INCOMING LINES TO POOL PUMP.

[sga777]

Hi all, purchased this house with a pool, and the skimmer, vacuum, and main drain lines were broken, and (see Below) we wanted the lines fixed before we closed. Well, the realtor had someone he said was a “plumber”, and had him come out and run lines to pump as agreed. We are new to pools, so we knew no difference in the right way or wrong way to run lines. I have screenshots showing the way he ran them, and looking at the first photo, the line from the left is main drain, directly across is skimmer, and the other closer to filter is vacuum. Pump is a Hayward super pump. From reading some of the posts, I know the line going into pump in wrong, but I’m having trouble getting it to prime. Can someone advise? If these are wrong, can you tell me the correct way to run them?

 

[Bperry]

Hi all, purchased this house with a pool, and the skimmer, vacuum, and main drain lines were broken, and (see Below)View attachment 572958View attachment 572960 we wanted the lines fixed before we closed. Well, the realtor had someone he said was a “plumber”, and had him come out and run lines to pump as agreed. We are new to pools, so we knew no difference in the right way or wrong way to run lines. I have screenshots showing the way he ran them, and looking at the first photo, the line from the left is main drain, directly across is skimmer, and the other closer to filter is vacuum. Pump is a Hayward super pump. From reading some of the posts, I know the line going into pump in wrong, but I’m having trouble getting it to prime. Can someone advise? If these are wrong, can you tell me the correct way to run them?

What makes you think the lines are wrong?

 

[sga777]

I just can’t seem to get to pump to prime, and I’m wondering if they’re wrong. I’m not sure if they should come up that high above the pump, and seems like I read there should be something like 12-15 inches of straight line coming into the pump. I had next door neighbors pool guy check my pump and filter, and he said it seems ok. I’ve just never seen lines come that high then back down to the pump, of course I haven’t seen that many lines period, lol.

 

[Bperry]

I just can’t seem to get to pump to prime, and I’m wondering if they’re wrong. I’m not sure if they should come up that high above the pump, and seems like I read there should be something like 12-15 inches of straight line coming into the pump. I had next door neighbors pool guy check my pump and filter, and he said it seems ok. I’ve just never seen lines come that high then back down to the pump, of course I haven’t seen that many lines period, lol.

Its true that them being so high is kinda silly.

But Id be curious why they were broken in the first place. Was there some event that caused them to break and did the plumber do a pressure test and fix all the broken pipes or only the visible ones and leave others broken underground?

So when the pump is running, no water is making it back to the pool? Can you post a picture of the entire area and any other valves that are there?

 

[Newdude]

Close 2 of the 3 and prime from the last one. Then slowly open up the others you want to use.

The water level is the same in all 3 pipes, which is the height of the pool water, and it makes no difference which one you use.

Maybe don't prime with the vac line, only so you don't have to shut it back off immediately after.

I’m not sure if they should come up that high above the pump

A bit odd, for sure. Maybe he has a bad back.

I read there should be something like 12-15 inches of straight line coming into the pump.

There *should* be. But many don't, and work just fine. You have a dirt simple system and it'll probably be ok.

 

[Jimrahbe]

sga,

No one here would have plumbed it like it is now, but I doubt it has anything to do with your priming issue..

Try only opening one valve at a time and see what happens.

Do you have any idea which pipe is which??

What level is the water in the pool?

Show us some pics of the whole equipment pad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[sga777]

There are no other valves except the multivalve on top of the Hayward sand filter. It’s a pro series, model S220T. Lines were broken by sub contractors as house was remodeled, and had lots of subs running through it. Previous owner told me the pump and filter were fine, and the lines were just broke above ground. I think he did do a pressure test, but it was kind of a favor thing the realtor asked of him. Not sure if he had ever done a pool before or not. I did see a video of the pump and filter running. The previous owner had one on his phone.

 

[sga777]

sga,

No one here would have plumbed it like it is now, but I doubt it has anything to do with your priming issue..

Try only opening one valve at a time and see what happens.

Do you have any idea which pipe is which??

What level is the water in the pool?

Show us some pics of the whole equipment pad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Jim, pool level is exactly at the middle of the skimmer. Yes, I posted in original post that standing from the outside of the first photo, the line coming from left is main drain, and directly across is skimmer. The single line coming from right is vacuum. It’s a Hayward 3/4 hp supper pump, Hayward pro series sand filter, model S220T. I also have a Polaris Atlas suction side vacuum.

 

[ajw22]

The circled joint looks funky.

Those ball valves are going to stick and the handles break before long in the Florida sun.

No rush, but I would have someone redo that section properly using diverter valves.

Wrap some saran wrap around the pipes to see if you have any leaking joints from the repairs.

 

[sga777]

sga,

No one here would have plumbed it like it is now, but I doubt it has anything to do with your priming issue..

Try only opening one valve at a time and see what happens.

Do you have any idea which pipe is which??

What level is the water in the pool?

Show us some pics of the whole equipment pad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[sga777]

The circled joint looks funky.

Those ball valves are going to stick and the handles break before long in the Florida sun.

No rush, but I would have someone redo that section properly using diverter valves.

Wrap some saran wrap around the pipes to see if you have any leaking joints from the repairs.

View attachment 572968

I’m out here right now, trying to remember where I heard about a way to use shaving cream to ck for leaks. Do you know what I’m referring to?

 

[ajw22]

I’m out here right now, trying to remember where I heard about a way to use shaving cream to ck for leaks. Do you know what I’m referring to?

Shaving cream is not going to work well when you can't get the pump to prime. It may help finding small leaks with the pump running but sucking in air.

The saran wrap will seal any air leaks and let the pump prime.

 

[sga777]

Its true that them being so high is kinda silly.

But Id be curious why they were broken in the first place. Was there some event that caused them to break and did the plumber do a pressure test and fix all the broken pipes or only the visible ones and leave others broken underground?

So when the pump is running, no water is making it back to the pool? Can you post a picture of the entire area and any other valves that are there?

I kinda think no water is going into the pump itself.

 

[sga777]

Shaving cream is not going to work well when you can't get the pump to prime. It may help finding small leaks with the pump running but sucking in air.

The saran wrap will seal any air leaks and let the pump prime.

Ok will do

 

[ajw22]

See 7:20 in this...

 

[ajw22]

Did you check that all pipes are open and plugs out in the skimmers and returns?

Show us pics looking down into your skimmers.

 

[ajw22]

What setting is the filter MPV on?

 

[sga777]

Shaving cream is not going to work well when you can't get the pump to prime. It may help finding small leaks with the pump running but sucking in air.

The saran wrap will seal any air leaks and let the pump prime.

Found the leak. Closed all but the skimmer, and Saran Wrap around the elbow turning downward toward pump from all the combined lines. Primed right up, and I added the main drain once it was pumping. Just have to fix that elbow turning down.

 

[sga777]

What setting is the filter MPV on?

I was told to start it up on recirculate. I finally found the leak, and posted in a reply below.

 

[ajw22]

Found the leak. Closed all but the skimmer, and Saran Wrap around the elbow turning downward toward pump from all the combined lines. Primed right up, and I added the main drain once it was pumping. Just have to fix that elbow turning down.

Glad that worked.

Redo it with diverter valves sooner then later.