Pump Filter Basket only Half Full

[dckbcpool]

Hello, we have had our pool for a couple years. Recently started doing the service myself to try and save some money. All has been well so far except for the mystery that currently presents itself.

-Salt water pool, about 21K gallons; currently chlorinator is off due to low water temps
-Pool temp about 40 - we live near charlotte, its cold
-Chemical balances seem to be good based on testing from Leslies

Problem: Jandy VSP running at normal schedule, no changes. The intake flow into the VSP pump is resulting in only the basket filling half way. Usually it is all the way full with a small bubble circling on top. One, i think, key thing i noticed when i discovered this was that one of the skimmer baskets was floating and not down in the bottom of the skimmer box.

There appears to be enough water in the pool, but am currently adding more. I suspect there may be a clog in the the skimmer line. Have tried to switch to spa mode etc to move the valves around. I was going to try and snake the skimmer line but the water is so cold I cant seem to keep my arm in the water long enough to figure out how to get the snake into the pipe. Have already let any air our of the filter as well. Also thinking could be an air pocket somewhere. i have adjusted the VSP from 3000 to max 3450 in hopes that might "move something along"

Anyway, pretty new to this, I hope i gave all the information needed. I am mainly looking for suggestions and also wondering how big a deal this is for now given its about to plummet in temp here in charlotte tomorrow-tuesday. there seems to be enough water getting into the basket that the the VSP intake to the large filter is still collecting water so i don't think i'm at risk of frying of the unit. freeze protection is running fine when needed.

Thank you!

 

[Texas Splash]

Hello and welcome to TFP! If you don't find the issue yourself, please post some pics of your equipment pad from different angles so we can see everything. Maybe it will give us more clues.

 

[1poolman1]

Hello, we have had our pool for a couple years. Recently started doing the service myself to try and save some money. All has been well so far except for the mystery that currently presents itself.

-Salt water pool, about 21K gallons; currently chlorinator is off due to low water temps
-Pool temp about 40 - we live near charlotte, its cold
-Chemical balances seem to be good based on testing from Leslies

Problem: Jandy VSP running at normal schedule, no changes. The intake flow into the VSP pump is resulting in only the basket filling half way. Usually it is all the way full with a small bubble circling on top. One, i think, key thing i noticed when i discovered this was that one of the skimmer baskets was floating and not down in the bottom of the skimmer box.

There appears to be enough water in the pool, but am currently adding more. I suspect there may be a clog in the the skimmer line. Have tried to switch to spa mode etc to move the valves around. I was going to try and snake the skimmer line but the water is so cold I cant seem to keep my arm in the water long enough to figure out how to get the snake into the pipe. Have already let any air our of the filter as well. Also thinking could be an air pocket somewhere. i have adjusted the VSP from 3000 to max 3450 in hopes that might "move something along"

Anyway, pretty new to this, I hope i gave all the information needed. I am mainly looking for suggestions and also wondering how big a deal this is for now given its about to plummet in temp here in charlotte tomorrow-tuesday. there seems to be enough water getting into the basket that the the VSP intake to the large filter is still collecting water so i don't think i'm at risk of frying of the unit. freeze protection is running fine when needed.

Thank you!

Don't run a "snake" into the plumbing, it will get stuck. They are not made to go around the "hard" 90-degree fittings used in pool plumbing. Get it past two and it may not come out.
Be sure the O ring on the pump lid is lubed and the lid and groove it sits in is clean. Properly lubed is just a shiny coating, not a bunch of excess.
In the cold, O rings get hard and don't seal as well. As long as water is moving, it won't hurt anything.
Best thing you can do if expecting freezing temps is to run the pump at a medium speed as close to 24/7 as your system will allow. If not, run it at night until noon.

 

[dckbcpool]

Hello and welcome to TFP! If you don't find the issue yourself, please post some pics of your equipment pad from different angles so we can see everything. Maybe it will give us more clues.

Thank you, here are some pics, but very hard to take of whats going on inside while its on. I find it interesting when the pump is off, the water no longer drains to the bottom - it used to do that. Image 5610. Is it possible the pool filter is dirty and cannot get the water through fast enough? It's registering dirty.

Image 5619 is a grainy photo showing the flow of water into the filter basket.

 

[dckbcpool]

Don't run a "snake" into the plumbing, it will get stuck. They are not made to go around the "hard" 90-degree fittings used in pool plumbing. Get it past two and it may not come out.
Be sure the O ring on the pump lid is lubed and the lid and groove it sits in is clean. Properly lubed is just a shiny coating, not a bunch of excess.
In the cold, O rings get hard and don't seal as well. As long as water is moving, it won't hurt anything.
Best thing you can do if expecting freezing temps is to run the pump at a medium speed as close to 24/7 as your system will allow. If not, run it at night until noon.

Thanks so much. I'll pass on the snake now I tried to clean out the oring, etc. doesnt seem to be the issue. starting to wonder if a dirty filter could be a culprit? Not sure though if that would prevent the filter pump from filling up.

 

[Texas Splash]

Is it possible the pool filter is dirty and cannot get the water through fast enough? It's registering dirty.

Certainly can influence things. Best to try those easy things first.

 

[dckbcpool]

The issue is fixed. Posting here so that maybe other newbies will get an easy fix sometime. Turns out the Filters needed to be cleaned. There was a great youtube video of my exact model that i followed. Once i fired it back up, everything worked fine but definitely time for new filters are the gauge psi is still reading dirty...

 

[Newdude]

gauge psi is still reading dirty...

Does it go to zero when the pump is off ? If not the gauge is bad.

But with a pool service previously, it's fairly common to have been flocced or such that ruined the carts.

Stick with our approved chemicals going forward and you can get 10 years from the carts.

Pump filter basket half full

THATs the spirit !!!!

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks so much. I'll pass on the snake now I tried to clean out the oring, etc. doesnt seem to be the issue. starting to wonder if a dirty filter could be a culprit? Not sure though if that would prevent the filter pump from filling up.

Yes, it can cause that issue. If the water can't flow fast enough out of the pump it won't draw all the air with it. The first thing a centrifugal pump, like a pool pump, does on starting is remove all the air from the plumbing, if possible, with a high enough water speed. A very dirty filter will slow the water down to the point all the air doesn't get pulled into the pump but remains in the pot.