Apologies in advance for the long description…
20+ yr old 20x40 36,000g in-ground pool with a DE filter setup (ProGrid 4820). I’ve been removing and reinstalling the filter/motor etc for 20 years without an issue.
This year upon assembly the pump motor didn’t run. I replaced the capacitor to no avail, then replaced the motor with a Century exact replacement. I do t have the specs in front of me but I’ve done this before and was pretty careful to match RPM and look at the pump curves. I’m a Chem Eng by formal education.
I then proceeded to create a HUGE problem by purchasing and charging the filter with what I thought was DE, but was Perlite. At one point the filter was over saturated with the stuff and it was passing into the pool. I also - for the first time - could not maintain suction with the vacuum connected to the skimmer.
I finally got rid of the Perlite by repeatedly brushing the pool and running the filter 24x7. It took more than a week, but finally cleared up. The loss of suction with the vacuum problem still remains.
After 3-4 weeks of use, I was getting some algae growth around the perimeter. Had the water tested - Chlorine and phosphates were way too high (15ppm and 1200, resp.). I was advised to turn the chlorinator off for a few days and use PhosFree. As I should have guessed the pool immediately turned into a green swamp. After running by filter for another 5-6 days (and backwashing the filter 2-3 times) it is still green and swampy (chlorinator went back on when Cl2 was in range) and I can see a ton of what looks like DE on the bottom of the pool. I desperately want to vac it to waste, but cannot maintain suction.
My questions are not about pool chemistry - if needed those will come later - but about the suction issue.
While running the suction from both the main drain and the two skimmers, the system runs fine. There is air coming from the discharge jet, and if I leave the bleed on top of the filter cracked it will constantly sputter.
If I divert the suction to EITHER the main drain OR the skimmers, I can see the water level dropping in the filter basket and it will eventually lose suction.
At first I thought maybe I had a leak in the line, but since the skimmers and main drain have separate lines, that’s not logical. The lines come up from the ground and are connected at a single directional valve that is inches from the pump. I’ve removed the pump connection/union, replaced the o-ring, checked it for level and tightened the coupling. I’ve also rebuilt the pump head.
It is possible that the air and vacuum loss are unrelated. I am wondering if air is causing the issue - or could the lines leading to the pump be clogged with perlite? The stuff is a bit sticky and almost like glue - I had to get a rag with some soap to clean it off the inside of my filter.
I don’t have a setup to leak test. I went and saw someone weeks ago to come leak test, but despite me giving them my CC they never showed.
I also ordered a boroscope today to snake down the skimmer to have a look.
Any/all ideas/advice welcome.
Lastly - is it possible to connect the vacuum directly to the pump head union? I don’t see how I could get a tight connection or fill the 50’ hose sufficiently with water to start the suction - but someone suggested that to me. Again - suggestions appreciated.
Thanks in advance -
20+ yr old 20x40 36,000g in-ground pool with a DE filter setup (ProGrid 4820). I’ve been removing and reinstalling the filter/motor etc for 20 years without an issue.
This year upon assembly the pump motor didn’t run. I replaced the capacitor to no avail, then replaced the motor with a Century exact replacement. I do t have the specs in front of me but I’ve done this before and was pretty careful to match RPM and look at the pump curves. I’m a Chem Eng by formal education.
I then proceeded to create a HUGE problem by purchasing and charging the filter with what I thought was DE, but was Perlite. At one point the filter was over saturated with the stuff and it was passing into the pool. I also - for the first time - could not maintain suction with the vacuum connected to the skimmer.
I finally got rid of the Perlite by repeatedly brushing the pool and running the filter 24x7. It took more than a week, but finally cleared up. The loss of suction with the vacuum problem still remains.
After 3-4 weeks of use, I was getting some algae growth around the perimeter. Had the water tested - Chlorine and phosphates were way too high (15ppm and 1200, resp.). I was advised to turn the chlorinator off for a few days and use PhosFree. As I should have guessed the pool immediately turned into a green swamp. After running by filter for another 5-6 days (and backwashing the filter 2-3 times) it is still green and swampy (chlorinator went back on when Cl2 was in range) and I can see a ton of what looks like DE on the bottom of the pool. I desperately want to vac it to waste, but cannot maintain suction.
My questions are not about pool chemistry - if needed those will come later - but about the suction issue.
While running the suction from both the main drain and the two skimmers, the system runs fine. There is air coming from the discharge jet, and if I leave the bleed on top of the filter cracked it will constantly sputter.
If I divert the suction to EITHER the main drain OR the skimmers, I can see the water level dropping in the filter basket and it will eventually lose suction.
At first I thought maybe I had a leak in the line, but since the skimmers and main drain have separate lines, that’s not logical. The lines come up from the ground and are connected at a single directional valve that is inches from the pump. I’ve removed the pump connection/union, replaced the o-ring, checked it for level and tightened the coupling. I’ve also rebuilt the pump head.
It is possible that the air and vacuum loss are unrelated. I am wondering if air is causing the issue - or could the lines leading to the pump be clogged with perlite? The stuff is a bit sticky and almost like glue - I had to get a rag with some soap to clean it off the inside of my filter.
I don’t have a setup to leak test. I went and saw someone weeks ago to come leak test, but despite me giving them my CC they never showed.
I also ordered a boroscope today to snake down the skimmer to have a look.
Any/all ideas/advice welcome.
Lastly - is it possible to connect the vacuum directly to the pump head union? I don’t see how I could get a tight connection or fill the 50’ hose sufficiently with water to start the suction - but someone suggested that to me. Again - suggestions appreciated.
Thanks in advance -
