Pump comes on but won’t stay on

[Jimrahbe]

A,

Well, the first thing to do is add water to the spa and then the pool.. You need to do that before starting the pump.

Not sure how that is done on your pool.

If you have never had to add water, then most likely you have an auto fill system. But for now, just use a garden hose. Fill the spa up to the point that it 'almost' flows over into the pool. Then fill the pool up so that the water is in the middle of the tile line.

Then show us a bunch of pics of all the pool equipment, and anything you see around the pool that looks like pool equipment. See if you have anything attached to any of the house outside faucets and take pics of that.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[acarlton]

Sunday afternoon update
I filled the spa and pool with the garden hose.
I finally got the pump back on in regular mode

About to do the backwash
Then I will add 80 percent of the DE amount from the table

I know I have zero chlorine so I’ll start there and do tests tomorrow am

FYI Filter is at 15 pressure
Pump seems to be running at a lower speed than usual and less water is coming out of the waterfall though all I hit was the reset button on the pump a few times

Sound like a plan?

Attaching photo of what may be auto filler?

And now the pump keeps saying clear drain and I have reset it a few times but it keeps saying that and won’t stay on, it stops just as it’s starting up and gives the error

I also put water into the pump but I notice when it is coming on there is no water splashing up to the clear top like normal

 

[Jimrahbe]

Show us several pics of your equipment pad...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[acarlton]

Is the tube on the right part of an auto filler? Where is it usually controlled? I don’t see anything other than the big panel on the wall for the pump etc

 

[acarlton]

Hi! Pics are in this thread

Pump comes on but won’t stay on

I was adding the cya using the sock method from my thread yesterday asking for help (thanks!) the pump has been on for a day or two solid Now it is like it’s auto shutting off In service mode I push the pump button on the panel. I hear the water start to move in the filter and hear the pump...

www.troublefreepool.com

Mod Note -- I merged the threads.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Is the tube on the right part of an auto filler? Where is it usually controlled?

A,

I suspect that is where the auto fill gets its water.. Turn the little black valve so that it is in line with the white pipe. Make sure the faucet is on.. Keep an eye on the pool level to see if it goes up over time..

It could be this just directly adds water to the pool and you might have to manually shut if off, when the pool is full..

More likely, the white pipe goes to what might look like a skimmer cover that is not right next to the pool's edge.. Under the cover there would be a floating valve that looks just like what you would see inside a toilet tank.. Look around and see if you can find something like that..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Show me a pic of the Multi Port valve in front of the filter, from the top.. I want to see where the valve is positioned and what other options that we might have..

I also want to know how you are controlling your EasyTouch.. I see your signature shows a Pentair Remote.. Is that all you have, or do you have ScreenLogic where you can use your phone or PC to control the EasyTouch?

You are fighting too many problems all at the same time..

I suggest that we help you set up your pump to run 24/7 at say 2000 RPM.. And see if the pump will constantly run and not shut off.. If we can do that, then we can start working on your other issues..

Water in Texas is pretty cheap, so I would recommend just draining the pool and starting over.. I can fill a 15K pool for less than $100 bucks.. You might want to check with your City for an approximate cost.

Let me know..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[acarlton]

Hi Jim. I really appreciate your replies. I am just about to my breaking point (of throwing in the towel for this season, outsourcing it and trying to learn from them ‘til next year) buuut you give me hope so thanks for that.

Let me know if this is the pic you need from above in front of the pump.

I have the panel on the wall near the pool equipment and a clunky plastic remote with very old technology menus etc. No phone app or access any other way (I’m aware of).

I agree re fighting too many issues at the same time trying to stay positive and not get overwhelmed and remember this is a learning experience. However I really just want to be able to enjoy the pool. Thanks for your help, I do appreciate it.

Re pump strategy of 24x7 that’s what I had it doing until I hit all these snags. Agree with this approach but open to figuring out step by step what makes sense next.

I found water rates online and it doesn’t look too bad to me if I’m understanding it correctly. See attached.

Re autofill the faucet is always on and we use the little black toggle to turn off and on the hose. I think the gardener may have closed the little black valve where the pvc pipe is. I just reopened it.
I have two skimmers, nothing inside but I did find another plastic top nearby one of them with the name poolmiser on it. I’ll Google to see if that could be an auto filler.

Again. Thanks so much for all the help and recommendations. Open to hearing what you think I should do next.

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

I need to see the top of the large white valve in front of the Filter... not the pump..

PoolMiser is an autofill system.. Let's assume it is working and turning on the little black toggle will fix your low water issue.

Try this on your remote, or at the main panel..

Menu, scroll up/dn to Settings, Select Settings. Scroll up/dn to IntelliFlo, Select IntelliFlo. Select pump #1. You should see the following:

Pump Type: VS (Don't change this, just tell me what it shows..)
Scroll up/dn to Speeds, Select Speeds.. If you need to, scroll up/dn to find the Pool circuit

Pump#1 1/8
Rpm: XXXX
Circuit
[Pool]

Push select and the RPM should flash..
up/dn to adjust the RPM to 2000

Menu to save and again several times to get back to AUTO page.


Then set your Pool Schedule for 24/7..

Menu, schedule and select..

up/dn to find the Pool Circuit and then Select the Pool Circuit

Set it to show the following:

08:00A -- 08:00A
All the days should have a little line over them.

Hit menu to save and then to back out to the auto page.

In theory your pump should run 24/7 and hopefully not shut off, but we will just have to try it and see what happens.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[acarlton]

Hi Jim
Here’s a pic of the valve in front of the filter. Not very helpful since the sticker is 99% gone. I found this one on YouTube and was going to assume mine was the same but that may be incorrect to assume?

Autofill valve opened and level is back up to normal. Yay!

Adjusted pump 1 to 2000 rpm per your instructions.

Set pump to 24x7 as well.

Pump came on and is running. I’ll continue to check it throughout the day, crossing fingers. Thank you for the help!

I think I need chlorine asap. I was finishing up putting in the cya when these pump issues started. In the past few days it’s gotten really green again and chlorine was at zero before that. Going to add a gallon of liquid chlorine now and we can go from there. My ultimate goal was a slam…

Thanks and I’ll check in a little later.

 

[acarlton]

Spoke too soon. Pump ran about 10 min. Shut itself off. Giving the clear drain error. I cleared the error once and it came right back. Bc it’s on auto it keeps trying to restart every few min. I see a little water come up in the bubbler and flow out of the waterfall then it shuts itself off after maybe 20-30 seconds.
I stood beside the pump. It had the clear drain error and I was about to clear or reset it when it cleared the error itself and tried to restart again. After 15 seconds of trying to start up it has the same error again attached pic. I will clear the error but it seems to be in an endless loop with this error.

Now it says error priming dry. I opened the round clear plastic and added water there.
It seemed to come on and water was passing near the valve with no sticker in front of the filter
Then all of a sudden it shuts off and gives the clear drain error again.
I observed it a few more times doing the same thing - trying to start up and throwing the drain error.
It seems to throw the error at different times as it is starting up, sometimes earlier and sometimes a few seconds later. Also I only got it to run once successfully this am, that was the time it ran for about 10 min I mentioned above. Otherwise it seems to be in the endless loop with the clear drain error.

I switched it over into service mode for now. I did not add chlorine yet either since pumps are nor running.

This is where I am now. Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[Jimrahbe]

a,

Put the system into the Service mode.. This will shut off the pump... if not push stop and shut off the pump.

Then move the Multiport valve to the recirculate position based on the photo that you provided above..

Put the system back to AUTO and the pump should restart.. (It might take a minute or so..)

Push reset on the pump if needed..

Tell me what happens...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

Also... Let's make sure that your weir door, in the skimmer is working ok...

The weir door is between the mouth of the skimmer and the skimmer basket.. This door should bob up and down with the action of the water..

Reach in and make sure the door is not stuck up, and that it can freely move up and down.

If stuck up, it will cause the skimmer to run out of water and the pump will shut off.

If in doubt, pull the door down and put a brick on it for now..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[acarlton]

Made some noise like water was moving around
Threw error
I cleared error
Started again
Ran 1-2 min and got the clear drain error again

 

[acarlton]

Both skimmer doors seem to be bobbing ok

 

[acarlton]

Notes to self

Currently multiport is set to recirculate
System is in service mode
Awaiting further instruction

Thank you!!!

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

Well rats!!!

Putting the filter in the recirculate mode takes the filter out of the water flow's path.. I had hoped that the filter was the reason your pump will not run, but apparently not.

You can move the MPV back to filter and whatever else you'd like to do..

The SVRS pump is the worst pump Pentair every made, but you can usually get around the problems it causes..

I have an appointment shortly, so I'll have think about our next move..

Try google and see if you can find a factory reset on the pump you have, and try that, since we are grasping at straws...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

As a test... With the pump off, put the system in the spa mode.. You should see your Automated Intake and Return valves move about 180 degrees. Then fire up the pump and see what happens..

Let me know what happens..

After the test you an put it back into the pool mode if you want..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

As another test....

Try running the pump as follows...

1. Just skimmer #1.. Close skimmer #2 and the Main Drain.
2. Just skimmer #2.. Close skimmer #1 and the Main Drain
3. Just the main drain.. Close both skimmers..

Tell us if this makes any different in the pump's operation..

Just to make sure... When the word "off" is pointed to the left as it is in your pics, the pipe is open.. If you point the word "off" up or down, then that pipe is shut off..

Again, just to make sure.. There should be a large black O-Ring between the clear cover and the top of the pump. This O-Ring seals the lid to the pump body, so that the pump can suck water out of the pool or spa.

Thanks,

Jim R.