Skimmer performance since VS install

[Kurtomac]

Hello everyone! Last year I ran a 1.5hp Superpump and skimming performance in my opinion was great. I opened this year with a new Intelliflo VS and new SWCG. I have 3 suction lines (2 skimmers and a bottom drain). What is everyone opinion on the bottom drain valve position. I thought I read on here some people feel they are not needed on a daily basis. I could close that valve completely (already shut it down about 50% with my Jandy valve) and maybe pick up a little skimmer performance. I don’t really want to ramp up my RPM on the intelliflo as that seems kind of counter productive to me installing the pump but I’m sure a few hundred rpm wouldn’t kill anything. I’m currently running at 1800 RPM for 2 hours then 1500 RPM for 12 hours. I have one quadrant of my pool that kind of is a dead zone since the install/open. Maybe this is also jet positioning any advice there?

The original returns lines had one in stairs one just out side of stairs (seems dumb to me to put them so close together and on the same side) and then one way on the opposite side of the pool. When I was replumbing everything for the new pump and SWCG, I converted a vacuum suction line into a return line for an added jet and have it throttled back with my jandy valve so that all 4 returns have similar flow. Now it’s the 2 jets that are close together, the converted return is on the opposite side of the pool in the center and then the other original return about another 12ft down on the same side in the deep end.

Hopefully you all can’t point me in a good direction like you always do so I don’t have to run up my RPMs and can keep enjoying my energy savings. I read some on here run theirs at 1200 RPM but that barely disturbs the surface.

Ive marked up this photo. The black dots are return positions and the red zone is my problem area

 

[revitup]

Doesn't look like the return positions make a whole lot of sense relative to the skimmer positions. The new one you added isn't helping things. That, and the one in the deep end, are just pushing everything away from that skimmer between them.
I'd try pointing the return in the deep end toward the diving board to try to get some CW circulation through that 'dead zone' and out of that end. Point the new one toward the shallow end to try to continue that CW circulation. I'd close the bottom drain completely and try to bias most of the skimmer suction to the skimmer in the shallow end if you have that capability.
Have you tried closing off the new return to see if that helps? Seems like it was working better before though that was with more pump power.

 

[Kurtomac]

Doesn't look like the return positions make a whole lot of sense relative to the skimmer positions. The new one you added isn't helping things. That, and the one in the deep end, are just pushing everything away from that skimmer between them.
I'd try pointing the return in the deep end toward the diving board to try to get some CW circulation through that 'dead zone' and out of that end. Point the new one toward the shallow end to try to continue that CW circulation. I'd close the bottom drain completely and try to bias most of the skimmer suction to the skimmer in the shallow end if you have that capability.
Have you tried closing off the new return to see if that helps? Seems like it was working better before though that was with more pump power.

The deep end skimmer already has less suction than the shallow end just due to the fact that they skimmer is further from the pump. Would it make sense to shut off BD, choke down the shallow skimmer to allow more flow to deep end skimmer? I could shut off that one new return by itself or point toward shallow end. I agree return placement was weird but I’m not a pool builder.
Me changing that vacuum line to a return line was a suggestion on here...could add some water feature if I wanted now (has its own jandy)

 

[Jimrahbe]

Kurt,

The near skimmer will always have a lot more suction than the far skimmer.. If you can, I would run the far skimmer full open and throttle the near skimmer down a little. As you reduce the flow to the near skimmer you will increase the flow to the far skimmer.. Not perfect, but I try to feel the suction in both skimmers and try to balance them.

Working Weir doors are what makes a skimmer.... skim well.. How are yours

Your pool returns need to be set to create a circular flow.. Like a toilet bowl, but really slow..

With a VS pump you just need patience. If I sit and watch, nothing seems to happen.. If I come back in an hour or so, everything will be in my skimmers.. I use hairnets in my skimmer and it is pretty obvious that the skimmer are working.

I run my pump at about 1200 RPM most of the time. My pump ramps up to 1500 or so, a couple of times a day for an hour at a time, but I can't really tell any difference in the way the skimmers work,

I do not have a heater.. If I did, I suspect that I would have to run at 1500 to 1800 to make things work.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[markayash]

I shut my bottom drain off and pull 100% through the skimmer. YOu have a robot so don't need the drain IMHO.
May also play with RPM after that to get the filter pressure you want. I like Jims suggestion adjusting the skimmers also to get the suction you need

I also used a amp meter and going from 1800 to 2100 for example didn't make a huge power difference

 

[Jimrahbe]

Kurt,

I forgot about the main drain until Mark reminded me.. I recommend running the main drain at about 10% or not at all.. The less main drain, the more the suction goes to the skimmers.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Kurtomac]

Kurt,

The near skimmer will always have a lot more suction than the far skimmer.. If you can, I would run the far skimmer full open and throttle the near skimmer down a little. As you reduce the flow to the near skimmer you will increase the flow to the far skimmer.. Not perfect, but I try to feel the suction in both skimmers and try to balance them.

Working Weir doors are what makes a skimmer.... skim well.. How are yours

Your pool returns need to be set to create a circular flow.. Like a toilet bowl, but really slow..

With a VS pump you just need patience. If I sit and watch, nothing seems to happen.. If I come back in an hour or so, everything will be in my skimmers.. I use hairnets in my skimmer and it is pretty obvious that the skimmer are working.

I run my pump at about 1200 RPM most of the time. My pump ramps up to 1500 or so, a couple of times a day for an hour at a time, but I can't really tell any difference in the way the skimmers work,

I do not have a heater.. If I did, I suspect that I would have to run at 1500 to 1800 to make things work.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Replaced both skimmer doors last year. I just shut off my BD and throttle back the shallow skimmer to allow more to deep end skimmer. I re-aimed my jets. It’s windy today but I’ll give it a couple days to see if there’s much difference. The skimmers were working and the shallow skimmer caught way more (I assume to more jets aimed at it and also greater suction) the deep end is at a disadvantage with the return placement in relation to the skimmer door.

updated drawing with new jet directions

 

[Kurtomac]

Also reference filter pressure, since switching to the VS it’s extremely low...less than 5psi at 1500 and 6-8 at 1800. I never read anything about required filter pressure, is there something I should be aiming for here? It’s making my SWCG flow switch and I thought that’s all that really mattered

 

[Jimrahbe]

Kurt,

Filter pressure is backwards from what most people think..

My Filter pressure is about 1 lb at 1200 RPM and my pool works fine.

Filter pressure is really the amount of effort it takes to push the water through the filter. In most cases low filter pressure means more flow through the filter.

The return near the umbrella seems to be pointed in the wrong direction to me..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[markayash]

Kurt,

Filter pressure is backwards from what most people think..

My Filter pressure is about 1 lb at 1200 RPM and my pool works fine.

Filter pressure is really the amount of effort it takes to push the water through the filter. In most cases low filter pressure means more flow through the filter.

The return near the umbrella seems to be pointed in the wrong direction to me..

Thanks,

Jim R.

I agree point that one toward dead zone? Trial and error and find what works..
On filter pressure Mine is around 4 but I have a water fall and if I go lower it acts weird and I run my pump 24x7 form April until around October.

 

[revitup]

I dont think so. It's going to take that CW flow coming out of the dead zone and continue it CW. Point it the other way and that dead corner is going to remain static.

The return near the umbrella seems to be pointed in the wrong direction to me..

 

[markayash]

I dont think so. It's going to take that CW flow coming out of the dead zone and continue it CW. Point it the other way and that dead corner is going to remain static.

One way to find out.
Hopefully in a few weeks the tree droppings will stop!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Up,

Not sure I fully understand, but my goal would be to cause the water to rotate, I am not sure it matters if goes CW or CCW.

Thanks,

Jim R.