The filter is pretty basic inside. Mine is the larger version and there’s not much to go wrong if the multiport cable is working correctly. Did you say you replaced the spider gasket?
Help! Problem with new filter after backwash
- Thread starter gregch
- Start date
I'd hoped it would be pretty basic - those Triton filters seem to be pretty much the standard filter! I'm just second-guessing everything that guy did now! I replaced the spider gasket on the old multiport a couple of years ago; this stuff I have now (filter, multiport, pump, everything) is all new - the last part of our pool refurb that started last year with liner change and new pool surround paving etc.
Pretty sure it's the correct multiport, it came with the filter (it's 1.5" as it's a 24" filter TR60).
I don't *think* the inlet and outlet ports are plumbed the wrong way around, so far as I can tell - but I spoke to someone else that also asked that question, which is interesting.
In the photo, it seems the inlet (from the pump) goes to the higher port on the multiport, and the return is connected to the lower port on the multiport, which looks correct to me.
One question I thought of: Would insufficient media in the filter cause this issue? He put in one bag of shingle (actually a bit less, since the bag seemed like it had previously been split open and spilled a bit) and then 4 x 25kg bags of filter sand. That does't seem to add up to what Pentair recommends. (Also, I noticed he put the shingle in without adding any water first - but there's no sand getting in the pool so hopefully the laterals survived).
I don't *think* the inlet and outlet ports are plumbed the wrong way around, so far as I can tell - but I spoke to someone else that also asked that question, which is interesting.
In the photo, it seems the inlet (from the pump) goes to the higher port on the multiport, and the return is connected to the lower port on the multiport, which looks correct to me.
One question I thought of: Would insufficient media in the filter cause this issue? He put in one bag of shingle (actually a bit less, since the bag seemed like it had previously been split open and spilled a bit) and then 4 x 25kg bags of filter sand. That does't seem to add up to what Pentair recommends. (Also, I noticed he put the shingle in without adding any water first - but there's no sand getting in the pool so hopefully the laterals survived).
You don’t have a valve blocking flow to the pump? Grasping for anything not obvious here…
The top line would be the maximum fill.
You never want to go into the domed part.
The lower line is about right, but go by the diagram to be sure.
You can do all sand or part pea gravel and the rest sand as shown in the chart.
You never want to go into the domed part.
The lower line is about right, but go by the diagram to be sure.
You can do all sand or part pea gravel and the rest sand as shown in the chart.
Don't think there's anything blocking flow *to* the pump, it primes immediately and there's no air visible. I do increasingly wonder if there could be some debris in the multiport. Not keen to open it up though, given it's brand new, but maybe it'll come to that!
Also, thanks for the info re fill level - that's very useful, thank you!
Can't see a model number anywhere on it, but it looks correct and seems to be plumbed right.
OK, one random question: would opening the bleed valve without the pump running cause the water level in the filter to fall further... because that's definitely one thing we've done (obsessed with the need to relieve the pressure, thanks to that pool guy).
And if the water level has got *very* low, is it feasible that it might take more than 20 mins of running it before it fills up again?
And if the water level has got *very* low, is it feasible that it might take more than 20 mins of running it before it fills up again?
Mine would bleed for a solid five minutes at very high rpm on the pump but 20 minutes seems like a long time but hard to tell. If water is flowing back to the pool then it would seem water is flowing through the filter. Just leave the air bleed valve open for a bit,
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OK still plugging away trying to figure this out! I hope you don't mind if I ask a couple more questions?
1) If I were newly installing one of these 24" TR60 filters, how long would it typically take to fill with water from empty? And would you pre-fill it some of the way with water from a hose, or just screw the lid on and wait for it to fill from the pool via the multiport?
2) Is there a risk of excess pressure building up while it's filling up, before the water level reaches anywhere near the clear plastic dome at the top? Is the air bleed only to get rid of any air at the top, once the water's reached into the plastic dome but there's air at the top?
Oh, and 3) if I'm going to take the lid off to have a look at water and media level, do I need to open the air bleed first (which I guess could let air in, and drop the water level still further?? or am I good to just unscrew the dome carefully and slowly??
Thanks in advance!
PS My plan in the meantime is to run it on circulate (so it bypasses the pesky filter but still circulates/chlorinates) and use the robot (alternating its regular and ultrafine baskets) to keep it filtered, to a limited extent. Is that insane/doomed to fail?? It's just so we can hopefully use the pool while I figure this out.
1) If I were newly installing one of these 24" TR60 filters, how long would it typically take to fill with water from empty? And would you pre-fill it some of the way with water from a hose, or just screw the lid on and wait for it to fill from the pool via the multiport?
2) Is there a risk of excess pressure building up while it's filling up, before the water level reaches anywhere near the clear plastic dome at the top? Is the air bleed only to get rid of any air at the top, once the water's reached into the plastic dome but there's air at the top?
Oh, and 3) if I'm going to take the lid off to have a look at water and media level, do I need to open the air bleed first (which I guess could let air in, and drop the water level still further?? or am I good to just unscrew the dome carefully and slowly??
Thanks in advance!
PS My plan in the meantime is to run it on circulate (so it bypasses the pesky filter but still circulates/chlorinates) and use the robot (alternating its regular and ultrafine baskets) to keep it filtered, to a limited extent. Is that insane/doomed to fail?? It's just so we can hopefully use the pool while I figure this out.
Mines a tr100 and easily takes 15minutes to fill up when dry using a hose. Ideally you add both sand and water at the same time so that the laterals don’t break by piling a bunch of sand on top of them without having anything under them for support.
I don’t think there’s any risk of excess pressure. The air bleed is only to get rid of excess air. The filter casing should have a max pressure rating listed somewhere. If you have a gauge, you can monitor it if you feel inclined.
Bleed off the air (and any pressure inside) before removing the lid. The water level inside may drop, not a big deal.
Thanks for that detailed reply, really appreciated.
I just bled all the air out of it, and tried again - multiport set to Filter and pump switched on. Again, fountains of water coming out the holes in the top (diffuser) but after running for 15-20 minutes the filter is still not filling up properly. The water level stays the same, some way below the top diffuser.
I just can't understand what I'm doing wrong, or how it was all just fine before I ran a backwash, and now it will not refill, no matter what. I seem to have eliminated pretty much every potential cause and it still doesn't work, it's driving me mad!
I just bled all the air out of it, and tried again - multiport set to Filter and pump switched on. Again, fountains of water coming out the holes in the top (diffuser) but after running for 15-20 minutes the filter is still not filling up properly. The water level stays the same, some way below the top diffuser.
I just can't understand what I'm doing wrong, or how it was all just fine before I ran a backwash, and now it will not refill, no matter what. I seem to have eliminated pretty much every potential cause and it still doesn't work, it's driving me mad!
Hang on, are you saying that it worked fine for sometime and then you performed a backwash and that’s the only thing that you’ve done that’s made it work differently? I think I might look more closely at the multi port valve. It’s possible something could’ve goofed up the gasket and allowing some water to bypass the filter. Are you able to check the waste port while it’s running in filter mode to see if any water is escaping through there? Also, when it is running on filter, can you tell any pressure difference at the return jets versus when it’s running on re-circulate?
Yes, that's exactly right. It was a long-ish backwash, because I don't think the guy rinsed or anything when he did the install so it was cloudy and full of gunk for quite a while.
Also, the lengthy backwash and rinse dropped the wster level in the pool quite a bit so I had to close the skimmer off.
I also took out and rinsed the pump basket without closing anything off so I guess the water level will have dropped a tiny bit more then - but the pump re-primed immediately when I switched it back on.
I checked for water getting out on the waste line when set to filtration, no water is going out through the waste.
The pressure coming out of the inlet into the pool feels stronger when it's running on circulate, for sure. But that's what I'd expect I think, if it's not passing through the filter.
Seems clogged/damaged/faulty multiport is the most likely culprit??
Also, the lengthy backwash and rinse dropped the wster level in the pool quite a bit so I had to close the skimmer off.
I also took out and rinsed the pump basket without closing anything off so I guess the water level will have dropped a tiny bit more then - but the pump re-primed immediately when I switched it back on.
I checked for water getting out on the waste line when set to filtration, no water is going out through the waste.
The pressure coming out of the inlet into the pool feels stronger when it's running on circulate, for sure. But that's what I'd expect I think, if it's not passing through the filter.
Seems clogged/damaged/faulty multiport is the most likely culprit??