SOLVED: Pump running but not moving water; No air relief valve, basket half full of water.

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C

cloverlake

Member
Jun 26, 2021
7
Columbus, Ohio
I just purchased a home with a pool. I’ve messed something up, and I’m trying to figure out what (and how to fix it)!

The problem is that the pump is running, but no water is moving. I’ve tried switching modes between filter, backwash, and rinse, but can’t get any sign of movement in the skimmer baskets or the rinse line.

Based on some internet research I assumed that I had air in the lines, and started looking for the air relief valve, but the filter is a Hayward s244T sand filter which has no air relief valve. Then I thought maybe I lost prime by opening up the area containing the pump filter basket. I attempted to fill that chamber with water, but since the pump is above the elevation of the skimmer baskets, the water drains out through the intake line until it’s only half full. I closed the intake line, filled the chamber and sealed it, but the water still drains out to the skimmer baskets as soon as I open the intake line.

How long is safe to run the pump without seeing any water move? I don’t want to burn anything up and cause an expensive repair.

I‘m not 100% sure of the vocabulary around this, and I’m a brand new forum member, so I apologize if this is a sticky post somewhere or a question with an obvious answer, or something. Thank you!

Edit: grammar
 
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We could use a pic from the front so we can see all the valves and such. But when you say "I think I messed something up", does that mean everything worked earlier? Did you recently do something specific to give you the impression you changed something? If all the valves "before" the pump are open, water should flow "in" to the pump. But the multiport valve label on top looks destroyed. Can you read anything (settings)? There should at least be a "Recirculate" function that would basically allow water to bypass the filter and go into the valve right back to the pool. That would be one way to see if water can pass from the pump back to the pool.
 
Texas Splash said:
We could use a pic from the front so we can see all the valves and such. But when you say "I think I messed something up", does that mean everything worked earlier? Did you recently do something specific to give you the impression you changed something? If all the valves "before" the pump are open, water should flow "in" to the pump. But the multiport valve label on top looks destroyed. Can you read anything (settings)? There should at least be a "Recirculate" function that would basically allow water to bypass the filter and go into the valve right back to the pool. That would be one way to see if water can pass from the pump back to the pool.
Click to expand...
Yes, sorry — the best picture refused to upload until just a moment ago.
I spent the whole morning vacuuming out the pool so my kids could swim (the previous owners hadn’t cleaned it yet this year). That all went fine, and the pump was working great until I opened the pump filter basket box and cleaned it out, so I assumed I let air in where it wasn’t meant to be.
 
Texas Splash said:
We could use a pic from the front so we can see all the valves and such. But when you say "I think I messed something up", does that mean everything worked earlier? Did you recently do something specific to give you the impression you changed something? If all the valves "before" the pump are open, water should flow "in" to the pump. But the multiport valve label on top looks destroyed. Can you read anything (settings)? There should at least be a "Recirculate" function that would basically allow water to bypass the filter and go into the valve right back to the pool. That would be one way to see if water can pass from the pump back to the pool.
Click to expand...
I can barely read the settings, but looked them up online to make sure. I did see the recirculate setting but haven’t tried it yet. I could try that, but since I can’t see any water moving inside the pump filter box window while the pump runs, I figured the issue was with the pump rather than the filter(?)
 
C,

You vacuumed a bunch of leaves?.. Where did they go? Does you vacuum have a bag, or did they go into the filter? Did you vacuum to waste?

It might not be "the" problem, but it appears to be a problem. The square O-Ring under the pump lid is dry and chipped and cracked. The pump works off of a vacuum, so any air that leaks around the pump lid gasket can keep the pump from fully priming. I suggest that you install a new gasket and lube it with Pool lube...

Did you move the Multi Port Valve (MPV) on top of the filter when you were vacuuming?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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There were three or four leaves, but otherwise it was just silt in the bottom (the pool was covered through the winter). All of it went into the sand filter. The knob on top was set to “filter” during the vacuuming, but wasn’t moved while the pump was running. Was there a better way I should have handled that?

I’ll order a new gasket and some pool lube. 👍 Thanks!
 
CL, I agree the lid gasket is a potential problem. When you opened it up to clean the pump basket, that might have been its last good seal. But let's go over a few things for you to check:
- Make sure the pool water level is high enough. It should be about 3/4 up the opening of the poolside skimmer(s).
- Also check to ensure nothing is plugging the skimmer opening (hole); also check the skimmer weir door/flap is not stuck closed.
- The three valves in front of the pump appear to all be open - good.
- Then do this test .... close the intake valve handles to the pump and fill the pump basket full of water and close the lid. Don't open the intake valves yet. Now the test - turn the pump on briefly while watching under the clear lid. Have someone help you if the power switch is away from the pump. Watch to see if the water gets sucked "IN" by the pump (to the filter) and empties the pump basket. Then turn off the pump quickly. That test will ensure the pump is "pulling" water.

After that test, if it was successful by pulling water out of the basket, refill the pump basket, open the intake valves, and try the pump again. Give it about one full minute to pull water from the pool.

Now if the test above did not pull water to empty the basket, let us know.
 

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I’m in business — my pump is moving water like normal again. Here are the steps I took:
  1. I replaced the pump filter box gasket.
  2. I applied pool lube to the gasket
  3. I realized that with three intake lines open, the pump would have to evacuate 3x as much air in order to prime, so I closed two of them and left one open.
  4. I turned on the pump and waited about 90 seconds instead of sixty.
I’m not sure which precise combination of the above led to success, but hey… I’ll take it.

Thank you to all who assisted! I’m feeling a lot more confident in the daily operation of the mechanical systems.
 
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