Pool not pulling water through main drain

[TxPoolperson]

I moved into a new home(new to me in TX) the home was vacant for 7 months it had a pool cover but was not in good condition and had gaps where leaves could come though rather than try and SLAM it to health I drained the pool and cleaned out all the dead rot that was in there I know the filter was working before I drained it because when we checked out the house a couple of months ago the pool filter kicked on because of the freezing temperatures. Also before I drained it the pressure would go to 18-30 psi. Now that I drained and filled the pool the filter won't build any pressure. I am very new to this so any help would be appreciated. I have cleaned out the filters they were dark green and clogged , I've cleaned the filter's the pump basket, Strainer basket, cleaned the impeller, there's no air suction leaks that I can tell. Thanks for any help. Also I've tried pulling water though the vacuum pipe to same result.

photos of equip here.
https://imgur.com/a/v5Kz9SH

 

[Jimrahbe]

tpp,

Welcome to TFP... a great place to find the answers to all your "Pool Resurrection" Questions...

If you post a couple of pictures of your equipment pad, it will help us help you...

It is important for us to see the equipment you have and how the valves are position...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[cfherrman]

Try a garden hose into the skimmer or main drain if there is a clog, draining it might have sent something there. Check if the pump is turning.

 

[TxPoolperson]

I put a hose down in there and the good news is I could see water and air coming though the main drain and when I send water through the skimmers the water shuts the drains becasue of the pressure so I'm glad that its not clogged I power the pump and prime it and its still not pulling water through the filter...

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Done I edited main post and hosted them on imgur.com for higher quality I hope that's ok.

 

[cfherrman]

Put the hose in the skimmer to see if water goes into the pump

 

[Jimrahbe]

tpp,

Well, based upon your pics, you have two skimmers that are both open...

The pictures show the Main Drain and Cleaner ports are both off.

It is unlikely that both skimmers are clogged... could be, but unlikely...

The most likely problem is the pump lid O-Ring is bad or not lubed. If the pump lid lets air in the pump will never prime.

I suggest you do the following...

1. Clean and lube the pump lid O-Ring with pool lube.. Put the lid on the pump...
2. Leave the valves in the same positions as in your pics..
3. Ensure that your water is up to the middle of each skimmer opening...
4. Ensure the little floating door (Weir) between the skimmer and the skimmer basket is floating and can move up and down.. (ok if no door at all for now..)
5. Turn on the pump and look through the lid and see if any water is coming into the pump basket. Let it run for 30 seconds or so...
6. Report back what you see...

Thanks for the pics, they were a great help...

Jim R.

 

[TxPoolperson]

I lubed up both O rings and checked for any cracks or cuts. I tried my valves in a few different configs I tried main drain solo then Skimmers in unison as well as solo each and finally I tried the Vacuum post solo which normally is the strongest with it still not pulling enough water into shoot anything out of the spouts at all. Very frustrated and disappointed right now. The pump does kick on I hear it and the fan working its not filling the filter. Also made sure to tighten Pump basket , checked Filter overflow to make sure everything was sealed including Air pressure gauge and lower drain plug. I was in the process of priming the pump again in the picture I took.

 

[Jimrahbe]

tpp,

I assume items 3 and 4 on my list are good???

Try putting the hose in the suction pipe in the bottom of the skimmer and turning on the hose full blast, and then trying the pump again..

Jim R.

 

[TxPoolperson]

3 and 4 are good tring the hose now will follow up with results thanks for a ll your help/time I really appreciate it.

 

[TxPoolperson]

Still nothing just fills the skimmer cavity until water goes into pool from small cavities from the weir.

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Pump sounds the same as it always has, other than before you could hear the water shooting back out into the spouts after going through the filter.

 

[Jimrahbe]

tpp,

Try this...

Turn the valve right in front of the pump all the way around until the off tab points toward the pump. Basically you have shut off the pump's water input.

Now fill up the pump basket with water... it should stay in the pump... with the lid off, turn the pump on for two or three seconds and tell me what happens to the water...

I would expect the water to get sucked into the pump and disappear...

Please tell me what happens...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TxPoolperson]

So I think what you were saying is to shut off all the intakes and allow the water to suck in, It went down maybe 1/4" so I went a little further in testing this I was able to put something lightly into the impeller and it didn't move much just the vibration of the pump powering on. Is the pump bad or something in the pump?

 

[Olivier]

So I think what you were saying is to shut off all the intakes and allow the water to suck in, It went down maybe 1/4" so I went a little further in testing this I was able to put something lightly into the impeller and it didn't move much just the vibration of the pump powering on. Is the pump bad or something in the pump?

if you follow JIMRAHBE and the water in the basket isn't going down dry then something is wrong with your pump. high likely that your pump motor is a goner.
have you try to open the pump output faucet and see any water coming out? if the pump spinning, the water in the basket should be empty very very quickly not just 1/4" drop. your pump not turn or your pump turn but the impeller not spin or the output pipe from the pump get clogged

 

[Jimrahbe]

tpp,

Your extra testing is where I was going... It sounds like the pump is running but the impeller is not turning.. Could be broken or has come loose somehow...

I would turn off the power to the pump and then stick your finger in and see if you can feel the impeller.. Does it feel like it is connected or does it flop around.. You can take the end cap off the back of the pump an you should see a shaft.. you can turn the shaft and feel if the impeller is turning...

Let us know what you find... most likely tomorrow..

Jim R.

 

[TxPoolperson]

Will follow up tomorrow thanks again for all your help.

 

[TxPoolperson]

I took the pump apart the impeller was broken ordered a new one, everything else seems ok Thank you all for you're help especially, Jimrahbe you're a wonderfully kind person.