Psi 0 a little confused

Texas Splash said:

The basket alone should suffice, although you may have to do that a couple times depending on the difficulty of prime and the pump "pulling" water through the pipes to the basket. The temp won't matter.

So everything was fine before this until you added DE? Let's ask you a few questions:
- Did you just recently open your closed pool? If so, did you open it or have someone do it for you?
- Besides the DE, has any other maintenance been done?
- When was the last time the grids were removed & cleaned?
- How much DE did you add?
- How/where did you add the DE (please describe)
- Does your pressure gauge move at all now? Any chance it's not working properly after winter?
- Have you tried priming from just the skimmer or main drain one at a time alternating?

Let's start there and see what we come up with by putting all our TFP heads together.

Click to expand...

I also posted under filters and got some good responses.

I opened my own pool recently first timer had a company scheduled, but gained enough knowledge and just did it myself. All went to plan and had 14 PSI right before and after adding DE.
Added 3.25 lbs of DE as a slurry for a 24ft per owners manual. At the time was getting 14 PSI all jets working well I let this filter for maybe 15 min, manual stated at least 5 min after DE. DE added per skimmer as a slurry, I added in parts as to let the DE filter in and coat the grates, no issues noted.

I assumed all was well.

Not sure when the grids were cleaned last, I would assume when the pool was closed professionally last fall. No other maintenance yet.

So far I have determined my prime from the get go was weak, the water does not fill the basket all the way as noted in priming videos still was getting a 14 psi at the filter and on the water valve.

I've tried priming with the main closed and skimmer closed and I only get a pressure surge at the filter of maybe 10PSI as I open the main valve, I don't get this surge as much when trying to prime with only the skimmer. IN all cases I get a PSI of 3-4 at the water valve.

When I first ran the pool I always heard the water valve working a 14 psi, but I only here that when I attempt to prime now.

So far have found a couple of loose fittings and corrected, but no improvement. No sucking of air that I can detect. I did verify that my impeller was clear and clean.

I suspect that maybe I had a partial clog and adding DE finished the job.

Planning to call a pool company and have them come out this week if I can't figure it out, ordered a line unclogging tool and will be here Tue the one that goes on the end of the hose and inflates.

So I called the local pool company that serviced the pool last year.

They confirmed they in fact clean the filter when closing, but as to weather I can trust that statement is yet to be seen. I explained my issue in detail and they plan to try and fit me in Friday, but suggested I attempt to use the drain king once I get it Tuesday. She also suggested many of the things you folks have suggested and I had already attempted.

So course of action: Try the drain king on the skimmer side, and since I have time take the filter apart and do a spring cleaning just to verify it was done correctly and is fresh for when we get back to running and or not the issue. If all else fails have the pool place take over Friday.

Question since the main drain has a cover over it with small holes how does one use a drain king on it I mean will the junk come out of the holes on the drain cap? I have 2 main drain inlets on the deep end.

Thanks both main and skimmer valves turn easy, I bought a tube of lube and made sure I put lube on every gasket I encountered. I did verify no leaks on connections of pump side.

I should have an answer either way this week.

So I believe I confirmed no clog in the skimmer. Put the hose in at the pump and water poured from skimmer (doing a partial drain on the pool CYA) anyway I did the same for the main drain and let it run and nothing came back at me so that suggests no clog will confirm tomorrow with the drain king. I tore down the filter for a good cleaning so I could rule that out as a cause and found this fiberglass on the pump housing bottom. Not sure it is all the way through or not. If you can tell it’s lifted with a line of dirt under possible crack.