We have a problem with our new variable speed pool pump with a new Pentair heater. The heater works and then says low flow. We tried increasing our pump to constant high where the PSI never changed (3350 psi) and the heater still stops working after a few hours citing low flow on the display. We have had our pool company over to fix without any help. All the lines have been blown and no major blockages were found. Any ideas what could be causing the heater to trip off. Any feedback appreciated!
- May 3, 2014
- 59,712
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum.
Please post pictures of your equipment pad. That will help us help you.
Please post pictures of your equipment pad. That will help us help you.
You could have a very dirty filter. That's the place to start. The pressure gauge reads about 35PSIG. That's way too high and will stop the water flow.
For the life of your heat pump it would be best to NEVER use that tablet feeder. At some point it will fail and allow a very corrosive "soup" to flow back into the heat exchanger in the heat pump and destroy it.
For the life of your heat pump it would be best to NEVER use that tablet feeder. At some point it will fail and allow a very corrosive "soup" to flow back into the heat exchanger in the heat pump and destroy it.
Thanks for the feedback. We clean the filter daily and it’s not that dirty. After we clean the filter every morning, the heat pump works for 5-8 hours and then the service light comes on for low pressure. We did lower the PSI for your suggestion.
Not sure how you lowered the PSI. Lowering the RPM is just moving less water through the filter and won't solve your issue.
You should not have to open your filter and clean the cartridges more than once or twice a year with VSP and fairly "normal" pool conditions. If you are having to do it daily, you need new cartridges at the very least. Cleaning the cartridges is the way they wear out.
Thank you very much for the insight and response. The filter and cartridges are only a few seasons old but our pools did get pretty green last year (chlorine lock). What would be the normal useful life of a Hayward cartridge?
Unfortunately, there is no "normal" life for cartridges. Some have used theirs for many years and others just a few. It depends on pool conditions, pump rpm (for a VSP), the amount and type of debris that gets into the water, etc., how often they are cleaned, and how (NEVER use a pressure washer!).
You may want to get a good filter-cleaning product and soak the cartridges overnight to see if they can be cleaned better.
You may want to get a good filter-cleaning product and soak the cartridges overnight to see if they can be cleaned better.
Thank you so much. Would you recommend spraying them (per the bottle, for 5 min) or soaking overnight in a water/bottle solution in a barrel (as recommended by my local pool store)- thank you!
There are cleaners designed for spraying, they come in a spray bottle. Overnight soaking is always better, cleans deeper. Be sure to use a plastic barrel/ trash can.
- Jan 7, 2012
- 1,619
- Pool Size
- 21000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
How's the flow in the pool at the returns?
That's an extremely high PSI. There's something causing a flow restriction on the pressure side, whether that's the filter or something downstream.
You shouldn't have to clean your filter daily! I clean mine every 18 months.
That's an extremely high PSI. There's something causing a flow restriction on the pressure side, whether that's the filter or something downstream.
You shouldn't have to clean your filter daily! I clean mine every 18 months.