Pool help; air and black algae

[Poollife]

I just bought a house with a pool rough 20 years old with newer plaster and my pump was shot so I installed a new Hayward Ecostar on a sand system, pump would auto prime no problem for first two weeks and now it won't and I cannot run it faster then 2000 rpm without bucket being 1/2 empty but while on low speed bucket is full. Skimmer level is fine and I can't find air leak on 2" pipe, could the check valve before the pump be blocked up with debri from vacuuming ? I also have a black algae prob, first shocked it
Then used black algae killer and no prevail twice!


Pool size is rough 25k

 

[duraleigh]

Welcome to the forum. :lol: Solve your issues one at a time. Let's work on your air leak. There is an article in Pool School that may help you understand suction side leaks better. Your idea of the check valve is a good one. Can you see in it? Suction leaks are hard to track down so you will have to be very methodical to find the source of air. when you do, your pump will prime and run at high speed.

The problem is somewhere between your pump and your skimmer(s).

 

[Poollife]

Yes all of my suction above ground I've put shaving cream on with no luck could the check valve that I can't see in cause this if there is blockage? And also should I even replace it since my pump sits above the pool?

 

[duraleigh]

The check valve in front of the pump helps the pump to prime when you start up.

Is it a valve you cannot see into? Can you take it apart and look for debris. If it is clogged up, that can be the cause of your symptoms

 

[Poollife]

I cannot see into valve, also when I use suction vaccum through skimmer even if I prime the hose I still loose suction, that's why I think it's the check valve, but then again I'm asking for help lol

 

[duraleigh]

Sounds like the next step is to disassemble the check valve and inspect.

 

[Poollife]

Thanks guys, will report back this weekend, any suggestions on a new check valve worth the money?

 

[duraleigh]

Jandy is the most common but the best, IMO.

 

[Poollife]

Alright check valve is clear but pump still wknt auto prime or run full on speeds above 1750, as soon as it's above 1750 the pot stays level with the inlet but the inlet is flowing at max diameter. Any ideas? Pump is only 1 month old.

 

[duraleigh]

Does air accumulate in the top of the filter when the pump is running? Do air bubbles come out the returns when the pump is running?

 

[Poollife]

Some air is in the filter but no bubbles in any of the returns but when on high or above 1750
Pot is not full, I have also put lube on pump lid

 

[duraleigh]

So, if the air is accumulating in the top of your filter, you have a suction side air leak. There really is no other explanation for that symptom.

It is not uncommon for many to say, "No, I don't" but if you think about it a little, the air can come from nowhere else.

Finding it can be a real hassle but somewhere between the pump and the skimmer, air is being sucked in.

Did you read the article in Pool School? It may help you.

 

[Poollife]

I did I've tried shaving cream and no prevail if the leak was underground wouldn't there be evidence of mud ?

 

[duraleigh]

if the leak was underground wouldn't there be evidence of mud ?

Suction leaks are VERY seldom underground but they can be.

There is no reason for there to be mud as water could only get into the soil when the pump is off and water doesn't travel up.....it goes down.

That said, the emphasis here should be that an underground leak is quite unusual on the suction side.

 

[Poollife]

So this would explain the issue with the loss of suction and how come the leak is only prevalent under higher pressure but none existent at low pressure?

 

[duraleigh]

So this would explain the issue with the loss of suction and how come the leak is only prevalent under higher pressure but none existent at low pressure?

I have no idea as to the "why".

 

[drwill]

Have you put shaving cream on all the joints ahead of the pump? Have you done all of them at once? It could be that you have more than one leak and the pumping problems won't go away until you have all of them temporarily sealed with shave cream. Given that you've just installed a new pump, I would wager that the installer did some plumbing work or even re-routing of the pipes for the new pump and there's probably a couple leaky joints in there. Go to town on the whole thing with a couple cans of barbasol and let us know if the situation improves. Also bear in mind that if the leak is bad the shaving cream can very quickly be sucked up into the pipe and the leak can resume. If you put the cream on thick you might even be able to see where it's being sucked into the fitting.

Oh, and you are using shave cream and not 'gel', right?

I had a leaky fitting and the shaving cream trick worked really well for me, for whatever that's worth. I put it on thick, so thick I couldn't see the joint it was covering.

 

[Poollife]

So I replaced all the pipes on suction side above ground and I am still getting air into the system, I have done the shaving cream and have lube on pump cover. I'm pretty discouraged haha.

 

[Poollife]

could the back wash plunger o-rings go bad and be causing a natural siphon causing the cavitation ?

 

[DanielP]

could the back wash plunger o-rings go bad and be causing a natural siphon causing the cavitation ?

No, that is on the pressure side of the pump. Did you inspect drain plugs on the pump/pump basket if they have one?