Salt cell strainer always full of debris

Jump to latest Follow Reply
K

koopdaddy

Member
May 19, 2020
14
Charlotte, NC
I don't know what to do. Literally I have to open up my union and clean out the salt cell filter every other day or I get a low flow light on my salt cell. The cell itself looks perfect, no build ups but even a small amount of debris causes my low flow to trigger and kicks off the generator. We have to add chlorine tablets year round and kind of makes the generator somewhat useless. Any ideas how to solve? Note, we do have a lot of trees around the pool...

Is there a larger diameter/capacity filter setup I can put inline so that I might be able to get rid of the strainer in the union?
 
Please create your signature with details of your pool and equipment.

What filter? What SWG?

Your filter has a problem as it should not be blowing debris out.

Post pics of your equipment setup and let us see where the SWG and filter are plumbed.
 
Your pool filter shouldn’t be letting anything through that could clog the SWCG. Somehow dirt is bypassing your filter.
 
Here is a picture of the strainer and my setup.

After looking at the system, agree there should be nothing getting to this past the cartridge filter. I looked at the filters and while they are not new, they look ok. What else do I look at to figure out how this stuff is getting by the filters?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5606.jpg
    IMG_5606.jpg
    686.4 KB · Views: 59
  • IMG_2685.jpg
    IMG_2685.jpg
    347.9 KB · Views: 56
  • IMG_2225.jpg
    IMG_2225.jpg
    370.8 KB · Views: 52
The SWG is doing its job by shutting down, that is the good news. The bad news is your filter is not working how it should. You need to completely take it apart and figure out what is wrong with it. Since this has been happening for a long time I would suspect something is not connected where it should be on the filter. Make sure the flow directions are plumbed correctly and the manifold and all internal parts are in good shape. Whatever it is, it has something to do with the filter.
 
Which filter model do you have?

My normal process when trying to figure out something like this is to stand and stare while I scratch my head! Seriously, I’d give the cartridge a thorough going over and maybe just replace if you can’t see anything wrong. Having a spare doesn’t hurt anyway. Seems I remember somebody having problems with a cartridge deforming under pressure because it couldn’t flow, but I can’t find the post. I’m surprised that amount of debris even gets by the strainer basket in the pump.
 
The short term fix is skimmer socks/hairnets. With your bought time, figure out which/all of the filters that aren’t seated properly. If one was torn you would probably see it so my guess is where the actual filters connect to the housing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mguzzy
Ok filter is a Hayward C5520BHMB by Blue Haven Pools.

Just got it apart and I see that the tops are cracked. I was TOLD by my pool guy that the filters were fine, but it appears maybe not? Could this be where the stuff is getting in at? I have this apart now and will go thru it all but perhaps this is it?

This pool was poorly maintained for over a decade and I bought the home a year ago and I am constantly finding things.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7717.jpg
    IMG_7717.jpg
    495.7 KB · Views: 42
The air relief tube does not have a screen. That will allow debris to bypass the filters.

Are you sure that the in and out are correct?

Cracked filters can be due to water going from the inside of the filters to the outside instead of from the outside to the inside.

Cracking filters can be due to excessive water flow.

What is the maximum rpm that the pump uses?
 
JamesW said:
The air relief tube does not have a screen. That will allow debris to bypass the filters.

Are you sure that the in and out are correct?

Cracked filters can be due to water going from the inside of the filters to the outside instead of from the outside to the inside.

Cracking filters can be due to excessive water flow.

What is the maximum rpm that the pump uses?
Click to expand...
3000RPM initially then down to 2200 for its normal operation after prime.

I will check the flow and let you know but I doubt its backwards.... The filters are probably a decade old, seriously! I DOUBT these people ever changed them and I think they have cracked due to old age.

The air relief tube I assume is that tall skinny PVC poking up between the filters? There is supposed to be a filter on this? If missing it will allow debris past?
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
koopdaddy said:
The air relief tube I assume is that tall skinny PVC poking up between the filters? There is supposed to be a filter on this? If missing it will allow debris past?
Click to expand...
Correct.

I would turn the priming off or down as it's really not necessary.

I would run the pump as slow as possible.

Is there any reason you can't drop the rpm to 1,725 rpm or lower?

Edit - I see a heater, which requires at least 10 gpm per 100k btu/hr. So, you need to meet the heater requirements any time you will have the heater on.

The debris bypassing the filters can clog up the heater. So, it's important to get it resolved before the heater is damaged. It might already be clogged.

Probably time to replace the filters as well.
 
I think I may have found the CULPRITS. I just saw that where the endcap plugs go into the filters, the center is not sealing. The rubber in the middle is completely destroyed. The endplug just moves around like crazy. Is debris getting around the end plugs and then getting sent downstream and getting caught by the screen before the generator?

I was running higher RPM otherwise my generator would have low flow faults after a day. I can easily go down once I figure out what is allowing this screen to get cloggeed
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9178.jpg
    IMG_9178.jpg
    379 KB · Views: 21
I think it is clear you need a new set of cartridges.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply