This is driving me mad and, to me, it would appear to defy logic.
I used to have a pool/system that would happily run an automatic cleaner (aka Baraccuda, aka Kreepy Krawly) on the end of an 8m hose. Now I have a system that hiccups, splurts and farts if fit a few metres of hose to the skimmer plate (no auto cleaner attached). In summary - used to work well, now doesn't.
I have done a whole load of troubleshooting on this without making any progress. Short summary:
1) Pressure gauge on sand-filter/multiport valve shows 12 psi when the system is running normally (that's with no auto-cleaner, no skimmer plate, no hose)
2) When I fit the skimmer plate the pressure drops down 0.5psi to 11.5psi
3) When I fit the AD Flow Vale the pressure drops down to 10.5psi. If I replace the AD flow valve with a simple 90-degree bend I get a similar drop in PSI
4) When I fit 1m of hose cable to the AD Flow Valve the systems will sit at around 10psi and seems happy, but already I'm noting that there are a small amount of bubbles appearing in the system that can be viewed where the water enters the pool
5) When I fit 4m of hose the system is already struggling to keep flow and is often coughing/splurting at the pump. PSI is 5 - 6 psi at best
6) With 8m of hose on the system (nothing else fitted) the system is bouncing between 1 and 6 psi as it coughs and splurts alot
7) As part of the troubleshooting I dismantled the impeller and found nothing of note. No change when I reassembled
8) I also completely dismantled the sand filter. Removed all the sand, inspected the laterals. Dismantled the multiport valve. Put it all together again. No change.
9) Finally, my sandfilter sprung a leak at the collar, so I had to replace the whole unit. I bought and fitted a new sand filter, with new multi port valve, new laterals and new sand medium (Zeolite). After fitting, still no change. Still no suction through the hose. Without hose I get 12psi on pressure gauge (this is a new pressure gauge that came with the new multiport valve, but reads the same as the last one).
10) Also, I bought a new automatic pool cleaner early on in the investigation but it made no difference (which makes sense now based on further tests I've done since).
Now, my only thought is that the pump simply isn't generating enough flow/power. Possibly down on power from where it once was for some reason? But then I would expect the PSI at the sand filter to show poor pressure. Is 12 PSI ok?
I used to have a pool/system that would happily run an automatic cleaner (aka Baraccuda, aka Kreepy Krawly) on the end of an 8m hose. Now I have a system that hiccups, splurts and farts if fit a few metres of hose to the skimmer plate (no auto cleaner attached). In summary - used to work well, now doesn't.
I have done a whole load of troubleshooting on this without making any progress. Short summary:
1) Pressure gauge on sand-filter/multiport valve shows 12 psi when the system is running normally (that's with no auto-cleaner, no skimmer plate, no hose)
2) When I fit the skimmer plate the pressure drops down 0.5psi to 11.5psi
3) When I fit the AD Flow Vale the pressure drops down to 10.5psi. If I replace the AD flow valve with a simple 90-degree bend I get a similar drop in PSI
4) When I fit 1m of hose cable to the AD Flow Valve the systems will sit at around 10psi and seems happy, but already I'm noting that there are a small amount of bubbles appearing in the system that can be viewed where the water enters the pool
5) When I fit 4m of hose the system is already struggling to keep flow and is often coughing/splurting at the pump. PSI is 5 - 6 psi at best
6) With 8m of hose on the system (nothing else fitted) the system is bouncing between 1 and 6 psi as it coughs and splurts alot
7) As part of the troubleshooting I dismantled the impeller and found nothing of note. No change when I reassembled
8) I also completely dismantled the sand filter. Removed all the sand, inspected the laterals. Dismantled the multiport valve. Put it all together again. No change.
9) Finally, my sandfilter sprung a leak at the collar, so I had to replace the whole unit. I bought and fitted a new sand filter, with new multi port valve, new laterals and new sand medium (Zeolite). After fitting, still no change. Still no suction through the hose. Without hose I get 12psi on pressure gauge (this is a new pressure gauge that came with the new multiport valve, but reads the same as the last one).
10) Also, I bought a new automatic pool cleaner early on in the investigation but it made no difference (which makes sense now based on further tests I've done since).
Now, my only thought is that the pump simply isn't generating enough flow/power. Possibly down on power from where it once was for some reason? But then I would expect the PSI at the sand filter to show poor pressure. Is 12 PSI ok?
