Gauge pressure too high

[Gouge]

You've mentioned the pressure a few times, but I would like to confirm .... with the MPV on recirculate, does water flow at all? Water should flow easily from the skimmer that is higher than the pump (gravity-fed).

Did you close the pool last winter? Any chance something is stuck in the bottom of the skimmer or suction line?

If the skimmer or suction line are not plugged, and the water level in the pool is high enough, the pump should have plenty of water (full basket). On recirculate there is no filter to worry about, so the pressure gauge would be low at that point. But we need to ensure water is flowing well from skimmer > to pump > back to pool return jets.

We closed it last fall. Completely disconnected everything and stored it away. All water flows feeely. That’s why I don’t u see stand why pump basket won’t stay filled.

 

[Gouge]

We closed it last fall. Completely disconnected everything and stored it away. All water flows feeely. That’s why I don’t u see stand why pump basket won’t stay filled.

Pump basket will fill with water easily. Just won’t stay once the pump is turned on

 

[Texas Splash]

All water flows feeely. That’s why I don’t u see stand why pump basket won’t stay filled.

So if water moves freely and pump stays full initially, but that basket won't stay full afterwards, we go back to one of two things:
- Either the clear lid O-ring is bad or not lubed very well, so air is getting sucked under that lid
- Or the filter is overwhelmed. (back to the water test results). If the filter is clogged, there is nowhere for water to go.

Since you stored the pump inside for the winter, we can rule-out winter freeze damage. As long as you didn't vacuum something up that may have gotten wrapped around the impeller, it should be fine. So I would go back to the pot lid and filter. The test results are becoming more and more important at this point too.

 

[Gouge]

So if water moves freely and pump stays full initially, but that basket won't stay full afterwards, we go back to one of two things:
- Either the clear lid O-ring is bad or not lubed very well, so air is getting sucked under that lid
- Or the filter is overwhelmed. (back to the water test results). If the filter is clogged, there is nowhere for water to go.

Since you stored the pump inside for the winter, we can rule-out winter freeze damage. As long as you didn't vacuum something up that may have gotten wrapped around the impeller, it should be fine. So I would go back to the pot lid and filter. The test results are becoming more and more important at this point too.

Upon further inspection I find I have no o ring seal on the top of the pump basket cap.

 

[Gouge]

So if water moves freely and pump stays full initially, but that basket won't stay full afterwards, we go back to one of two things:
- Either the clear lid O-ring is bad or not lubed very well, so air is getting sucked under that lid
- Or the filter is overwhelmed. (back to the water test results). If the filter is clogged, there is nowhere for water to go.

Since you stored the pump inside for the winter, we can rule-out winter freeze damage. As long as you didn't vacuum something up that may have gotten wrapped around the impeller, it should be fine. So I would go back to the pot lid and filter. The test results are becoming more and more important at this point too.

Upon further inspection I find I have no o ring seal on the top of the pump basket cap.

 

[Texas Splash]

Upon further inspection I find I have no o ring seal on the top of the pump basket cap.

Yee haw! That'll do it. Once you find it or replace it, give us an update so we know your system is up & running okay.

 

[Gouge]

Yee haw! That'll do it. Once you find it or replace it, give us an update so we know your system is up & running okay.

After looking again. I have a seal. And I have lubed it. Did not work. Went to pool store. Talked with them. And replaced the hose from skimmer to pump. That did t work either. I am about at my wits end. Could it be the gauge again????

 

[Texas Splash]

Could it be the gauge again????

Well, the gauge only effects just that - the reading. So if everything is flowing well from skimmer to pump (pump pot full), from pump to return jets (good pressure and all), and the only thing weird is the gauge, then you might just have a bad gauge. Tftestkits.net has very nice gauges HERE.

 

[Gouge]

W

Well, the gauge only effects just that - the reading. So if everything is flowing well from skimmer to pump (pump pot full), from pump to return jets (good pressure and all), and the only thing weird is the gauge, then you might just have a bad gauge. Tftestkits.net has very nice gauges HERE.

water will not stay in the pump basket and it looses pressure at that point. Could it be the pump itself. ????

 

[Gouge]

Well, the gauge only effects just that - the reading. So if everything is flowing well from skimmer to pump (pump pot full), from pump to return jets (good pressure and all), and the only thing weird is the gauge, then you might just have a bad gauge. Tftestkits.net has very nice gauges HERE.

The only other thing is. We removed part of the sand to move the filter and replaced it with the same sand. Can this be a problem. This is my last idea. !!!!! I am completely stumped. It will hold pressure when filter is closed.

 

[Texas Splash]

Could it be the pump itself.

At this point I'm beginning to think it might. Your set-up is so simple and straight-forward, there's not much else to check. To this point we've addressed:
- Potential suction side air leaks from the skimmer to the pump (and lid O-ring)
- Potential clogs in the filter (algae or otherwise)
- Ran the filter on recirculate to by-pass the filter completely. On recirculate, there's no reason for the pump to not push water effortlessly and remain full in the pot.
- Checked the impeller for anything stuck inside or wrapped around it effecting water flow.

If all of those things are negative and working fine, the only thing I can think of effecting pump prime and remaining full while running is the pump itself. But in the past couple days, we cover ed LOT of stuff. You might consider reviewing all of the notes posted in this thread from start to finish just one more time to make sure something wasn't overlooked. You might get lucky.

 

[Texas Splash]

The only other thing is. We removed part of the sand to move the filter and replaced it with the same sand. Can this be a problem. This is my last idea. !!!!! I am completely stumped. It will hold pressure when filter is closed.

If the pump holds prime (remains full) and runs perfect when the filter is on bypass, then yes, I would open-up that filter and inspect everything closely. You might even consider doing a deep clean if needed.

Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Gouge]

At this point I'm beginning to think it might. Your set-up is so simple and straight-forward, there's not much else to check. To this point we've addressed:
- Potential suction side air leaks from the skimmer to the pump (and lid O-ring)
- Potential clogs in the filter (algae or otherwise)
- Ran the filter on recirculate to by-pass the filter completely. On recirculate, there's no reason for the pump to not push water effortlessly and remain full in the pot.
- Checked the impeller for anything stuck inside or wrapped around it effecting water flow.

If all of those things are negative and working fine, the only thing I can think of effecting pump prime and remaining full while running is the pump itself. But in the past couple days, we cover ed LOT of stuff. You might consider reviewing all of the notes posted in this thread from start to finish just one more time to make sure something wasn't overlooked. You might get lucky.

I have checked and double checked every connection. Been to the pool store multiple times today. Sho how to I fix the sand. Do I just need to replace all of it with. New ???

 

[Texas Splash]

Sho how to I fix the sand. Do I just need to replace all of it with. New ???

Sand doesn't just go bad unless someone added a pool store chemical (like floc or clarfier) that might make it sticky and gummy. If nothing like that was added before, then sand typically just needs a good deep cleaning at the beginning of each season. It's just good practice and doesn't really cost anything to do - just some time. But there's no guarantee that is what is causing your loss of pump prime. But at this point, I don't know what else it may be unless it's the pump itself that is bad.

 

[Gouge]

Sand doesn't just go bad unless someone added a pool store chemical (like floc or clarfier) that might make it sticky and gummy. If nothing like that was added before, then sand typically just needs a good deep cleaning at the beginning of each season. It's just good practice and doesn't really cost anything to do - just some time. But there's no guarantee that is what is causing your loss of pump prime. But at this point, I don't know what else it may be unless it's the pump itself that is bad.

This system was all new last year and we didn’t get it up and running until the first of August. So it hasn’t been run but a few months total. That is why I can’t seem to figure out why it’s not all working fine.

 

[Texas Splash]

This system was all new last year and we didn’t get it up and running until the first of August. So it hasn’t been run but a few months total. That is why I can’t seem to figure out why it’s not all working fine.

That is very odd indeed. Not to say new items can't be defective, but that is odd for sure.

 

[Gouge]

Finally got the pump
To hold pressure and it is working. But the pump basket is not full of water Is this a big problem.

 

[Texas Splash]

But the pump basket is not full of water Is this a big problem.

As long as the pump is moving water and holding some prime, that's good. You want to avoid total loss of water and overheating.

Did you do something new to get things to work better?

 

[Gouge]

Problem finally solved. After several trips to the local pool store and all
The help you all have been to me the problem is finally resolved.
The problem was that there was air in the filter. After plugging all the skimmer and return and opening up the filter I filled it with water to the top and it started working fine when it was all reassembled.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!!

 

[Texas Splash]