attempt to prime the pump. I tightened a couple of connections, but still had the same result.

I'm handy, but I'm stumped. Calling pool guy tomorrow and will hope to have resolved this week.

I'll report back my solution that they come up with.
 
You can try putting shaving cream on the fittings and valves in front of the pump and see if it gets sucked in anywhere from an air leak. Or even simpler run water out of a hose over fittings and see if it Prime's better
 

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