Opening our pool for the first time myself really isn't going well. It seems like something is off, and the local pool company that is familiar with our pool just told me they wouldn't be able to come out until mid-June.
The system will appear to be up and running well, then I walk away and "something" happens. The pressure throughout the system drops. We have an in-floor Paramount cleaning system where the pressure drop is most prominent. It drops from between 20-25psi to hovering around 10psi. The pump itself (which is set to run around 3150 RPM) drops from about 45psi to 35psi, and the filter takes about the same 10psi loss. The Paramount floor jets require a minimum 20psi, so when they drop down to 10psi the whole system pretty much stalls and ceases to accomplish any kind of actual cleaning. The skimmer seems to barely be pulling. But when I look into the skimmer, in-deck cannister, and pump basket, there is water going through, it just LOOKS like a pathetic flow. If I max out the Intelliflo pump to 3450 RPM not much changes. The wall returns blow out a bunch of air for about 15 seconds, then it stops and the floor jet module continues to show a pressure around 10psi.
I still don't have a good view of the bottom of the pool. Could it be the main drain is clogged with debris? I'll happily get in and check if that will solve my problems. I'm frustrated and disappointed this seems to be going so badly. Pump has been cycling through high/low pressure issues since I first installed it 9 days ago. Here are the changes I've made:
Single speed Challenger 1.5 HP pump -> Pentair Intelliflo VSF - 011056
Pentair Clean & Clear Plus CCP420 cartridge filter (420 sq. ft.) -> Sta-Rite System 3 S8M150 cartridge system (450 sq. ft.)
Removed Superior Aqua Healthcare Systems and its equipment
Added IntelliChlor IC40 (not currently turned on, but it's plumbed in)
(I've attached a picture of all of the equipment as it sits now)
Other notes:
- Heater isn't on. Bypass on heater is open. Also tried closing it for sanity's sake, didn't change anything.
- Double-checked both the skimmer and deck canister for additional plugs... haven't found any. All plugs have been removed from wall returns.
- There is a two-way valve near the in-floor cleaning module. No idea what it does. I've tried letting it run for a bit with it open, half open, and completely closed. Doesn't seem to do much. (Picture attached)
- All of the new equipment was added/old equipment was removed and I was able to achieve the high pressures mentioned above. AKA the pressure didn't drop in the system after adding or removing something.
- The pool water is much better than when we first opened it clarity and debris-wise. I've been cleaning all 3 baskets twice a day. There's not much in them that could be clogging the system. If the filters were getting clogged this quickly I'd be concerned. I just put on the new filter 3 days ago and had good pressures. I'll take them out and rinse them today for peace of mind.
- I took out the in-floor module and made sure all of the gears were working like they're supposed to. It's only 3 years old and appears to be working fine.
So I'll clean the filters and check the main drain. Could I have broken pipes somewhere? Should I replace the in-floor jets module? Any ideas on my mystery two-way valve near my in-floor module? Does my plumbing/equipment look ok?
The system will appear to be up and running well, then I walk away and "something" happens. The pressure throughout the system drops. We have an in-floor Paramount cleaning system where the pressure drop is most prominent. It drops from between 20-25psi to hovering around 10psi. The pump itself (which is set to run around 3150 RPM) drops from about 45psi to 35psi, and the filter takes about the same 10psi loss. The Paramount floor jets require a minimum 20psi, so when they drop down to 10psi the whole system pretty much stalls and ceases to accomplish any kind of actual cleaning. The skimmer seems to barely be pulling. But when I look into the skimmer, in-deck cannister, and pump basket, there is water going through, it just LOOKS like a pathetic flow. If I max out the Intelliflo pump to 3450 RPM not much changes. The wall returns blow out a bunch of air for about 15 seconds, then it stops and the floor jet module continues to show a pressure around 10psi.
I still don't have a good view of the bottom of the pool. Could it be the main drain is clogged with debris? I'll happily get in and check if that will solve my problems. I'm frustrated and disappointed this seems to be going so badly. Pump has been cycling through high/low pressure issues since I first installed it 9 days ago. Here are the changes I've made:
Single speed Challenger 1.5 HP pump -> Pentair Intelliflo VSF - 011056
Pentair Clean & Clear Plus CCP420 cartridge filter (420 sq. ft.) -> Sta-Rite System 3 S8M150 cartridge system (450 sq. ft.)
Removed Superior Aqua Healthcare Systems and its equipment
Added IntelliChlor IC40 (not currently turned on, but it's plumbed in)
(I've attached a picture of all of the equipment as it sits now)
Other notes:
- Heater isn't on. Bypass on heater is open. Also tried closing it for sanity's sake, didn't change anything.
- Double-checked both the skimmer and deck canister for additional plugs... haven't found any. All plugs have been removed from wall returns.
- There is a two-way valve near the in-floor cleaning module. No idea what it does. I've tried letting it run for a bit with it open, half open, and completely closed. Doesn't seem to do much. (Picture attached)
- All of the new equipment was added/old equipment was removed and I was able to achieve the high pressures mentioned above. AKA the pressure didn't drop in the system after adding or removing something.
- The pool water is much better than when we first opened it clarity and debris-wise. I've been cleaning all 3 baskets twice a day. There's not much in them that could be clogging the system. If the filters were getting clogged this quickly I'd be concerned. I just put on the new filter 3 days ago and had good pressures. I'll take them out and rinse them today for peace of mind.
- I took out the in-floor module and made sure all of the gears were working like they're supposed to. It's only 3 years old and appears to be working fine.
So I'll clean the filters and check the main drain. Could I have broken pipes somewhere? Should I replace the in-floor jets module? Any ideas on my mystery two-way valve near my in-floor module? Does my plumbing/equipment look ok?
