17-18 psi is lowest I get on my setup?

[zimm]

After backwashing until the sight bubble is clear (5 mins?), and I use the skimmer, I get 17-18 psi. It'll run for days and only go up 2-3 psi. I just want to make sure that sounds about right, or if I have a problem. It's a year old 1/2hp whisperflow. If I switch it to bottom drain, I get 16psi, and with a mix of both it goes up to 19 psi.

The guy who repaired my pool heater commented on the 1/2hp being very small for a 17k gallon pool that it should be a 3/4 or more. Is there an issue with a 1/2hp pump?

 

[vinper]

I run 2-hp 12psi , look at GPH figure out how long it takes to circulate your total pool water 1 time. you have to look at pipe sizes and filters also

 

[JasonLion]

Clean filter pressures vary dramatically from pool to pool, depending on many details of your setup. 17-18 is well inside the normal range and thus very plausible, but we have no way of knowing if that is really normal for your pool or not.

 

[zimm]

As long as 17-18 is in the "normal" range, I'm happy. Thanks.

 

[vinper]

your return jets must have really good pressure?

 

[zimm]

your return jets must have really good pressure?

Not really, just blows normal to me. Isn't the pressure gauge showing the pressure before the filter, not after?

 

[jblizzle]

your return jets must have really good pressure?

Not really, just blows normal to me. Isn't the pressure gauge showing the pressure before the filter, not after?

Correct. Really "normal" can be anything between a couple psi and 30psi (although generally not this high) ... just depends on all the equipment (pump and filter sizes, heaters, etc) and the plumbing (size and length).

 

[linen]

Does you gauge to to zero when the pump is off?

By the way, if you do not have any high volume water features that need higher flow rates, a 1/2 hp whisperflo pump is likely a good size.

What size is your sand filter?

 

[zimm]

Sand filter is a PAC FAB TA--60D, which has a GPM of 60 and contains 325lbs of sand. I replaced my cheesy plastic pressure gauge with an www.amazon.com "winters" stainless steel, liquid filled 0-30 gauge ($15) and it's reading 14.5 psi! That sounds better. I think it was just the gauge.

 

[linen]