Just opened, pump is running really slow

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sedalbj

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Jul 3, 2016
45
Eastern PA
Happy spring everyone, happy pool season!

We opened the pool today, first season we can't see the bottom upon opening which is a bummer. And something is up with the filter.

The system says it is running at 2750. There is no way it is running at that speed, the waterfall is practically dripping. Usually at 2750 we can't have normal conversations next to it because of the waterfall noise. I turned off the Polaris and it didn't make a difference.

DE filter doesn't show increased pressure. Skimmer baskets are kinda full because the pool got a ton of junk in it this winter but they aren't pulling hard enough to drag the junk down into the basket. Pump basket has some stuff in it, see prior sentence, but it isn't too bad.

Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
Your filter is doing what it is supposed to do, filter out solids. You have a lot of solids.
You need to follow the SLAM Process.
See if your pressure gauge goes to zero when the pump is off. If it does not, it is broke. You need a new one.
If you have a MPV on the filter you can set it to recirculate and start the SLAM. Then when the pool gets blue and cloudy and you can devote a full day, you start filtering. It will take a lot of backwashing and filter cleaning.
 
My goal is to SLAM, i just can't get the filter to move enough to circulate the water effectively.

Your suggestion is to see if the pressure gauge on the DE goes to zero when all is off, yes? If it does or doesn't, I need a new, what? DE filter? pump? and what is an MPV? Set it to recirculate?

I think I need some more info. Can you elaborate?
 
The pressure gauge is on the DE filter. If the gauge does not go to zero when the pump is off, you need a new gauge.

Does the filter have a MPV? It is a valve you use to set to Filter, Backwash, Waste, Recirc.
 
Gauges do fail, especially if not taken off over winter.

You have a bump filter. You will just get to constantly bump and clean it. But get started on the SLAM Process soon.
 
We cleaned the DE filter and still have the problem.

I do have more information. The skimmers and returns for the main pool seem to be working great. the water movement seems normal. The problem is the spa. The jets in the spa have almost nothing coming out, just enough to make the waterfall spill over. I am looking at the valves and everything seems normal. We switched from spa mode to pool mode and the ones that are supposed to move, did.

What could be the cause of just the spa jets getting almost no water?
 

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More info as I work on the pool. The spa jets have just a little bit of water flowing through. Just enough to dribble over the waterfall. Which tells me the spa floor drains aren't pulling.

We noticed one plug for a spa jet hadn't been removed, we removed that. The jets (2) and the skimmers (2) and the floor drains (2) in the main pool are all working. It is just the spa floor drains and the jets.

We do have a cut off for the spa. It automatically flips two valves and to make the water in the spa recirculate. I turned on 'Spa Mode', it turned off all the main pool jets/drains/skimmers, but didn't make a change in the Spa floor drains or jets. It did make the DE pressure gauge move to the Clean position. We turned on the Air Blower and it worked without a problem.

Not sure what a Make Up Valve is...
 

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A make up line is one that allows for some of the water to go to the spa when in pool mode. The actuated valves would be fully closed to the spa return when in pool mode, if you have one.
Or, your valve to the spa return would only be partially closed when in pool mode. That again allows some of the water to return to the spa when in pool mode.

If an actuator is not moving as it should, check the toggle switch on that actuator to be sure it is in the correct position.
 
Our spa waterfall is always on in pool mode, it only turns off in spa mode.

We have two automatic valves, one labeled Spa Main and one labeled Spa Jets/Pool Return. The manual valves are Skimmers and Pool Main.

I attached pictures. The automatic valves are moving when they are supposed to, I don't know if they are moving to the right place. As far as the 2 manual valves, I'm not sure they are in the right position.
 

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So I assume the pictures are taken when in Pool mode.

The suction actuated valve is correct as it has the spa suction off.

The return actuated valve is wide open to both systems. I would think that would put more flow to the pool as those returns are less resistance than the spa returns.

When in spa mode, the return actuated valve I assume turns a complete 180 degrees to close off the pool returns.

You have iAqualink. You could program your spa so that it runs in Spillover mode a couple times per day to chlorinate the spa, but the rest of the time you can just have it in pool mode with no flow to the spa. You would need to adjust the limit switches in the return actuator to accomplish that.
 
Those pictures were Pool Mode. I attached pictures in Spa Mode. when in Spa Mode there is no flow to the spa and the pool jets etc are off. So, nothing is happening in Spa Mode right now.
 

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The million dollar question. The DE Filter gauge moves to Clean when spa mode is on. Does that indicate anything? I keep wondering if some small animal decided to set up shop in a pipe over the winter, but how would they get in there?????
 
I take it your pressure gauge doe not have numbers. I would change that very soon.

Kind of running into a dead end. Unless a valve has come apart inside and even though the actuator is moving them, they are not moving inside.

There must be a valve or something closed. Do not dead head your pump. Running it with no flow will burn it up quick.
 

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