My system is running at 30 psi and I think my heater may be clogged with dog hair. When I went to clean the filter I discovered a fistful of hair in the top of the unit so its possible that it made its way to the heater. This is causing the pressure meter on the filter and Caretaker to read around 30 when the startup pressure is 20.
Here's the things I've checked:
High speed / low speed, doesn't make a difference. Sometimes I get enough flow through the swg but mostly not. Sometimes the Caretaker popups will work but mostly not. I set the return valve to 75% Spa /25% Caretaker and this temporarily lowered the pressure in the Caretaker to around 12psi and then the popups worked but the pressure went back up to 30. The Caretaker probably has problems operating at 30 and so shuts down?
I think the mostly likely culprit is something stuck in the tubes of the heat exchanger. I think my pool guy and I are going to remove the polymer head and look inside.
Afterwards we are going to install a bypass valve and check valve to the heater. Use skimmer socks. Clean pump basket daily.
Any other thoughts or ideas?
Here's the things I've checked:
- The pump seems to draw water from the suction lines and will fill the basket on skimmer and/or main drain and/or spa.
When the suction lines are closed the pump will evacuate the water quickly, so the impeller seems ok.
I've cleaned the filter which is only 2.5 months old with TSP but have not done an acid wash.
I ran the system without the filter and it's still 30.
I've looked inside the swg and it is clean.
I've taken apart the Caretaker and reassembled it. Cleaned the dome screen. All seems ok.
High speed / low speed, doesn't make a difference. Sometimes I get enough flow through the swg but mostly not. Sometimes the Caretaker popups will work but mostly not. I set the return valve to 75% Spa /25% Caretaker and this temporarily lowered the pressure in the Caretaker to around 12psi and then the popups worked but the pressure went back up to 30. The Caretaker probably has problems operating at 30 and so shuts down?
I think the mostly likely culprit is something stuck in the tubes of the heat exchanger. I think my pool guy and I are going to remove the polymer head and look inside.
Afterwards we are going to install a bypass valve and check valve to the heater. Use skimmer socks. Clean pump basket daily.
Any other thoughts or ideas?