I bought a house with an existing above ground pool a little over a year. Last year I had no problems other than the heater wouldn’t work. This year a ton! The most recent is problems with a new pump. It was installed by a reputable national pool company that opened my pool. I would call them to help but there were so many problems with how they opened my pool and installed this pump that I now no longer trust them. If I find that this problem is how they installed then I would call them out, but want to do all my research first. To give an example of what they did wrong they had the hoses backward on my heater! After several attempts to get the new pump (actually went through 2 new pumps) working properly it finally was for the last couple of weeks until yesterday. I vacuumed my pool and when I was done emptied the pump basket. Since a storm was coming I left it off for the night. Now when I try to run it the water level in the pump starts out high and then goes down. I see no pressure on the filter pressure gage. There is still water in the pump but very low. I turn it off as soon as I can because I don’t know if it should be running this low. I open the lid on the pump and water fills back up. It is not gushing out but it is filling up and flowing out some. Along the way I had turned the gray knob on the pump (I think this is a gate valve) but I thought I had turned it back to the proper position. This valve has never really stopped when it is off vs. on so I don’t know if I just need to keep turning that more or if it is broke. This may not even be the problem just thought I should mention. These were the steps I always took last year and had no problems. I am self-taught on how to handle this pool so I definitely could be doing something wrong that is very basic. I am obviously not very mechanically inclined so very simple instructions are needed please. I have tried looking online and in manuals and am at a loss. I have included some pictures of my equipment in case it is helpful. The actual pump is the one from last year as I hadn’t taken new pictures yet. I think it is very similar as they had to find one to work with the filter and it did take them a bit to locate.
Filter and Pump Troubleshooting for a Rookie
- Thread starter a2d2
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,049
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Hello and welcome to TFP! 
It's interesting that you aren't getting much water to the pump basket. Since the pump is well below the waterline for your above ground pool, the water should "gush" down towards the pump when you remove that clear lid ...... unless:
- The water level is too low at the skimmer opening
- There is a clog or partial blockage from the skimmer to the pump
- That gate valve might be bad
You might consider (as a test) plugging that suction line if you can at the skimmer. Maybe a rubber plug, tennis ball, or something that will prevent water from entering enough to where you can remove the hose from that gate valve and inspect it or perhaps replace it if required with a better valve. With the hose removed from the valve, you could "quickly" remove the plug and water should shoot down-stream letting you know it's clear and that the valve might be your sticking point.
It's interesting that you aren't getting much water to the pump basket. Since the pump is well below the waterline for your above ground pool, the water should "gush" down towards the pump when you remove that clear lid ...... unless:- The water level is too low at the skimmer opening
- There is a clog or partial blockage from the skimmer to the pump
- That gate valve might be bad
You might consider (as a test) plugging that suction line if you can at the skimmer. Maybe a rubber plug, tennis ball, or something that will prevent water from entering enough to where you can remove the hose from that gate valve and inspect it or perhaps replace it if required with a better valve. With the hose removed from the valve, you could "quickly" remove the plug and water should shoot down-stream letting you know it's clear and that the valve might be your sticking point.
Hello! Thank you so much for the reply. The water level is if anything too high as we had a massive rain yesterday. I'll try the test that you mention. It may not be for a couple days as it sounds like I will need two people to be able to accomplish this quickly.
The gate valve is bad. Now hopefully my brand new pump isn't ruined since I was attempting to run with the valve closed. There was some water in there, and I only ran briefly each time I tried another troubleshooting technique, so I am hoping it is ok. I had to order the part so I won't know for a couple more days. Thanks again for your help!
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,049
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
I'm glad you found the root cause. As long as the pump didn't run dry for an extended period of time you should be okay. Give us an update once you get it all back together again.
I was able to get a new gate valve installed. The pump seems to be working! Thanks again for your help.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,049
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
