Low Pump Pressure Problem

[Copernicu]

Hello. My pump turns on and sounds normal but the pressure is low. The meter shows zero pressure (photo below). I can feel some pressure in the hole in the skimmer basket, and the Hayward suction vac moves but at lower speed.

What should I do?

.

 

[mknauss]

Check the suction side for a blockage. Are you getting air out of the returns?

Has the pressure gauge shown filter pressure prior to this?

 

[Copernicu]

Check the suction side for a blockage. Are you getting air out of the returns?

Has the pressure gauge shown filter pressure prior to this?

Hi, thank you.

Air is coming out of the returns.

Pressure gauge worked fine until recently.

Sorry for the noob question, but how do I suction side for a blockage? (Where is the suction side?)

 

[mknauss]

Suction side is from the pool to the pump. Check your skimmer to be sure it is not plugged with leaves or the weir door in the skimmer is stuck. Check your water level, it needs to be half way up the skimmer opening.
If those are all fine, check the pump basket to see if it is full of debris.

 

[Copernicu]

Suction side is from the pool to the pump. Check your skimmer to be sure it is not plugged with leaves or the weir door in the skimmer is stuck. Check your water level, it needs to be half way up the skimmer opening.
If those are all fine, check the pump basket to see if it is full of debris.

Thank you. I did a few of those things before. I did the complete list this time. Couldn't tell if it made any difference. I then poked a couple fingers as far as they would go into the hole where the pump basket sits and could feel some debris. I couldn't get it out, though. I took a small screwdriver and poked around in there and was finally able to extract some debris (plant/tree stuff). I can't tell whether there is more.

It now feels like there is more pressure at the skimmer suction hole. Also, the piece on the bottom of the Hayward suction vac is spinning faster and the Hayward is moving faster. However, I cannot tell by "feel" alone whether the pressure is back to normal. What I can say, though, is that the pressure meter on the pump is still showing zero.

What should I do next? [Get someone to take apart the area of the pump basket to see if there is more debris hiding in that area? Replace the pressure meter? I remember that there is some sort of cylindrical device that can be placed into the hole in the skimmer basket, but I forget what it does, so I don't know if that's something appropriate here.]

 

[mknauss]

You can separate the pump wet end from the motor to get to the impeller. That is what you pulled the debris from. That was the next step I would have gotten to, so good job. It is not that big a job to do, but if you would prefer to hire someone, that is fine.

Do you run the suction side cleaner via the skimmer with a plate (leaving the basket in place) or does all that debris go straight to the pump basket?

 

[Copernicu]

Thank you!

To clean, I remove the skimmer basket and plug the Hayward hose into the suction hole. That's how I've done it for umpteen years now. When I hand vacuum, I follow the same procedure.

I'm not familiar with any method to access the hole with the basket in place. I'm not familiar with how the pool was originally designed. There is a hole in the side of one of the pool walls--if I recall correctly, years ago someone told me that might be a place for suction but my pool only has one motor and doesn't seem to be currently set up to use that other hole.

 

[mknauss]

How you are doing it is normal, but does tend to send debris directly to the pump and result in what you are seeing.

Many pools have a suction port on the side of the pool. There should be a line valved into your suction side of the pool equipment. But it does the same thing.

I use a robot, has its own pump and filter system. Cleans the pool great.

 

[Copernicu]

For the suction port on the side of the pool, should there be some sort of valve that would regulate whether the suction is at the skimmer or at the port of the side of the pool?

 

[mknauss]

Yes. Normally a three way valve or some other manifold at the suction side of the pump.

 

[1poolman1]

For your suction cleaner it would be good to get an inline leaf trap. A clogged impeller will cause all the issues you see. You may need a new pressure gauge. They are inexpensive.