Is a 10” intex sand filter too weak for a vacuum?

[Poolboy1983]

New pool owner here. We got a 15 foot intex prism and bought a 10” intex sand filter.


As far as I can tell I hooked it up properly and it is moving water. The two inlets aren’t pulling like a vacuum cleaner or anything but I’m getting water out the outlet at decent rate.

So I grabbed 25’ of 1 1/4 hose and vacuum head. I used an adapter and connected straight to the inlet of the pump on the strainer and thing isn’t pulling whatsoever. If I hook it back up it does move water though. My strainer isnt clogged. I put my hand on the end of the inlet right off the pump and it’s not great but maybe that’s how it is?


In a nutshell I’m trying to figure out if this weak vacuum is normal for a small pump or if maybe it’s not working at 100%? It’s basically a month old.

thank you!!

 

[Dadofthree74]

What kind of vacuum?
have you tried using the black cap to plug the inlet not attached to the vacuum?
I’m not sure how many gallons your pool is.
we have a 15 x42 (3900 gallons). We had a 12 in pump/filter. We upgraded that to a 14” (0.6hp) intex pump/filter. we are using the intex vacuum and it works.
We have permanently capped off one of the inlets and the other is attached to a skimmer.

 

[Poolboy1983]

What kind of vacuum?
have you tried using the black cap to plug the inlet not attached to the vacuum?
I’m not sure how many gallons your pool is.
we have a 15 x42 (3900 gallons). We had a 12 in pump/filter. We upgraded that to a 14” (0.6hp) intex pump/filter. we are using the intex vacuum and it works.
We have permanently capped off one of the inlets and the other is attached to a skimmer.

So its a cheapo vac head I got from the local pool store. Its similar to this https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Pool-Supply-Butterfly-Connection/dp/B071X7CRZQ/ref=pd_lpo_201_t_2/141-0454155-7737807?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B071X7CRZQ&pd_rd_r=fba810cb-4f72-4de8-af64-459b488a248e&pd_rd_w=IEffu&pd_rd_wg=zTfMe&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=VMAWT7X9CV1TTJ1CMAP3&refRID=VMAWT7X9CV1TTJ1CMAP3&th=1&fbclid=IwAR1BcTZz4zb7mbO56WMmpN0GNoqnjChHV8xW8gJMZs1NI5irn_UhxayXbj0

If you put your hand on the inlet can you feel it pulling on yours?? Cause on ours you cant feel anything pulling yet the water is circulating. I had bypass the 2 inlets on the side of the pool and connected the hose directly to the sand filter to keep it simple but didnt work.

 

[Poolboy1983]

So just seeing these posts about how the intex filters dont pull like crazy by design on another post...

Intex Krystal Clear Sand Filter 1500 no suction

Welcome to TFP! Congrats on the new pool!

It is designed that way to have less suction to avoid entrapment of children against the suction inlet. As long as the pressure gauge is good and water outlet pressure is good everything is fine. If water flow drops or the pressure gauge rises 20-25% the backwash the filter.

 

[Dadofthree74]

Yes our pulls. I started my filter and disconnected the skimmer and it pulled my had to the intake.
This is how it looks. Again I capped one side

 

[cfherrman]

Did you prime the hose with the return first?

 

[Dadofthree74]

I don’t understand the question? I

 

[Pv2]

make sure the vacuum hose is full of water and has no air in it. pump probably can not suck water over top of rail if there is any air in the hose. same if using normal inlets in the pool. a big air bubble in the hose will cause loss of suction (as will leaks in plumbing that allows air into the system)