Skimmers not working after pump replacement

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ams123

Member
Mar 20, 2023
11
Pleasanton, CA
I had my pump replaced in the spring (~3 hp fixed replaced by variable speed). It seems like since it was replaced the skimmers no longer work. I am pretty sure it matches the pump replacement timing since I have never had to clean needles out of the pump basket like I did with the old pump. I have read through old post and don't see any solutions that apply to me.

Pertinent Info
-Filter pressure is almost the same when variable speed up is at maximum speed as with old fixed pump
-I have tried water levels 1/2" above and below the top of the weir valves
-The bottom of my skimmers have float valves but they are all the way up when running and the adjustment cover is all the way open
-I can take out the baskets and valves and don't see any meaningful flow
-There are two pipes on the pool side inlet to pump but no valve to control the balance between, there is also a spa side inlet and obviously a valve between pool side and spa side
-Old pump: Purex Triton Whisper Flow WFE-8 2.0 HP Service Factor 1.3
-New pump: Jany Pump VS FlowPro Variable Speed 2.7 HP
-I run it at 3250 for the first hour then 2250 the rest of the 8 hours I run it.

Any help would be appreciated

Photo shows old pump but the only change with new pump is between valve and inlet.

IMG_0152.jpeg

New pump
1694302683612.jpeg
 
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What was the pump model of the old pump and your new pump?
 
ams,

Do you really have a skimming issue or is the problem that your skimmers just do not "look" like they are working???

I run my pump at about 1200 RPM (no heater) and my skimmer work just fine, but they sure don't look they they do compared to using a single speed pump.

The real key to skimming is have operating weir doors. The weir doors is what makes a skimmer work, not the amount of water passing through the skimmer.

There is no doubt that skimming with a VS pump requires a little more patience.. :mrgreen:

Do you have operating weir doors on your skimmers?

Running your VS pump at full speed does not make a lot of sense to me. :scratch:

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Put your hand in front of return. Do you have flow? Do you have a main drain you can shut off? If you have skimmer only or can isolate skimmer and still have flow from returns then the skimmers are working
 
BDY said:
Put your hand in front of return. Do you have flow? Do you have a main drain you can shut off? If you have skimmer only or can isolate skimmer and still have flow from returns then the skimmers are working
Click to expand...
The return is flowing nicely, no question about that. There is no valve to shut off the main drain. The skimmers no longer collect the leaves and needles floating on top of the pool, I almost never have to empty them.
 
Jimrahbe said:
ams,

Do you really have a skimming issue or is the problem that your skimmers just do not "look" like they are working???

I run my pump at about 1200 RPM (no heater) and my skimmer work just fine, but they sure don't look they they do compared to using a single speed pump.

The real key to skimming is have operating weir doors. The weir doors is what makes a skimmer work, not the amount of water passing through the skimmer.

There is no doubt that skimming with a VS pump requires a little more patience.. :mrgreen:

Do you have operating weir doors on your skimmers?

Running your VS pump at full speed does not make a lot of sense to me. :scratch:

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
How do you know if your weir doors are working? The are free to move if that’s the question.
 
ams123 said:
I run it at 3250 for the first hour then 2250 the rest of the 8 hours I run it.
Click to expand...
Your skimmers will not skim as well at 2350 rpm as it does at 3250 rpm.

You have to change your ideas about how the pool will skim with a VS pump. You don’t need optimum skimming action the entire time the pump is running. You can run the pump at a high speed for an hour or two to skim the pool. Then have the pump run slower for energy efficiency and run the pump at a higher speed later for an hour or so to skim some more.

I run my pump and pool cleaner 3 hours a day to skim and clean my pool. The test of the time the pump runs at a lower speed and the skimmers are not as effective.
 
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I run mine 23/7 at minimum speed and the run two medium speed sessions for thirty minutes each at morning and right before school gets out. I find that’s the sweet spot for skimming for me
 
ajw22 said:
Your skimmers will not skim as well at 2350 rpm as it does at 3250 rpm.

You have to change your ideas about how the pool will skim with a VS pump. You don’t need optimum skimming action the entire time the pump is running. You can run the pump at a high speed for an hour or two to skim the pool. Then have the pump run slower for energy efficiency and run the pump at a higher speed later for an hour or so to skim some more.

I run my pump and pool cleaner 3 hours a day to skim and clean my pool. The test of the time the pump runs at a lower speed and the skimmers are not as effective.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the feedback but in my case it’s not that they are slow they are just not working.
 
ams123 said:
How do you know if your weir doors are working? The are free to move if that’s the question.
Click to expand...
ams,

If the weir doors move up and down with the water, then they should be working.. :scratch:

My skimmers work just about as well at 1200 RPM as they do at faster RPMs... I used to schedule faster speeds a couple of times a day, but found it did not make much, if any, difference. I not longer run a "skimming' speed.

As a test, take the floating diverter valve out of the skimmers and see if that makes any difference.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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