Superpump II Basket Melted and Cartridge Filter 0 psi

[lweljwel]

Pump noise audible inside house this A.M.

On inspection, pump basket melted to 3/4 height; leaves and debris packed in bottom third of
basket. Water was hot to touch and green hours later.

Replaced basket; pump would not prime; Cartridge Filter 0 psi, and
most alarming [to me] the water in the pump is dirty brown.

I have shut the system down while I think. I didn't want to run the pump
for fear it would explode.

The system has worked well until this incident. I have noticd "random" air bubbles at times
in the pool, and actually [now that I am thinking about it] I think I have heard a muffled bubbling noise
when the system starts in the morning.

The very dirty brown water makes me think the pump is sucking dirt.

3 hp Emerson pump (don't know why it is so big)
Hayward 4-Cartridge Filter
25,000 gallon inground pool with elevated spa and Paramount in-floor cleaning system.

Thank you

 

[duraleigh]

1. Clean the leaves and debris from your pump

2. Find the source of that debris and fix it....do you have baskets in your skimmer(s)? Are your skimmers clean?

3. Replace the pump strainer basket if you haven't already

4. Check the water level in your pool....it should be halfway up the skimmer.

5. Turn on the pump and see if it will prime....it may not but it won't explode.

 

[lweljwel]

OMG! Thank you! I read the "Rocket-propelled" comment [exploding filter] somewhere else earlier, ...and ..well.....

I have replaceD the skimmers and basets. Nothing seems any worse than previously...other than the melted pump basket.

I did get a golf ball in the pump once. I can't figure that out because the diameter seems to
make that impossible.

I will double check everything this morning and try again.

Again, thank you for the clarification regarding exploding filters, etc.

That 0 pressure is curious to me also.

I am newer at all of this.

THANKS!

 

[duraleigh]

That 0 pressure is curious to me also.

That means the pump is not pumping any water into the filter. If the pump starts and primes (pump basket fills UP with water), you will almost surely see the pressure rise to somewhere in between 10 and 20. That would tell you the pump is pushing the water into the filter and a good sign that all is well.

 

[lweljwel]

Thank you AGAIN.

I seem to sense something "not good" about all of this.

I revisited the situation this morning and there is sandy debris
about 2' long on the bottom of the pool generally near one of the
two main pop-up jets. Way too many leaves in the pool.

Oh, I am a girl. What ever that means.

And, while I am at it. I am the original owner 1996-ish. I actually have
construction photos of the pool. Under the deck [in the general area of the
sandy debris] and what appears to me to be inline to the pop-up's on the
steps...it seems to me I hear "water" when the step pop-ups are active.
[I could be looking for problems now]
I have maintained the pool for about 2 years now.

I have replaced the pump basket. I will go out and try again now.

Fingers crossed!

THANK YOU AGAIN!

 

[lweljwel]

Wow! You have a lot of posts, Dave S.

Impressive

 

[lweljwel]

The pump SOUNDS fine while attempting to prime. But..
The pump has never required more than 20 seconds or so
to prime. I got to 2 minutes and no prime. The pressure got to
5 or so. The water has moved in the pump. How long can
I let the pump run while trying to prime. I poured water inside
the pump and it didn't drain at all like it has in the past.
I think I am afraid there is a blockage between the pump basket and
the filter, but I have no legitimate basis for that.

I can let the system run longer trying to prime. How long is too
long? There is some movement in the pool when I try to prime.
And as I said, the water in the pump is new since the last try
[so its moving in some direction].

I have not changed any valves since it worked fine. There
was a power failure two days ago but I see no connection and
that has happened before and required only that I reset the
controller.

 

[lweljwel]

The pump IS filling with water. The pressure is not raising beyond
<5 PSI. I suppose it could be the pressure indicator.
I will try again. The relief valve on the filter never
released anything but air. I wish I had some colored dye.
???

 

[X-PertPool]

if the basket melted there is a good chance that the fitting on the front of the motor and/or the top of the motor have loosened up or partially melted. If the fitting on the front of the motor is melted/loose it will make it hard for the motor to pump water as it is sucking in air. The fitting on top of the motor will leak water if it is damaged. If you can get the pump to pump water run a stream of water from a garden hose over the front fitting. If the pump starts to run better then you know the fitting is damaged and needs to be replaced/replumbed.

 

[lweljwel]

Problem Solved [I am pretty sure].

I had checked the filter earlier and saw no debris inside worthy of concern.
But I just checked again. Removed the cartridges. Found on the bottom
of the filter 3 or 4 inches of "pine needles" [????] from a
tree on the golf [in Las Vegas???]. That doesn't seem fair.
Anyway, I'm putting it back together and suspect it will be fine.

THANK YOU all so much for your input.

 

[lweljwel]

That didn't do it. I am completely baffled.

I can freely rotate the "blades?" that are between the pump basket and
motor [that feeds to the filter intake] with my fingers [not easy to
reach it].

The pressure never gets to 5 psi.

The motor "hums'. Before I put the filter back together I
ran hose water from the pump to the filter and water did flow.
I really don't like taking that filter cover off,. [The spring-bolt-thing].
But I will do that again to see if additional residue has caused blockage.

But it doesn't seem likely to me. The pump lid fits tight. I hear no leaks
[would I hear an air leak?]. I replace the 0-ring on the pump lid.

When I adjusted the main valve for the pop-ups a few bubbles came up from the two
main bottom jets but that was it.

I am missing something really basic.

I wil also run water over the pump again while running to see if there is any difference.

Any suggestions?

 

[duraleigh]

Suction side leaks are one of the most common issues with pools and can be one of the most difficult to solve.

If you have SOME water splashing in the pump basket, the pump will not get hot again like it did so you can let it continue to run and slosh around while you try to find the source of the leak.

You have to start at the skimmer (make sure it is not sucking air because the pool is too low) and then work your way up to the pump.....checking every valve, fitting, etc. along the way where air might get in. Usually, you won't hear it, either.

Not often, but sometimes the 1/4" drain plug at the bottom of the pump strainer basket loosens up and sucks air....check it, too.

 

[lweljwel]

Thank you AGAIN!

I ran the pump momentarily with the lid off. The suction was obvious.

I then [with the pump resealed, etc] ran the system with the lid off the filter.

Although there is clearly water running to the filter, I believe the volumn is not
what it should be with a 3 hp pump. I stopped suspecting the gauge on the filter
because the floor cleaner pop-ups are non-functional.

I was able to rotate the blade in the motor easily with my fingers;, so....
I am going to slide the pump off and check the impeller and blade for debris.
I don't WANT to do that, but I suspect a blockage or limitation between that basket
and the filter.

I checked all of the issues you suggested between the skimmer and the pump and can
find nothing, so I will check the impeller and blade (I may be using the wrong
names but I know them well). I'll let you know.

Did I say THANK YOU!!!

 

[lweljwel]

"Not often, but sometimes the 1/4" drain plug at the bottom of the pump strainer basket loosens up and sucks air....check it, too."

I missed this. I will check 1st thing in the morning. I didn't realize there was a drain plug at the bottom of the pump strainer
basket!!! That would be nice!!!

 

[Bama Rambler]

If the drain plug doesn't do it, maybe it's time to run through all the things you've done and lets go from there.

Can you post a pic of the pump and equip. Maybe we'll see something that'll point to the problem.

That melted basket has me concerned.

 

[lweljwel]

Well. Wow.

I am so baffled now..... I want to understand why....

OK. Both drain plugs were finger loose. And not only did that fix
everything, but ..

Well, I have a few new leaks past the pump now.

I wonder how long those plugs have been loose and is that a result
of the overheating for what-ever-reason?

I didn't mention that about a month ago the motor stopped. I replaced
an $8.00 capacitor. [oh so happy].

Am I missing something. It is working great now..well...except for the
new leak on the hayward valve past the pump and the filter.

I can't say thankyou enough. I am STILL open for any suggestions.

And, I am so happy..SO HAPPY...I didn't "slide" that motor off.

[attachment=0:hkhdnrdf]DSCN4296.JPG[/attachment:hkhdnrdf]

 

[lweljwel]

These pictures were about 2 hours ago.
The filters are better than they look???

The whole backyard is, for that matter.

It's all working great now...all put back together...
[well..except for that leak in the Hayward Valve past the filter.]



THANK YOU!!

[I probably should have spent the $$ on the repair and
not the orthopedic doc I am now thinking about seeing!]

Lynn

 

[Bama Rambler]

Glad it was as simple as the drain plugs. They could have been the problem causing the overheating. They most likely got even looser after the heatup.

 

[duraleigh]

If you haven't already, next time you let the pump un-prime (is that a word?) loosen the drain plugs again and put 2-3 layers of teflon tape or "pipe dope" around them to help them hold a good seal.

 

[lweljwel]

Thank you! Dave S. Will do.