No suction in skimmer when filtering

[susiegirl]

Hi,
I have been experiencing trouble with suction in the skimmer. Not enough to hold the vacuum hose in to clean. The water is dirty and it seems like the water is not filtering.
I just had a new variable speed pump put in because the pool repair person said that was what I needed. $1,250 later I still have the problem. But now Idon’t trust pool repair guys ? if I turn the 6 way to backwash the suction in the skimmer is great!!! If I turn it to rinse, it’s still great. I have flushed the lines from the skimmer and it’s fine as far as I can tell. No plugs. I have not cracked open the multi port valve yet to see if anything is wrong . My sand filter is only 4 years old as well as the 6 way valve. I have read everything I could find but nothing answered this situation.

 

[wireform]

Hi and welcome . Sorry to hear your troubles. Can you fill in your signature stating all the equipment controlling your pool. A few good pictures of your setup will also help know what you have then we can try to get you going.

 

[susiegirl]

Ok I did the best I could.

 

[wireform]

How about some pictures tomorrow when it's daylight as this can minimize the back and forth questions.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Do you have a main drain in the bottom of. your pool? Any valves that may be turned to give more pull to the main drain and not the skimmer? If so, try to adjust the valves so that you increase the skimmer "suction" and decrease the suction to the main drain.

If you are unsure, give us a pic of your equipment pad and we may be able to guide you as to which valve does what.

Welcome to TFP!

Maddie

 

[susiegirl]

I do have a main drain. But I’m not sure what valve.

How about some pictures tomorrow when it's daylight as this can minimize the back and forth questions.

ok well I took pictures in my pool house with the lights on. I’m not sure what you want in the daylight?

 

[susiegirl]

Here the pictures are again.

 

[susiegirl]

How about some pictures tomorrow when it's daylight as this can minimize the back and forth questions.

 

[wireform]

For starters I notice you have almost 30 psi on the filter gauge. If the gauge goes back to "0" when the pump is off you have a restriction through the sand filter. That's why when you pump to waste you get good suction. You need to do a good backwash and see if that helps. You may have to deep clean the filter if that doesn't help. If you have a direct line from the main drain then one of those two valves can be closed down to 10% flow to get a better flow at the skimmer. You also may have a restriction through the heater and there's no heater bypass to take the heater out to the loop to see if the heater is problematic.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Show me the pipes up the wall that go back to the pool, please.

I think @wireform meant to type -

If the gauge doesn't go back to "0" when the pump is off you have a restriction through the sand filter.

. Or a bad gauge.

Maddie

 

[duraleigh]

if I turn the 6 way to backwash the suction in the skimmer is great!!! If I turn it to rinse, it’s still great.

Please tell us the psi when the 6-way (multiport) is in the rinse position.....not that the flow is "great" but the actual psi on your gauge. Now do the same in the "rinse" position......tell us the psi.

Now do it in the "filter" position. Please report those three actual pressures.

 

[susiegirl]

Show me the pipes up the wall that go back to the pool, please.

I think @wireform meant to type - . Or a bad gauge.

Maddie

 

[susiegirl]

Please tell us the psi when the 6-way (multiport) is in the rinse position.....not that the flow is "great" but the actual psi on your gauge. Now do the same in the "rinse" position......tell us the psi.

Now do it in the "filter" position. Please report those three actual pressures.

Ok thank you!
When the pump is off it does go to zero.
I switched it to rinse it went to 33 . turned it off to switch to filter went to zero then turned it back on and it definitely went back up to 32 a lwhen it’s on filter. I think we are on to something!

 

[susiegirl]

For starters I notice you have almost 30 psi on the filter gauge. If the gauge goes back to "0" when the pump is off you have a restriction through the sand filter. That's why when you pump to waste you get good suction. You need to do a good backwash and see if that helps. You may have to deep clean the filter if that doesn't help. If you have a direct line from the main drain then one of those two valves can be closed down to 10% flow to get a better flow at the skimmer. You also may have a restriction through the heater and there's no heater bypass to take the heater out to the loop to see if the heater is problematic.

Thank you!
when the pool repair guy was here he did a thorough backwash(about 15 minutes) I have done 3 since then 4 minutes backwash 1 min rinse.(per the repair guy) It’s been about 10 days so about every other dayThe basket in the skimmer has not been collecting much so I think the backwash is good. But again, my faith in him is on shaky ground. I am getting the heater replaced in a few weeks it has always “tripped “ if I turn it on too high. Meaning I have to turn it up gradually as the water heats. Heater is not currently being used, I heat with the solar blanket and use the heater in the spring.

 

[susiegirl]

Thank you!
when the pool repair guy was here he did a thorough backwash(about 15 minutes) I have done 3 since then 4 minutes backwash 1 min rinse.(per the repair guy) It’s been about 10 days so about every other dayThe basket in the skimmer has not been collecting much so I think the backwash is good. But again, my faith in him is on shaky ground. I am getting the heater replaced in a few weeks it has always “tripped “ if I turn it on too high. Meaning I have to turn it up gradually as the water heats. Heater is not currently being used, I heat with the solar blanket and use the heater in the spring.

I watched the deep cleaning of the filter video. I will do that and report back to you. I’ll check back to see if there are any other things to try! Thank you so much!

 

[duraleigh]

I think we are on to something!

Not quite yet, but getting there. I misspoke in my earlier post, I should've asked you to report filter, rinse and recirculate positions on the multiport.

Good job on the filter and rinse positions.....now will you do the "recirculate" position and report that? I forgot to ask for that one.

 

[susiegirl]

Not quite yet, but getting there. I misspoke in my earlier post, I should've asked you to report filter, rinse and recirculate positions on the multiport.

Good job on the filter and rinse positions.....now will you do the "recirculate" position and report that? I forgot to ask for that one.

Ok it’s at 18 psi on recirculate . Much lower!

 

[susiegirl]

Actually a bit lower

 

[duraleigh]

OK. NOW, we are getting somewhere.

You bypass the actual sand filter when you "recirculate". In "filter" and "rinse", you go through the actual sand filter and that's when your psi goes to 30 which is too high. It is too high because something is blocking the flow through the filter......almost surely VERY VERY dirty sand. (But possibly some other obstrction blocking the flow)

In short, it is time to take the plumbing off from your filter (easy to do because you have those unions installed) and inspect the sand. Plan on doing a deep clean of the sand.....it is a messy job but I think needs to be done.

While you are in there, make sure the sand level is about 2/3 of the way full.

I believe your pressure will get much lower and the suction much stronger at the skimmer when you do this.

What rpm do you normally run your pump?

 

[Flying Tivo]

Definitely seams a problem with the sand.