Water not flowing to heat pump

[travis1889]

Looking for some help with a new pool. I wasn't able to use the heat pump for the first 30 days and now that we can use it in getting a "High refrig" error when trying to heat the pool and it appears no water is flowing through it.

Not sure if this can be troubleshot through photos but if so I think these could be helpful.

I can call the pool company back out but just hoping it's twisting one of these handles.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

 

[1poolman1]

Looking for some help with a new pool. I wasn't able to use the heat pump for the first 30 days and now that we can use it in getting a "High refrig" error when trying to heat the pool and it appears no water is flowing through it.

Not sure if this can be troubleshot through photos but if so I think these could be helpful.

I can call the pool company back out but just hoping it's twisting one of these handles.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

View attachment 584574View attachment 584573

You have the bypass valve that should allow water to enter the heater closed. In the picture point the handle away from the house (rotate clockwise), to the 6 o'clock position. You will have to loosen the locking nut in the middle of the valve handle. There are "stops" on the lid and "stop pins" in the handle that will stop the rotation at the correct position.

 

[travis1889]

You have the bypass valve that should allow water to enter the heater closed. In the picture point the handle away from the house (rotate clockwise), to the 6 o'clock position. You will have to loosen the locking nut in the middle of the valve handle. There are "stops" on the lid and "stop pins" in the handle that will stop the rotation at the correct position.

Thanks for the reply.

I can only turn that handle counter clockwise even when loosening the nut on top.

When I do turn it counter clockwise the farthest it goes is facing the pump.

Any additional help would be appreciated.

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks for the reply.

I can only turn that handle counter clockwise even when loosening the nut on top.

When I do turn it counter clockwise the farthest it goes is facing the pump.

Any additional help would be appreciated.

The valve immediately in front of the heat pump MUST have the handle point South, 6 o'clock, away from the house, etc. etc. or water will not flow through that heater if that is the heater inlet (which it is, its labeled). You have to stop water from flowing down that other pipe attached to that valve that has no check valve in it (which it should).
Loosen the nut, lift the handle, rotate clockwise, or water will never enter the heater. Personally, I hate heater bypass valves. They cause too many calls of this nature, and I do charge to go out and turn a handle. Wouldn't mind a trip to Florida.

 

[travis1889]

I think that worked! Thank you so much for your help and patience with this total pool newbie.

 

[Jimrahbe]

@travis1889

Does your pool not have a skimmer??

Nothing to do with the heater problem, just curious..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[travis1889]

@travis1889

Does your pool not have a skimmer??

Nothing to do with the heater problem, just curious..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yes, it does have a skimmer. In the first picture it's the valve all the way to the left.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Travis,

Kind of why I asked..

The pipe is labeled as "Cleaner" and is shut off..

If this is actually your Skimmer, it should never be shut off.

Please show me a pic of your skimmer.. Just to make sure that we are both on the same page.

We normally suggest that the skimmer valve be fully open, and the main drain valve only opened about 10% or so.

Do you also have a vacuum port in the side wall of your pool? What type of cleaner do you currently have?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[travis1889]

We have both a cleaner and a skimmer. Here's a better picture of the skimmer valve, which is separate from the cleaner valve, and the skimmer itself.

We don't have anything currently hooked up to the cleaner.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Travis,

Most skimmers are connected to the suction side of the pump.

Your skimmer is connected to the return or pressure side of your equipment.

I suspect that is because your pool builder sold you a "venturi" skimmer..

Makes more sense now.

Now I am curious as to what speed your pump has to run to make it all work? Any idea??

I see you have a saltwater pool.. In my opinion that is the only way to go..

Thanks for the pics.

Jim R

 

[travis1889]

I called my pool company to confirm and that's correct. I wasn't aware we had a different type of skimmer. They said this is the "newer" thing they do on all pools and assured me it's better. Hope that's the case.

They have my pump running from 8a to 8p at 2200 rpms. I haven't messed with it much since they started it up a little over a month ago.

 

[Jimrahbe]

They said this is the "newer" thing they do on all pools and assured me it's better.

New is not necessary better, but as long as it works.. You will just have to tell us how well it works over time.

A pump speed of 2200 is not near as bad as I had assumed.

I assume that your cell is an IC40, if so, that is perfect.

You should read through our Pool School and see what we are all about..

The key to maintaining a great saltwater pool is keeping your FC (Chlorine) in the proper relationship with your CYA (Stabilizer).. If you do that, then 80% of your work is done, and you will never get algae.

Will you be maintaining your own pool or do you plan to use a Pool 'guy'??

Thanks for the info and enjoy your new pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.