I’m having a problem with filtration that I can’t figure out. I hooked up my Lil’ Shark vac yesterday and started to vacuum the bottom of the pool. It had good suction and was doing what it was supposed to do. I checked back a couple hours later and noticed that it wasn’t moving and had very low suction on filter, but very strong on recirculate. I could hear some thing that sounded like a stone circulating in the pump, so I turned it off. Earlier, when I was walking in the pool, I did find a couple chlorine granules that were several millimeters in size. I figured one of them somehow made it into the pump so I took everything apart today but found nothing of substantial size. I made sure the impeller was clean. I hooked everything back up and I still have the same problem but no longer hearing the rattling sound. I did find an acrylic fingernail in the pump so that may have been the noise culprit. Even after the clean out, I have great suction on recirculate, but barely enough to keep the basket in place on filter. I have backwashed approximately 60 seconds and rinsed approximately 30 seconds three times. PSI is running 11-13 both prior and after backwash.
The only things I didn’t check was I didn’t disconnect the return line which has an AquaSmart pack attached to it or actually open the sand filter. Filter was working great before I vacuumed and for the first couple hours. I’m new pool owner and learned last night I did the rookie mistake of attaching the vac line directly to the skimmer instead of using the vac attachment that came with the skimmer. I can’t believe I did that, wasn’t thinking! With the pump off, I rotated the filter handle several times clockwise in case something happened to be stuck. I’m thinking next step is to open the sand filter? It was a used pool so the filter head is used but I put brand new laterals in before filling with glass media. Again, it had great suction for several hours till a couple hours after I hooked up the vacuum. Recirculating suction is strong.
Any suggestions or explanation as to why I have almost no suction? Pump is primed and water flowing through it. Water is just a tiny bit cloudy but I have a fair amount of sediment on the bottom. Robot vac is coming today or tomorrow. Taylor k2006 test kit is supposed to come today. Test strips show both free and total chlorine about 2, ph and alk. both in ideal range. CYA shows low but I’ve read test strip reading is typically way off. Water is pretty clear but you can see some sediment that has settled in the middle and some low spots. Sorry so long, wanted to be thorough. Thanks for reading and for any help you might be able to offer!
The only things I didn’t check was I didn’t disconnect the return line which has an AquaSmart pack attached to it or actually open the sand filter. Filter was working great before I vacuumed and for the first couple hours. I’m new pool owner and learned last night I did the rookie mistake of attaching the vac line directly to the skimmer instead of using the vac attachment that came with the skimmer. I can’t believe I did that, wasn’t thinking! With the pump off, I rotated the filter handle several times clockwise in case something happened to be stuck. I’m thinking next step is to open the sand filter? It was a used pool so the filter head is used but I put brand new laterals in before filling with glass media. Again, it had great suction for several hours till a couple hours after I hooked up the vacuum. Recirculating suction is strong.
Any suggestions or explanation as to why I have almost no suction? Pump is primed and water flowing through it. Water is just a tiny bit cloudy but I have a fair amount of sediment on the bottom. Robot vac is coming today or tomorrow. Taylor k2006 test kit is supposed to come today. Test strips show both free and total chlorine about 2, ph and alk. both in ideal range. CYA shows low but I’ve read test strip reading is typically way off. Water is pretty clear but you can see some sediment that has settled in the middle and some low spots. Sorry so long, wanted to be thorough. Thanks for reading and for any help you might be able to offer!
