Pump comes on but won’t stay on

[acarlton]

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 start low and increment up 3-4x, water spits out of the waterfall and bubbler but then the pump shuts off and doesn’t continue running

The cleaner button is blinking off and on

Before when it did that it would spit out water and then just settle in and run steadily

I also turned it all off and made sure there was water in the pump. It had water in there when I opened it but I used a hose and added more and it did allow quite a bit of water to go in

The pump still won’t come on steadily either In auto or service mode

Any idea what is going on and what to do?

It’s got an automatic mode set to run 9 pm to 2 am but I’m not sure if I should leave that program on or turn it on service mode tonight until I figure out what to do next

Any help is greatly appreciated
Pics of setup attached

 

[acarlton]

Every 15 min approx it seems to try to start itself back up (while in auto mode when it is programmed to be running)
I went ahead and turned it to service mode for the night
Thanks in advance
Good night

 

[proavia]

So it works ok in service mode?

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[acarlton]

it will not stay on in either auto or service mode. It does the same thing as described above but will not stay on.

 

[proavia]

Is it an SVRS pump?
Those VS pumps can be problematic as any small change on the suction side will cause the pump to shut down.

 

[acarlton]

Let me see if I can get a picture of it or find info in the paperwork from the previous owner. I added what I have pics of into my signature thanks

 

[acarlton]

You are right. Pentair intelliflow VS + SVRS

 

[PoolStored]

Aside from the suction side issues,
Here are some other potential issues:
1) When did you backwash the filter last?
2) Have you checked for any obstructing material in the impellor? (TURN OFF POWER TO THE PUMP BEFORE CHECKING!)
3) You have algae that is clogging the filter. Can you post a full set of chemical results from your test? How are you testing? Do this test tonight..Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[acarlton]

1. Backwashed July 7
Added DE a fe w days after that bc we didn’t know we needed to
2. No have not done this or know how to. Will look on YouTube.
3. Is possible. Started a week ago with lots of algae but color improving. I’ll try to get the filter open and see if it needs to be cleaned. We did a full disassemble and cleaning of it a few weeks ago but there has been a lot of algae since then.

I am testing using Taylor kit recommended here

Last tests had pH at 7.8 I added muriatic acid yesterday for that
Cya was at 0. Did the sock method w recommended amount today and almost all of it was processed
Chlorine also at 0

Trying to get cya up so I can slam

Sounds like I need to check filter tomorrow and go from there. If that should not be my next step please let me know.

Thank you!

 

[PoolStored]

You need to backwash the filter and add 80% of the DE required for a clean filter.

For a clean filter this is the amount. Use 80% if you are backwashing.



You need to follow the SLAM process. Link-->SLAM Process

Have DE on hand, you will need to backwash often as you clear the algae.

Sounds like I need to check filter tomorrow and go from there. If that should not be my next step please let me know.

Backwash and follow the instructions above.

 

[acarlton]

Thank you very much for your help. I’ll start with the backwash and DE tomorrow and go from there.

 

[PoolStored]

The algae is clogging your filter. Be prepared to backwash often early in SLAM. Clean the filter. When the clean pressure rises 25%, backwash the filter. Make sure the pump is running the same speed when you check pressure (somewhere between 2500-3000), choose a consistent speed to check at. You can run the pump on lower speed during slam (will filter more effectively), but run the pump up to check pressures.

 

[proavia]

In addition to what @PoolStored recommended.......

Post a full set of current test results so we have a baseline.

FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt (if using a SWG)
Water temperature

Follow the SLAM Process instructions.

 

[acarlton]

Updates.
Tried to backwash. Turned setting to backwash and opened line where water comes out. Turned on pump. Nothing happened.
Turned everything back to normal. Tried to turn pump on. Nothing happens.
The panel on the wall (in service mode) just shows pump button solid red like it’s on but it’s not starting up or anything.
I did look on the pump itself and it has a message on the screen and the red is blinking on that small screen. See photo.
It says clear drain before restart
Can someone please tell me my next steps (as dumbed down as possible as I am very new to this and not that confident working with the equipment yet)
Thanks a million.

 

[acarlton]

In my previous threads we decided I need to do a backwash and proceed with slam. I’m ready to go but my pump isn’t cooperating (see my last thread). I’ve just gotten somewhat comfortable with the wall panel and remote control, but now it seems I need to do something with the buttons on top of the pump and I could use some education and encouragement. There is a message saying to clear the drain before restart. I don’t know how to clear the drain (which one? Where? How?) or how to restart the pump. I’ve looked on YouTube but haven’t found much. Any help (explained like I’m a first grader, bc in this, I am!) would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Newdude]

It's a bogus SVRS trip and why we hate those pumps. I had one at my old house and it would trip for no reason. Certainly no clog reasons at least.

Press reset then start. Or stop, reset, start. (It's been a while for me since moving. Lol).

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

If this is a new pool your pool builder did not do you any favors by installing Pentair's worst pump. The standard IntelliFlo is the Gold Standard of pool pumps. The SVRS version is the Brown Standard of pools pumps.. I know because I have one...

Any slight water surge will shut the pump off. Just closing the filter air valve too quickly will do it.

I think all you have to do is hit the reset button and the pump will try to start again. Of course when the pump starts, it causes a surge in water pressure, so even this will often cause the pump to shut off.. Sometimes it fires right up, and sometimes I have to reset it several times in a row.

Make sure the water level at the skimmer is in the middle of the tile line, or higher, as low water will also cause the pump to trip off... Sigh!!!

If your pool builder told you the SVRS is a requirement he is a lying sack of .... Let's just say mistaken...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[acarlton]

Thanks for the replies. It’s not a new pool. I bought a house with a pool so it’s all new to me. The pool is about 10 years old

I have not moved anything and now there is no water in the spa.

Will wait to hear back from you all before doing anything. Won’t restart pump yet due to new discovery of no water.

 

[acarlton]

A,

If this is a new pool your pool builder did not do you any favors by installing Pentair's worst pump. The standard IntelliFlo is the Gold Standard of pool pumps. The SVRS version is the Brown Standard of pools pumps.. I know because I have one...

Any slight water surge will shut the pump off. Just closing the filter air valve too quickly will do it.

I think all you have to do is hit the reset button and the pump will try to start again. Of course when the pump starts, it causes a surge in water pressure, so even this will often cause the pump to shut off.. Sometimes it fires right up, and sometimes I have to reset it several times in a row.

Make sure the water level at the skimmer is in the middle of the tile line, or higher, as low water will also cause the pump to trip off... Sigh!!!

If your pool builder told you the SVRS is a requirement he is a lying sack of .... Let's just say mistaken...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Hi Jim I think I saw a post of yours here about that same pump. I inherited all this equipment when I bought the house. Unfortunately we didn’t get any info other than some basic paperwork from when it was built around 10 years ago. So I am stumbling through all this. Appreciate the reply.

 

[acarlton]

Updates. Water level is at bottom of water line. And spa is empty of water. Not sure how that happened.

Can you let me know what I should do next? Thank you!!