Pentair VSP help

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Jacquelyn1215

Jacquelyn1215

Well-known member
Jun 1, 2021
93
Austin TX
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
In advance, excuse my lack of proper terminology but hoping you can help. Here's what's going on. This morning I put the pool in service mode to empty the filter--the little basket that's connected to all the pool equipment:

IMG_F38A4B3101A7-1.jpeg

I've done this before so not a new process, although I will add that every time I do it the pump is finicky for a while afterwards. Anyway, took care of it, put everything back together and turned the pump back on auto, out of service mode. I'll add that the skimmer baskets in the pool are also totally empty.

It's probably been an hour that I completed all this. Well, ever since I've done this, the pump has been completely unresponsive to the Pentair app on my phone. I've tried to adjust the speed to no avail. For example, I'll set it to 1000 and it will show as idle. I'll try to change it to 3450 and it will do nothing. It's like the pump is doing its own thing. And then I heard the pump kick in, so I assumed it was just a delay (sounded like it sounds when I have it at 3450), but there was nothing coming out of the jets in the pool--no pressure.

Can anyone help troubleshoot? TIA.
 
Take a baking soda paste, and a wet rag and clean the mating surface on the top of the pump basket.
Make sure you flush any baking soda thoroughly. We don't want to leave any on the mating surface. It is just to clean up the surface to seal better.
Take the o-ring out and inspect. If there are cracks, replace. Lubricate with silicone lubricant (like magic lube II).
Clean the clear lid where the o-ring goes, replace the o-ring.
Remove the drain plugs from the pump. Clean, inspect (and replace if necessary), lube and replace the plugs.
VERY IMPORTANT: After you do this get a 5 gallon pail with about 3 gallons and pour it into the pump basket.
Replace the lid and start the pump. If it doesn't prime in 5 minutes, stop the pump, you have another problem.
Start there.
 
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In your first photo, it appears as though your lid is out of alignment and not closed. Make sure you are turning it counterclockwise to close. Try removing the lid and turning it about 90° and resetting it. The tangs sticking out should be almost perpendicular to the pump in the closed position.
 
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Everything has been working perfectly fine up until this morning. The only thing I did was put it in service mode to empty that basket because it was full so full of debris that I could hear the leaves and things hitting the lid. After I put everything back together, that’s when this all started.
 
Follow the advice @PoolStored provided. Make sure your water level is halfway up the skimmer mouth. With power turned off, you can try removing the lid and basket. Make sure no leaves fell down into the pump basket towards the rear. Reach your hand in there to pull any debris that you can reach.
 
This is not correct. The ears need to be at 9 and 3 o'clock...they are at 8 and 2.
Clean up as I indicated above and lube.
push down on the lid to get engaged, then turn clockwise until the ears are sticking out 90 degrees to the inlet pipe.

1746634111401.png
 
PoolStored said:
This is not correct. The ears need to be at 9 and 3 o'clock...they are at 8 and 2.
Clean up as I indicated above and lube.
push down on the lid to get engaged, then turn clockwise until the ears are sticking out 90 degrees to the inlet pipe.

View attachment 643725
Click to expand...
I understand what you are saying, but it is impossible to get ours exactly at 9 and 3. It has never sat exactly at 9 and 3 as long as we've owned the pool. Here's the inside/outside setup:

IMG_7770.JPGIMG_7771.JPG

It's always sat slightly off like that. But I can assure you it's on tight/secure.
 
I just completed the entire process again; put pool in service mode, unscrewed lid and put it back on securely and put the pool back in auto mode. A few things of note:

1. The pump turned back on to 3450 again which I know only from the sound. the app still shows conflicting 3450/1000:

IMG_975D439E97ED-1.jpeg
2. The salt cell turned back on but low flow indicated by red flashing light.
3. The water pressure gauge still shows 0.
4. The water feature will barely turn on (due to no pressure--but just part of my testing process).
5. No water pressure coming from jets in pool (you can usually see/feel it when it's running at 3450).
6. Perhaps most interesting, the water in the container I opened was HOT. Our pool heater is not on and hasn't been on in weeks. My husband suggested maybe b/c the water has been sitting there for some time, but I tested everything on Sunday which required me turning the pump up to 3450 when I added muriatic acid and had no issues then.
 
It looks like you have two suction sources that are controlled by the valve in front of the pump. I assume one is the skimmer. Do you know what the other suction source is? It could be a main drain, cleaner, or second skimmer?
 
Try filling the pot with water as you did before and replace the lid. Turn on the pump and as it is priming, turn the valve in front of the pump so the handle is facing the pipe labeled skimmer. If you still see no water, try turning the handle in the opposite direction so it faces main drain. As the pump is trying to prime, open the Air Relief valve on top of the filter briefly to allow air to escape. When you have the handle facing skimmer, take a peek inside of the skimmer at the poolside and see if there's any water movement.
 
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