No filter pressure on brand new install

TaraOC

0
Jun 24, 2018
21
Chicago, IL
Pool Size
8600
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hello. We just had our pool install competed on Tuesday. We are new to this and are really at a loss. We have an above ground pool with a hayward swim pro 2hp pool pump and Hayward voyager 150 cartridge filter and We also have a Hayward swim pro 135000 btu heater and a nature 2 vision pro vessel with mineral cartridge and built in chlorination.

There were a couple leaks on the return side to the pool after the initial install and they had to come back out to repair those. Yesterday we thought the pump was defective as we had zero pressure on the filter and the water flow was almost non existent. My husband went to the store and exchanged the pump for a new one. That didn’t work. Still having the same problem. The Great Escape is going to send someone out tomorrow to try to diagnose it. starting to think that the underground pvc pipe that moves the water from the pool to the pump is leaking. any thoughts?
 
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starting to think that the underground pvc pipe that moves the water from the pool to the pump is leaking.
Perhaps. Post some pics of the pool and equipment pad. With these pumps, is someone ensuring the O-ring under the clear lid is well lubed with pool silicone? Do you have a wide-mouth skimmer in this AGP? If so, is the weir door operating properly? Not stuck closed? Water level high enough - abut halfway up the skimmer? All suction valves open?
 
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Perhaps. Post some pics of the pool and equipment pad. With these pumps, is someone ensuring the O-ring under the clear lid is well lubed with pool silicone? Do you have a wide-mouth skimmer in this AGP? If so, is the weir door operating properly? Not stuck closed? Water level high enough - abut halfway up the skimmer? All suction valves open?
The water level is high enough, at least halfway up the skimmer. Well it was, we lost quite a bit during trouble shooting. The door on the skimmer is not stuck closed. O ring is well lubed.
 
Are you saying you get no water suction with those valves open? With the valves open and a pool waterline well above the pad, water should flow down very easily to the pump. In fact, if you remove the pump clear lid with those valves open, water should come gushing out. The pump "pot" should prime easily with water.
 
correct. The suction is almost non existent with those open and pump on. And yes, we open the valves, take off cover and water gushes out. But pump was off. The pump basket is running dry.
 
Gotta say I'm confused. :scratch: You have a very simple set-up almost like mine except I don't have a heater. Only those two valves stopping water flow. Since you're getting water gravity-fed easily to the pump, I would be concerned about a restriction somewhere that's preventing it from moving. But I can't see where it would be. The odds of you getting two bad pumps seems low, not to mention you two must be frustrated.
 

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At this point you might just check the following as a last resort:
- Clear lid O-ring lubed well.
- Union before the pump connected securely.
- Filter, have you ever opened it? Everything looks brand-spanking new. Might want to open to see if something is odd.
- I'm not familiar with the valve on top of the mineral system. Does that control water flow or only the sanitation?
 
At this point you might just check the following as a last resort:
- Clear lid O-ring lubed well.
- Union before the pump connected securely.
- Filter, have you ever opened it? Everything looks brand-spanking new. Might want to open to see if something is odd.
- I'm not familiar with the valve on top of the mineral system. Does that control water flow or only the sanitation?
O ring is well lubed
Union before pump secure
Yes, checked filter, removed and tested without filter also.
That valve controls the rate of chlorine. I guess that’s you mean by sanitation? Again, total n00bs here.
 
Well, there's not much else to check. Even though water falls down to the pump easily by gravity, once you tighten the lid and turn on the pump it's trying to pull very fast. You checked the lid and union, but perhaps follow back to the skimmer connection and weir flap to ensure it looks good there. Such a simple set-up I don't see much else other than the pump. But twice? Geez, that would be odd.
 
Here is our thought. They buried the PVC suction and return pipes. Since we had three external leaks already on the return side, we are betting that there is an underground leak on the suction side. Would that be possible? Crappy work? (We did not install ourselves)

We are monitoring an area of wet ground that doesn’t seem to be drying up. Granted we spilled a lot of water testing but there is a section where it doesn’t seem to be drying right above where the pipe would be.
 
A pipe leak could be an issue. Sounds as though we've exhausted just about everything else. :( If you had some extra PVC laying around, you could connect it to the pump and run it directly over and into the pool - like a big straw. Just to test for sure.
 
I put a call into the plumbing company that did the plumbing. I doubt they will cal, us back this weekend. Hoping they call back on Monday. Also, a rep from The Great Escape will be coming out tomorrow to try to diagnose the issue. So frustrating. 😞
 
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