I've struggled with the plumbing for years. Literally years.
I have a small in-ground pool. 12k gallons.
I put in a 22ST filter with Zeosand a few years ago. It is oversized yes.
And I just recently put in a Pentair Variable speed pump. 1.5HP. Oversized yes.
I have 2 returns and a skimmer. No main drain. Everything on 1.5" lines.
I believe I have minor leak(s) somewhere in the pool lines as I get bubbles almost constantly and have for several years. I currently have a trench dug around the pool so I can replace these lines but have not done so yet. I will. I have someone who is supposed to come up to do the lines but his schedule is full for the near term.
In the meantime the wife wants the pool open so I am struggling to get by and I understand this is really just duct-tape fixes at the moment...but I appreciate any assistance in troubleshooting an imperfect system for the time being.
I have used foam soap over all connections at the pump and filter and have not found any leaks at all above ground.
The info I have:
1. I have figured out through trial and error that 1950rpm is a sweet spot where the pump basket fills without air. The filter sits at around 6PSI at this time.
2. Above the 1950rpm the pump basket fills and then it surges and the basket water level drops. This cycle happens over and over again. Almost like the pump primes, hits an air bubble and loses it, then primes again. I'm not sure what's going on. I don't think I have a large enough leak anywhere to cause this.
3. A few times at 3000RPM at initial priming the pump basket has completely filled with no air bubbles. The filter pressure spiked to about 15psi at this time. It was glorious and lasted about 15 seconds and then the basket water level dropped.
4. Trying to vacuum is frustrating. If I connect a vacuum I can feel the suction at the skimmer. I can hear the pump basket fill and lower with my ear and that manifests itself in the vacuum working then not working every minute or so. Very frustrating.
My thoughts:
Since my pump and filter are oversized I was wondering if I am trying to draw too much water through my 1.5" pipes? I was thinking of putting valves as regulators between pump and filter, and between filter and returns to try and increase the backpressure on the system and hopefully keep the basket full. Thoughts?
I have a small in-ground pool. 12k gallons.
I put in a 22ST filter with Zeosand a few years ago. It is oversized yes.
And I just recently put in a Pentair Variable speed pump. 1.5HP. Oversized yes.
I have 2 returns and a skimmer. No main drain. Everything on 1.5" lines.
I believe I have minor leak(s) somewhere in the pool lines as I get bubbles almost constantly and have for several years. I currently have a trench dug around the pool so I can replace these lines but have not done so yet. I will. I have someone who is supposed to come up to do the lines but his schedule is full for the near term.
In the meantime the wife wants the pool open so I am struggling to get by and I understand this is really just duct-tape fixes at the moment...but I appreciate any assistance in troubleshooting an imperfect system for the time being.
I have used foam soap over all connections at the pump and filter and have not found any leaks at all above ground.
The info I have:
1. I have figured out through trial and error that 1950rpm is a sweet spot where the pump basket fills without air. The filter sits at around 6PSI at this time.
2. Above the 1950rpm the pump basket fills and then it surges and the basket water level drops. This cycle happens over and over again. Almost like the pump primes, hits an air bubble and loses it, then primes again. I'm not sure what's going on. I don't think I have a large enough leak anywhere to cause this.
3. A few times at 3000RPM at initial priming the pump basket has completely filled with no air bubbles. The filter pressure spiked to about 15psi at this time. It was glorious and lasted about 15 seconds and then the basket water level dropped.
4. Trying to vacuum is frustrating. If I connect a vacuum I can feel the suction at the skimmer. I can hear the pump basket fill and lower with my ear and that manifests itself in the vacuum working then not working every minute or so. Very frustrating.
My thoughts:
Since my pump and filter are oversized I was wondering if I am trying to draw too much water through my 1.5" pipes? I was thinking of putting valves as regulators between pump and filter, and between filter and returns to try and increase the backpressure on the system and hopefully keep the basket full. Thoughts?