Pool level will not come up.

[GangPond]

I am not able to get the pool level up to skimmer. Pool level has been sitting at the first stair. Tried to fill up with hose all day yesterday, looked like it was coming up to jet level but then regressed. Main drain pump was filtering, what could this mean?
New owner, pool was not inspected at purchase of house as it was not open. Area around the equipment does look wet. Jets were showing change in pressure at which they were pushing water back.

 

[splashpad]

What type of pool is it? (vinyl liner, fiberglass, plaster?)

 

[GangPond]

It’s a gunite pool

 

[splashpad]

Tagging @zea3 or @kimkats

 

[zea3]

Hi, welcome to TFP. Does your pool have a main drain in the deep end? What type of filter do you have? If you could post photos of your equipment pad and all the above ground plumbing that will help us troubleshoot the problem.

 

[kimkats]

Does it always stop draining at the same level?

 

[GangPond]

Yes it stops at the same level at the first step.

 

[GangPond]

Hi, welcome to TFP. Does your pool have a main drain in the deep end? What type of filter do you have? If you could post photos of your equipment pad and all the above ground plumbing that will help us troubleshoot the problem.

Yes there is a main drain, infact we started filtering using the main drain yesterday while trying to fill the pool.

 

[GangPond]

Here is a photo of the cartridge filter that I was told is at the end of its life.

 

[kimkats]

So look at that level all around the inside of the pool. What is at that level?

 

[zea3]

Can you shut off the main drain flow anywhere? It looks like the pump leading to your filter doesn't have any valves to control water going in or out of the pump. What does the old pump connect to?

 

[proavia]

Turn off both pumps and see if the water level rises above the step. If it does rise higher, shut off fill water and see if the epwater level holds. Report back with your findings.

From your pics, on the suction side of the variable speed pump, there seems to be a tee right before the pump. One line comes from the skimmer/main drain. The other leg seems to go under the filter and connect to the rear of the filter - that seems weird.

Post a few more pics of your equipment pad from further away and from different angles so we can get a better idea of your plumbing.

 

[GangPond]

This jet is the only thing at that exact level.

 

[GangPond]

Turn off both pumps and see if the water level rises above the step. If it does rise higher, shut off fill water and see if the epwater level holds. Report back with your findings.

From your pics, on the suction side of the variable speed pump, there seems to be a tee right before the pump. One line comes from the skimmer/main drain. The other leg seems to go under the filter and connect to the rear of the filter - that seems weird.

Post a few more pics of your equipment pad from further away and from different angles so we can get a better idea of your plumbing.

Here are a few more pics

 

[GangPond]

Also pool equipment has been turned off for about 24 hrs and water is static at that level.

 

[proavia]

Ok, I can clearly see the pipe from the rear of the filter mkving forward now. It's not tee'd into the suction line. It runs under the suction line and then into the ground - probably a filter drain.

If pump was off, was the fill water also off or was it on for some time after the pump was shut off?

 

[GangPond]

The first time I just tried to get the water filled with everything off as instructed by the company coming to open pool. It rose some but not as much as I expected and dropped overnight to same level at the step at which it was when I opened the pool. Got water running again in the morning, till then I was thinking this just takes longer than expected. Water rose almost to jet level with pump running once they opened the main drain pump, it never rose to skimmer level. Then it started going down and we turned everything off.
Pool company is coming out to check it out again next week and has asked me to keep everything off. The pool has been at the stair level at least the last 2 months since we have bought this house. In the picture below you can see it rose while hose was in and pump was running but then receded.

 

[zea3]

Are there any openings in the pool shell at the same level as the current waterline?

 

[kimkats]

His pic in post #13 shows a return jet that is right at the water line it stops at.

 

[zea3]

I would check that return line for leaks.