High PSI???

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T

tropicalflipflops

Member
Oct 30, 2022
15
Florida
Pool Size
32000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Hi All, we had a visit from Hurricane Ian, he left us with a pool full of fish and ocean water. We do have a salt water pool, though!
Anyway, the pool has since been cleaned and after we were done we installed a new filter cartridge. Even after this new cartridge is in the PSI seems high and goes even higher when I open the main half way.
So skimmer is fully open and when opening the main it goes beyond the 25 psi for sure. I hope you can help figuring out what’s up
 
Welcome to TFP.
What was the previous pressure you are comparing this to?
You show to have a Variable speed pump - is this change in pressure readings all done at the same comparison of speed. A higher RPM will cause a higher backpressure in your filter.
Also, downstream - are all your return valves open fully as that can cause backpressure to your system.
 
Unfortunately I don’t know the pressure before as the gauge was broken, we just replaced the gauge so we know now. I read that normal would be anything below 25psi and it’s just barely under that and as soon as I open the main it goes over (almost 30 psi)
Our pump is not a variable speed it’s a 2 HP Pentair superflo. Sorry, we’re pretty new to owning a pool.
 
tropicalflipflops said:
I read that normal would be anything below 25psi and it’s just barely under that and as soon as I open the main it goes over (almost 30 psi)
Our pump is not a variable speed it’s a 2 HP Pentair superflo.
Click to expand...
Thanks for update. You have a small filter, i.e. 150 sq ft. so you can expect a higher back pressure, especially with a single speed pump running at 3450rpm all the time. Maybe someone with a similar filter size can provide a comparision, assuming they can set their pump speed to 3450rpm.

One way to do another check is to simply remove the cartridge filter and see what the flow pressure is without the filter. Then install the filter and verify again.

Ensure your new pressure gauge is reading zero when off
Also, you did not mention - are all your valves and returns open after the filter? Is there any restriction in your electric heater - assume this is a Heat Pump.

Maybe post a photo of your overall equipment pad, and also closer shots of the suction plumbing leading to the pump and the return plumbing after the heater going to the pool.
 
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Thank you for helping! You are very helpful! I didn’t change any settings on the return to pool stuff, if there is something not set properly it’s been that way since the day we moved in.
 

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tropicalflipflops said:
Are all of them supposed to have flow? Because if they do, some of them are not working at all… I had questioned that from the moment we moved in.set
Click to expand...
One of the "returns" is not really a return as you have a suction cleaner so that one would be where the connection is for the cleaner.
You have 2 pipes that go to the pool. This is the set of pipes in front of the heater. The far left goes to the spa. The two to the right go to the pool. One is open and the other is closed (the one on far right). It appears one has a tag on it to denote where it goes. What does that say and where does the other go? Have you ever opened it? Do you have a bubbler or some other water feature?

You have a water feature connected to the other pump on the far right. That is not the concern. Trying to figure out the returns from the main pump.
 
This is from right to left….
From spa is the far right, main drain, skimmer, cleaner
Then ‘to pool’ right in front of the heater (center dial), no labels to the right or left of that one.


There is a waterfall, no concerns regarding that pump.
 
tropicalflipflops said:
This is from right to left….
From spa is the far right, main drain, skimmer, cleaner
Then ‘to pool’ right in front of the heater (center dial), no labels to the right or left of that one.


There is a waterfall, no concerns regarding that pump.
Click to expand...
Thanks for info. Looking at this picture is your return plumbing. The pipe on far left goes to the Spa jets. The Valve controls whether the flow is to Spa (left) or to Pool (right). On the Pool side the first pipe most likely goes to the pool returns as the valve is Open (notice that the valve handle is horizontal). The pipe on the right is unknown but is Closed (notice that valve handle is vertical). Have you ever opened this valve on the right? Something should flow into the pool.
1667253577425.png
 
HermanTX said:
Thanks for info. Looking at this picture is your return plumbing. The pipe on far left goes to the Spa jets. The Valve controls whether the flow is to Spa (left) or to Pool (right). On the Pool side the first pipe most likely goes to the pool returns as the valve is Open (notice that the valve handle is horizontal). The pipe on the right is unknown but is Closed (notice that valve handle is vertical). Have you ever opened this valve on the right? Something should flow into the pool.
View attachment 460551
Click to expand...
I can’t thank you enough! I opened that valve earlier and the only thing I noticed is that there was less flow from the spa into the pool.
The pressure is at about 18 psi as long as I only open the skimmer valve, as soon as I open the main valve it goes up to almost 30 psi
 
tropicalflipflops said:
I can’t thank you enough! I opened that valve earlier and the only thing I noticed is that there was less flow from the spa into the pool.
Click to expand...
I would try this. with that valve on the right CLOSED - put your hand in front of every return in the both the pool and spa and note which has flow. Then OPEN that valve and do the same to see what flow is coming from every return in pool and spa.

You mentioned there is less flow from the spa so how many returns in spa have flow coming from them.

The reason I ask that, is that your main valve to the SPA - the one on the left is not visible because it is facing the heater. Take a picture of that so we can see if that valve is open or closed.
 

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