1 of 4 fountain heads not working

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B

BDY

Gold Supporter
Apr 2, 2022
802
Houston, TX
Pool Size
10000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi guys

Apologies for not posting for a while - it’s been a horrible no good fall health wise…

I have four fountain heads at the corners of my pool that are on a separate single stage pump and connect via a pentair 2 way valve to overflow and the fountains. The fountains split into 4 individual pipes (we have never changed the red valves since install). The jets are basic brass eyeball fixtures.

Normally the fountains run every day for a minute at 10am just to move the water in the pipes, and freeze protection is turned on.

I came down this morning to find the freeE protection had turned on and 3 jets working and 1 jet with no flow at all (not even a trickle). I don’t know if that’s a new thing or not since normally not looking outside at 10am.

It’s not the intake, pump, pump basket or multiport because the other three are working. The only thing i can think of is something plugging this specific line, despite the ability of the pump to generate quite a high volume stream when it puts its mind to it.

Any thoughts or suggestions as to how to go about to trouble shoot? everything seems glued after the pump so cutting is a last resort maybe…..

Pictures attached…

Brian
 

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Do you know which pipe goes to which corner and which pipe does not have any flow?

Assuming those red valves turn, I would turn each valve slowly off on the pipes that have water and observe the pump and the bad corner. That will increase the water pressure on the pipe that is not flowing and maybe dislodge the blockage.

What you do not want to do is dead head the pump So when you have two pipes off be careful turning the third valve. I would not turn the third valve fully off but leave some water flow out of the corner.

If that does not dislodge the blockage then it may be cutting and digging time.

Show us pics of the fountains in the corner.
 
ajw22 said:
Do you know which pipe goes to which corner and which pipe does not have any flow?

Assuming those red valves turn, I would turn each valve slowly off on the pipes that have water and observe the pump and the bad corner. That will increase the water pressure on the pipe that is not flowing and maybe dislodge the blockage.

What you do not want to do is dead head the pump So when you have two pipes off be careful turning the third valve. I would not turn the third valve fully off but leave some water flow out of the corner.

If that does not dislodge the blockage then it may be cutting and digging time.

Show us pics of the fountains in the corner.
Click to expand...
I will be testing which pipe goes to which corner when sun comes up. There is an overflow pipe that in theory should allow all 4 to be turned off but I’ve never tried it. Attached is picture of corner fountain.

There is it even a trickle or a weeping out of it when pump is on
 
Are those screw holes on the sides of the nozzle? Can the nozzle be removed?
 
I think so yes..it looks like a brass plate over the eyeball holding it in. I can try that tomorrow too. Didn’t think of that.
 
Random thoughts...

It seems odd it could be a blockage, since anything large enough to block one of the pipes would have gotten caught in the pump's basket. Do you, did you, ever run that pump without the basket?

Keep in mind that by turning off each valve, up to all but one, that will increase the flow and pressure into the blocked pipe. If it is a blockage, yes, that could blow it out. But it could also jam what's in there even tighter.

Remove the fountain jets first. See if the flow is then unrestricted. If the flow is fine, then that would tell you that there is something wrong with the jet, not the plumbing.

If that doesn't work, I would suggest maybe trying to run water backwards through the stuck pipe. You might have better luck clearing a blockage that way, rather than forcing it farther down the pipe running it in the correct direction.

You would first remove the cover from the check valve (or whatever that gizmo is), block the side of that valve leading to the pump (it should already be blocked by the check mechanism if it's a check valve), turn off the other three valves, open the one you're working on, and then use a garden hose to pump water backwards from the fountain jet end (after removing the jet) and try to get the water to flow out of the opened check valve. The idea is to have the water come out of the check valve, and the blockage with it.

That all said, I suspect it's the jet, not a blockage in the pipe. Good luck.
 
Thank you Dirk

No the pump has never been run without basket, and the intake is on the wall not the bottom of pool so debris doesn’t collect near its drains.

I will start with the fountain jets….. TBD!
 
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So I’m struggling to get the cover off - it says it needs a “security key” but the installation manual is behind a distributor password wall.

It’s a crystal WMD100 stream fountain. Anyone ever removed the cover before?
 
This guy?
Security Key

Hopefully you can find it online cheaper (I just grabbed the first google hit). Or get your builder to pony up the ones he didn't leave you. I expect there was a key that came with each jet (which you no doubt paid a pretty penny for).

Sidebar: I'd be curious to know why the company couldn't come up with a friendlier-sounding part number! 💣
 
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Dirk said:
This guy?
Security Key

Hopefully you can find it online cheaper (I just grabbed the first google hit). Or get your builder to pony up the ones he didn't leave you. I expect there was a key that cam with each jet (which you no doubt paid a pretty penny for).
Click to expand...
Yes that guy. My relationship with my builder is non existent but I will try a call and see if i win the lottery
 
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BDY said:
Yes that guy. My relationship with my builder is non existent but I will try a call and see if i win the lottery
Click to expand...
I'd call Crystal Fountains with a sob story about how you bought FOUR jets and something-something-mean-ol'-builder and see if they'll give you a break (they should send you one for free, if the universe was fair).
 
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Managed to get cover off … my FIL had a pair of pliers where the ends are bent 90 degrees. It took some jimmying tho so will definitely call Crystal and see about a key permanently

Thanks @Dirk for the suggestion to try the eyeball first there was a lot of small muddy junk - not sure if it came from above or from under but it was jammed tight enough to block.

I guess I’ll have to see if this is a freak occurrence or it happens again.
 
Ps - this is one of two design things I wished we had back - the fountains aren’t really used much so far….
 
Managed to get cover off … my FIL had a pair of pliers where the ends are bent 90 degrees. It took some jimmying tho so will definitely call Crystal and see about a key permanently

Thanks @Dirk for the suggestion to try the eyeball first there was a lot of small muddy junk - not sure if it came from above or from under but it was preventing something form working either water flow or a valve.

Thanks so much guys
 

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