Low pressure.

[DLDowney]

I'm a new pool owner and thanks to reading this forum I've been able to keep it's chemistry at ideal levels (so far). I've been trying to learn my pumping system as much as I can in my month long ownership but I'm still a complete novice.

We had rare freezing temperatures here in New Orleans last week, after some research I left the pump running overnight for the 3 freezing nights. After the weather passed my pump went back on the timer and the following day no water was coming out of the jets or the waterfall but the pump was running, loudly. I cleaned the skimmer and pump baskets, opened the filter and hosed down the cartridges, put everything back together primed it and fired it up. Water is flowing from the jets and waterfall now, but the gauge still reads 0. While investigating I found that if I move the valve 100% to the waterfall, I get around 10 psi. If I move the valve halfway between the jets and waterfall I get 0 psi but water is flowing from both. If I move the valve 100% to the jets I still get 0 psi. There is water flow in all positions. I'm thinking maybe the line to the jets may be clogged?

I also can't find where to backwash my filter, I'm guessing I can't? Here are some photos if that helps any.

 

[mas985]

Welcome to the forum!

Water is flowing from the jets and waterfall now, but the gauge still reads 0.

That tells me the gauge isn't working. With a full speed pump, it is unlikely to have 0 PSI when you have water flowing out of the returns. Tap the gauge and see if the needle moves.

There is water flow in all positions. I'm thinking maybe the line to the jets may be clogged?

If the jets were clogged, filter pressure would be very high, not 0.

I also can't find where to backwash my filter, I'm guessing I can't? Here are some photos if that helps any.

That looks like a cartridge filter. You disassemble to clean.

Pool School - Maintenance and Cleaning of Pool Filters

 

[Jimrahbe]

DL,

Just wanted to add my Welcome to TFP....

I'd say something profound, but Mark has already said it all...

You might want to keep in mind that running your waterfall all the time will cause your pH level to increase pretty quickly.

You said "I've been able to keep it's chemistry at ideal levels (so far)." How are you currently testing your water to know this???

Thanks for posting,

Jim R.

 

[DLDowney]

Thanks for the responses! It makes sense after reading it that the pressure would be high if the return line were clogged. There's definitely water coming out of the jets and waterfall, my initial thought was a bad gauge until I started getting a reading by switching how the water returns.

Can I get one of the $10-15 gauges and somehow open the housing, or do I have to buy the whole assembly with the pressure release valve?

As far as keeping the chemistry in check, I have a water test kit as well as clorox test strips which are a bit 'off' compared to the water test kit, and we test every couple of days. Just before having this problem we paid a pool company to come out and inspect the pool and equipment. According to them everything was relatively new including the plumbing, they tested the water and everything passed with flying colors, with the exception of the wheel bearings in our Polaris automatic vacuum.

 

[Jimrahbe]

DL,

On most filters, you can just unscrew the gauge and screw in a new one without opening anything..

I suggest you get the filter's model number and Google a parts diagram for it.

Jim R.