Pressure low -> new gauge helped -> still more to do?

[MarcBalcer]

Good evening,

I have a 28k gal pool with SWG. It has been running at a pressure reading of ~5 psi all summer. All pool readings including Chlorine (4), pH (7.5), Alk, CYA (50) etc. have been right in range all summer and water looks and feels great.

Yesterday, I replaced several o-rings and plugs and thoroughly cleaned the filter. No change to pressure. Then, I replaced the pressure gauge and the new one reads 10 psi. If I understand correctly, that may still be a little low. I put a lot of shaving cream on various valves, lids and connections but none of it got sucked in.

The one thing I have noticed is when the filter is first turned on, there is an awful lot of bubbling and "burping" at the returns. It settles down after a minute or two. It feels like the returns are really blasting out water. The draw in the skimmer baskets are good but feel a bit lazy, at least compared with the returns. Water level is high. No bubbles in pool pump basket.

I tried to do everything recommended in other posts but now I am stuck, maybe. Thank you!

44' x 20' - 6 ft sunshelf, tapered from 3ft to 6.5ft
3 return jets, 2 floor returns, 2 skimmers, 2 suctions in floor

 

[Jimrahbe]

Marc,

Filter pressure is not an indication of how well your pump is working, it is a measure of how hard it is to push water through your filter and back to the pool. As long as you have a good flow of water coming out of your returns, then lower pressure is better.

If you have a bunch of bubbles and burping when you first start up the pump, that is an indication water is draining back into the pool when the pump is off. In a well operating system, the water in your pump basket, as well as the water in your filter should not drain down.

When you turn off your pump does the water stay in the basket overnight?

When you turn off your pump do you hear your filter making noise as the water drains back into the pool.

When you turn off your pump do you hear the sound of air being sucked into your filter?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[MarcBalcer]

Marc,

Filter pressure is not an indication of how well your pump is working, it is a measure of how hard it is to push water through your filter and back to the pool. As long as you have a good flow of water coming out of your returns, then lower pressure is better.

If you have a bunch of bubbles and burping when you first start up the pump, that is an indication water is draining back into the pool when the pump is off. In a well operating system, the water in your pump basket, as well as the water in your filter should not drain down.

When you turn off your pump does the water stay in the basket overnight?

When you turn off your pump do you hear your filter making noise as the water drains back into the pool.

When you turn off your pump do you hear the sound of air being sucked into your filter?

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks for the insight Jim,

1) The water stays in the basket overnight after pump is off. It always appears full.
2) No, not really
3) No

#2 is the only one that isn't a definite no. I don't hear anything while standing next to the equipment. When I put my ear against the DE filter, I hear running water noises for about 15 seconds after I turn off the pump. It also takes about 15 seconds after turning on the pump for the pressure reading to hit 10 but I suspect that is normal?

When I started the pump today, I didn't get any bubbles or burping. It doesn't happen every time. I'll try to isolate when that happens. Definitely after clearing the filter basket or having backwash the filter...Again, is that normal?

Marc

 

[Jimrahbe]

Marc,

Anytime you open the system, it will allow air to get in.

It is quite normal for there to be large bubbles when you turn things on after cleaning the pump basket or cleaning the filter. Not so sure about after backwashing, but as long as it is not a problem every time you turn the pump on, I don't see much of an issue.

To me the key is do you have good flow coming out of your returns. If you do, then I would not worry about the filter pressure. I think 10 PSI is fine for a clean DE filter.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[duraleigh]

Based on the skimmers and returns you have enumerated, a psi of about 10 for that 1.5 hp pump seems close to perfect