While I don't have specific numbers from a year ago, it seems to me that my pump is working much harder right now that it did in previous years. I have a variable speed drive, and according to the display, the most flow I can get out of it is 50 GPM at 3450RPM, using about 2010 watts. When I reduce pump speed to 20 GPM, RPM goes to 2375 at 695 watts. I recognize that the GPM is a calculated value, and perhaps it's wrong, but the power requirements seem very high.
Of course, hydraulic head is very pool specific, but I have 1-1/2" piping with 5 pool returns and two water features - a spa and a slide. The slide is off, but the spa is fully on (water returns up from the center bottom thru 1-1/2" pipe, not thru the spa jets). All the returns appear to be working properly. The pump is located less than 30' from the pool and there is no elevation to overcome (no solar panels, etc). On the other side, I have two skimmers and a standard double head drain at the deep end - all are fully on. I do have gas heater (Pentair 400K BTU/Hr, I think). I did have some chemistry balance problems last year before I discovered this website and the BBB method and allowed the pH & TA to rise too much. My CH has always been very high (typically 400-450), but tap water is around 250, so lowering it is very difficult. Considering this, could I have had some scaling that has clogged the heat exchanger in the heater? How would I check this, and if it IS the problem, is it repairable?
Of course, hydraulic head is very pool specific, but I have 1-1/2" piping with 5 pool returns and two water features - a spa and a slide. The slide is off, but the spa is fully on (water returns up from the center bottom thru 1-1/2" pipe, not thru the spa jets). All the returns appear to be working properly. The pump is located less than 30' from the pool and there is no elevation to overcome (no solar panels, etc). On the other side, I have two skimmers and a standard double head drain at the deep end - all are fully on. I do have gas heater (Pentair 400K BTU/Hr, I think). I did have some chemistry balance problems last year before I discovered this website and the BBB method and allowed the pH & TA to rise too much. My CH has always been very high (typically 400-450), but tap water is around 250, so lowering it is very difficult. Considering this, could I have had some scaling that has clogged the heat exchanger in the heater? How would I check this, and if it IS the problem, is it repairable?