New Pool! Sort of!

[DeanP66]

You won't get a lot of movement at low RPMs. If you have a lot of debris from trees and such, you might bump up the RPMs for a couple of hours and then run it back down at lower RPMs the rest of the time. I usually skim my pool with an ultra fine netting every other day. I used to get ugly pine needles and pine cones in my pool from a huge tree, but I had it removed back in September and now everything's a breeze.

As for your returns, have you checked them with the pump running at full RPMs to make sure they aren't in fact blocked? Also, make sure to confirm that your valves are fully open on your returns.

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

What happens when you send all the water to the pipe you marked as waterfall?... and then turn the valve near the waterfall label, from where it is in the pic, all the way to the left and then all the way to the right.. What does it do??

I am assuming this valve is the one that turns your wall returns on/off, not at all sure that is true or not..

Water has to be going somewhere.. you can't have everything on at once, as there is just not enough flow... I would try to turn on just the floor returns... then only the wall returns, and then only the spillover.. Just to make sure that you know what each valve will do...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[smallsmx3]

You won't get a lot of movement at low RPMs. If you have a lot of debris from trees and such, you might bump up the RPMs for a couple of hours and then run it back down at lower RPMs the rest of the time. I usually skim my pool with an ultra fine netting every other day. I used to get ugly pine needles and pine cones in my pool from a huge tree, but I had it removed back in September and now everything's a breeze.

As for your returns, have you checked them with the pump running at full RPMs to make sure they aren't in fact blocked? Also, make sure to confirm that your valves are fully open on your returns.

I have had it on 3450 rpms.....I get good flow... Then nothing.

 

[DeanP66]

At what point do you feel nothing? 2000 RPMs, 1700, 1200, 1000? Mine runs at 1000 RPMs and I can barely feel anything coming from the closest pool return.

 

[smallsmx3]

S,

What happens when you send all the water to the pipe you marked as waterfall?... and then turn the valve near the waterfall label, from where it is in the pic, all the way to the left and then all the way to the right.. What does it do??

I am assuming this valve is the one that turns your wall returns on/off, not at all sure that is true or not..

Water has to be going somewhere.. you can't have everything on at once, as there is just not enough flow... I would try to turn on just the floor returns... then only the wall returns, and then only the spillover.. Just to make sure that you know what each valve will do...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Those control the returns in the spa and the floor return in the spa. Figured that one out today. When I turned the wall return on the pool returns all came on with good pressure and then stopped except the one in the spa. Everything seems to function properly in there.

 

[smallsmx3]

At what point do you feel nothing? 2000 RPMs, 1700, 1200, 1000? Mine runs at 1000 RPMs and I can barely feel anything coming from the closest pool return.

It doesn't matter. When I get them going they only work briefly and then it stops a at any rpm

 

[smallsmx3]

Those control the returns in the spa and the floor return in the spa. Figured that one out today. When I turned the wall return on the pool returns all came on with good pressure and then stopped except the one in the spa. Everything seems to function properly in there.

In the spa that is....

 

[Jimrahbe]

It doesn't matter. When I get them going they only work briefly and then it stops a at any rpm

S,

I can't think of anything normal that would cause your problem, so let's think outside the box...

Maybe something is floating in the pipes causing an intermittent issue.

You plan to remove the SWCG and old heater anyway.. it might be worth while to take them out and by pass them.. I'd also open every check valve and clean it out...

Another thing would be to take the top off of each valve, one at a time and turn on the pump for a few seconds... just to confirm that nothing is in the pipes..

Sorry, but that is all I got at this point...

Thanks,

Jim R.

- - - Updated - - -

Might also figure out what the other heater is for and how it is plumbed into the system????

 

[smallsmx3]

S,

I can't think of anything normal that would cause your problem, so let's think outside the box...

Maybe something is floating in the pipes causing an intermittent issue.

You plan to remove the SWCG and old heater anyway.. it might be worth while to take them out and by pass them.. I'd also open every check valve and clean it out...

Another thing would be to take the top off of each valve, one at a time and turn on the pump for a few seconds... just to confirm that nothing is in the pipes..

Sorry, but that is all I got at this point...

Thanks,

Jim R.

- - - Updated - - -

Might also figure out what the other heater is for and how it is plumbed into the system????

Pretty sure the other heater is for the spa since I can only hear water go through them when I turn on the spa Jets. Should I take off all the return nozzles? I'm guessing that the pop up floor returns come out too... Should I take all that out? I had a feeling it was going to come to this

 

[Jimrahbe]

s,

I was thinking about your issue and maybe the problem is at the input side of the pump???

When you get it working and then it just stops... What happens to the pump and the filter pressure? I would think that if the filter pressure shot up, that would indicate some blockage somewhere... But if the filter pressure dropped and the pump basket filled with air, that could mean that you have a suction side air leak...

Try running from just the skimmer and see what happens.. Then try running from just the main drain and see what happens...

One of your input valves could be leaking air... you can try slowly running water from a garden hose over the valves while watching the pump lid and see if you can make any bubbles go away.. If they do, that would indicate an air leak...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[smallsmx3]

s,

I was thinking about your issue and maybe the problem is at the input side of the pump???

When you get it working and then it just stops... What happens to the pump and the filter pressure? I would think that if the filter pressure shot up, that would indicate some blockage somewhere... But if the filter pressure dropped and the pump basket filled with air, that could mean that you have a suction side air leak...

Try running from just the skimmer and see what happens.. Then try running from just the main drain and see what happens...

One of your input valves could be leaking air... you can try slowly running water from a garden hose over the valves while watching the pump lid and see if you can make any bubbles go away.. If they do, that would indicate an air leak...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Looks like I have my work cut out for me. I mainly work on the weekend and I have allot going on so it's going to be over the weekend/beginning of next week before I can work on the pool again. On the plus side. I managed to replace the skimmer door. There was not one there do that should help keep debris where it belongs. On a side note I took the cartridge filter out and ran the pump. The psi was about the same as if the filter was still in... At 3500rpm I'm between 30-35 psi. Is that normal even when the filter is out? Turning the valve from skimmer to MD doesn't change anything. I do have some bubbles at the top of the pump. More than I had on my single speed old pump also it looks like I lost about an inch of water in the pool since I filled it on Monday. Maybe I have a leak somewhere

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

I would think that your clean filter pressure should be 20 max and more like 10 to 15 psi....

30 to 35 is about as high as it should get when the filter is really dirty...

When you get a chance to look at it again... see what the pressure is when "working" and then again when it suddenly stops "working".

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[smallsmx3]

S,

I would think that your clean filter pressure should be 20 max and more like 10 to 15 psi....

30 to 35 is about as high as it should get when the filter is really dirty...

When you get a chance to look at it again... see what the pressure is when "working" and then again when it suddenly stops "working".

Thanks,

Jim R.

Will do

 

[smallsmx3]

Update! The bubbles in the pump were bugging me so I replaced all the O rings in all the valves. I ran the pump for each to make sure there was nothing there.... I managed to get the air bubbles out! I had a broken o ring on the suction side of the pump which must of been pulling air..... The psi in the filter went down as well. I'd say it's normal from what I'm used to even at full throttle it's at 25 psi. Now the bad news. I'm still having return problems... The side and floor returns still come on and off, mostly off. I really think there's something floating in the pipes.... How do I fix this?

 

[Jimrahbe]

s,

You really need to see if you can identify what changes between the returns working and then when they stop...

Look at the water in the pump and at the filter pressure when working well... Then look again when it stops and see what the difference is.

You would expect something to change... the water has to go somewhere ?

Thanks,

Jim R.

- - - Updated - - -

I'd take out the salt cell and replace it with a pipe... I'd open every check valve (that you can open) and check to make sure nothing is in there...

 

[smallsmx3]

s,

You really need to see if you can identify what changes between the returns working and then when they stop...

Look at the water in the pump and at the filter pressure when working well... Then look again when it stops and see what the difference is.

You would expect something to change... the water has to go somewhere ?

Thanks,

Jim R.

- - - Updated - - -

I'd take out the salt cell and replace it with a pipe... I'd open every check valve (that you can open) and check to make sure nothing is in there...

There's only one check valve. I opened it today and all is clear. I have yet to take off the chlorinator. Maybe the build up is there..... I'll do that tomorrow. I plan on getting a hydro flush as well and pumping water back down the returns to see what happens. I'll turn on the be pool tomorrow and see if there's a change in pressure when the returns come on. It's hard to tell as the equipment is on the side of the house and out of view of the pool

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

Is the heater by the blue label that says "From Salt Cell" bad??? If so I would also bypass it... It could be full of debris... My thought is rip out everything you do not plan to save first and then see how well the system works..

I like the idea of back-flushing with a Drain King type of device... but you have to have an opening for the water to come out... Like at a disassembled valve... or open pipe... or something...

Jim R.

 

[smallsmx3]

S,

Is the heater by the blue label that says "From Salt Cell" bad??? If so I would also bypass it... It could be full of debris... My thought is rip out everything you do not plan to save first and then see how well the system works..

I like the idea of back-flushing with a Drain King type of device... but you have to have an opening for the water to come out... Like at a disassembled valve... or open pipe... or something...

Jim R.

That I can do! The valves are easy to take out.....I actually fixed one today as it was on backwards... Neither of the heaters work....I didn't want to bypass those yet but I will if I have to. I did noticed there were some pebbles in the pump basket today that I didn't notice before and on the floor of the pool

 

[smallsmx3]

I started up the pool this AM ran it for throttle in pool only mode. PSI was about 35. Every time a return kicked on it dropped to 30 briefly then back up when it went off.
On a side note this is in the yard right behind the spa. I'm guessing it's an air release of sorts as I can hear gargling from time to time. I flipped from Run to pause and nothing happens. Looks like the top comes off. Any ideas

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

Did I miss the part where you said you had an in-floor cleaning system??? See this for starters... Paramount Water Valve 6-Port Gear Module

You will need to spend a little time on the internet to see how that thing works...

Thanks,

Jim R.