First post. A friend of mine asked me to care for her pool so I took the challenge thinking it would be easy as my own pool. Anyhow, I've searched the forum and have been finding some good stuff here but can't find exactly everything. I will do my best to explain.
The pool is 17,500 gallons with a gunite surface. Hayward Sand Filter and a 1 1/2 Hp Pump. 2 Skimmers 1 Main Drain, and 2 return line. The pressure gauge on the filter stays at about 10 psi. There is very little suction in the skimmers and very little water being returned. It feels as if I could put my hand on the return and I could stop the water altogether, that is how weak it feels. The baskets on the skimmers as well as the pump are empty of debris. There was a space at the top of the pump basket that was air. I ran the backwash until the site glass was clear turned it back to filter and the basket was full with no air. The suction and and the return was still the same. Both skimmers are controlled by one valve and the main drain by another.
So, I wanted to try and vacuum. I turned off the main drain and hooked up my vaccum hose fully primed to the skimmer. I vacuumed for 2 mins and then the suction was gone and the pump basket was full of air with very little water coming in. I looked at the filter and the psi was up the 30. I shut it off and then ran the backwash. Then started again. Same thing, 2 mins and suction was gone. Thinking I could "rob" some of the pressure from the other skimmer I placed a tennis ball to block off the return and that did add some more pressure, but still could only vacuum for 2 mins until all pressure was gone. PSI was back up to 30. I did not find any air leaks around the pump lid and it appears to be sealed good. Please give me a easy fix. :-D
The pool is 17,500 gallons with a gunite surface. Hayward Sand Filter and a 1 1/2 Hp Pump. 2 Skimmers 1 Main Drain, and 2 return line. The pressure gauge on the filter stays at about 10 psi. There is very little suction in the skimmers and very little water being returned. It feels as if I could put my hand on the return and I could stop the water altogether, that is how weak it feels. The baskets on the skimmers as well as the pump are empty of debris. There was a space at the top of the pump basket that was air. I ran the backwash until the site glass was clear turned it back to filter and the basket was full with no air. The suction and and the return was still the same. Both skimmers are controlled by one valve and the main drain by another.
So, I wanted to try and vacuum. I turned off the main drain and hooked up my vaccum hose fully primed to the skimmer. I vacuumed for 2 mins and then the suction was gone and the pump basket was full of air with very little water coming in. I looked at the filter and the psi was up the 30. I shut it off and then ran the backwash. Then started again. Same thing, 2 mins and suction was gone. Thinking I could "rob" some of the pressure from the other skimmer I placed a tennis ball to block off the return and that did add some more pressure, but still could only vacuum for 2 mins until all pressure was gone. PSI was back up to 30. I did not find any air leaks around the pump lid and it appears to be sealed good. Please give me a easy fix. :-D
