Hayward Filter Pump Strainer basket issue

[Jay_man]

I have a Hayward Filter pump Hayward W3SP2610X15 Super Pump Pool Pump, 1.5 HP in my inground swimming pool. I am finding the strainer basket getting bent at inlet to pump. Not sure what the cause would be. It appears that there was immense pressure at the inlet. The bent position is right at the inlet and is in the shape of the inlet (round and sucked in). I found some debris in this area and nothing in the basket. When this happens the pump becomes noisy and the motor heats up than normal and the pressure drops below the normal 10 psi. I normally maintain the filters clean and so also the filter cartridge. What is the life of these strainer baskets and is this failure due to aging. The basket was replaced about a year ago. Can someone give me an idea or suggestion as to what I should look for and is this a serious concern or just replace the basket?

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! That actually looks more like overheating to me. Like it got so hot the basket started to melt/warp as it was getting sucked into the pump impeller area. Has that pump been running dry, exceptionally low on water, or anything else to indicate it may be overheating? How old is this pump/motor?

 

[willygee]

Does look heat related...water thats stuck in the pump can boil and cause damage like this..might want to look at the impeller and diffuser as well.

 

[Jay_man]

Thanks for the response Willygee and Texas splash. The pump seems to be sucking in air once in a while and there by running dry but not sure when as When I look through the window the water is full and I do not see any turbulence or air trapped. The case was replaced recently but used the same pump and impeller, the replacement was done since there was leak in the fitting area at the outlet. I also observed the fitting locking rings were little loose on the inlet side and I did tighten them with a oil filter Plier rather than a strap wrench. The pump motor and impeller are nearly 5 yrs old.

 

[Jay_man]

This happened again and I am at my wits end figuring out the cause. I also observed the pressure shot up to 30PSI on the tank gage and the pumping was noisy. I am at present suspecting that the baffle bulkhead assembly may be clogged but not sure how this works. Can someone on the forum advise me about this? I have never cleaned this before and never open this during filter cleaning. Can this be the cause? I use a Pentair Clean and Clear Plus unit for the filter and the part number for this is 190039 Baffle, bulkhead assembly. These seem to be expensive so I am wondering is there any way of cleaning this by taking apart? Thanks in advance for suggestions and insight

 

[Texas Splash]

Can you post some more pics of the entire equipment pad area? Show us pics from various angles so we can see all the valves, plumbing, etc.

 

[1poolman1]

This happened again and I am at my wits end figuring out the cause. I also observed the pressure shot up to 30PSI on the tank gage and the pumping was noisy. I am at present suspecting that the baffle bulkhead assembly may be clogged but not sure how this works. Can someone on the forum advise me about this? I have never cleaned this before and never open this during filter cleaning. Can this be the cause? I use a Pentair Clean and Clear Plus unit for the filter and the part number for this is 190039 Baffle, bulkhead assembly. These seem to be expensive so I am wondering is there any way of cleaning this by taking apart? Thanks in advance for suggestions and insight

Bulkhead assembly is just a hole, the baffle a very open screen to spread waterflow evenly in the filter tank. Open the filter, lift off lid, turn on pump. If you don't get a huge flow after the pump fully primes, there could be a clog, but that is almost impossible unless a huge a mount of debris got through the pump, which would have clogged the pump first.

Try running the filter without a cartridge, or all of them, won't hurt anything for a short run. What is the pressure? If it is much lower, try a good chemical cleaning of the cartridges, or replace if they are in bad shape.

The damage is very definitely heat related to no water flow. Are there any valves after the filter? Are they working? Sometimes have to open one to find out if it is damaged.

 

[Jay_man]

Hi Willygee,
Appreciate your insight, There is no debris in the filter before the pump intake. I do not have any valve after the filter except a tap to a solar heater feed. The pressure on the cartridge tank gage is most of the time at 12psi but when the issue happens our observation was it shot up to 30psi and power cycling brought the pressure back.
The cartridge filters are a year old they are not the original pentair but equivalent filters (Advanced Filter Cartridge Replaces Pentair CCP520, Pleatco PCC130, Unicel C-7472, Filbur FC-1978, R173578, FC-6475, PCC130-PAK4, Clean and Clear Plus 520, SD-00163, Replacement Pool Filters) they fit in with no issues and I cleaned them in July. Since this problem is so intermittent I am not sure if this is the cause - again I do not have much experience with these. I had saved the original old pentair filters so I am tempted to put them back and see if this makes a difference.- is this a good startegy? I sure like your suggestion to run without the filter. I sure will try this when I get time. For now I am running these manually and not on timer to save any damage to the impeller etc.,
Once again appreciate your input and sure will try and let the forum know where I got to..

 

[generessler]

The very high filter pressure sounds like something blocking the pressure side. Consider adding all your equipment to your signature block so we can see it. For this case, good pics of the equipment pad might help.

One thing that can cause erratic pressure side blockage is a chunk of something breaking off, rattling around at the next thing it can't get by. Mastertemp bypass valves do this, for example. Some off-name filter cartridges have this reputation, too.