What is visually normal or abnormal when looking at a pump in action?

[GonnaTryTFP]

Guys, so I just noticed something. I was around the pump, it's going at 2000rpm, and the pump water level is below the basket. It's just right at the level of the inlet hole where water gushes in. I noticed that there are times water would basically fill to the top of the glass with maybe a little air bubble here and there. Is this normal, should water be filled to the brim no matter the RPM? Here's a picture, the blue color is to show you where the water level was. Please let me know if it's normal for water level to change based on RPM. Then I'll know what to ask next. Thank you!

 

[Texas Splash]

should water be filled to the brim no matter the RPM?

Ideally yes. There may some wiggle room for a few bubbles now & then, or a small drop with VSPs when on a low rpm for an extended period of time, but if it's dropping down to the inlet that's an area of concern. I would be looking for any places where a suction side air leak is occurring - air getting pulled IN to the system. Some initial things to check:
- Pool water level high enough
- Skimmer(s) weir doors not stuck closed
- Pump basket clear lid (and drain plug) O-rings lubed well

After that, it's on to things like fitting, 3-way valves, etc. Check anything before the pump closely.

 

[Jimrahbe]

G,

No it is not normal. While there may be a few bubbles under the pump lid at lower RPM, the water should be close to the top of the basket.

Go look at your skimmer. If the water gets sucked out, and then it floods back in and then sucked out again, then either your water level is too low or your weir door is sticking in the up position.

Show us some pics of your equipment pad plumbing and maybe we can see something obvious.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[GonnaTryTFP]

Okay guys, perhaps my G3 baracuda is causing the issue? I'm messing around with the pump constantly this week because the g3 is stuck, doesn't move, etc. Today, I got it new propellers, that circular thing. I found a hose with holes in it. It's hard to spot these things cause the hose have ridges. Well, when I was moving the hose around, I heard air. I bent the hose where I was hearing air, and I saw the cracks.

So I turn the jandy valve to open all the way the skimmer, to close the vacuum pump side. I replaced the hose. Put it back, then hit Quick clean, and opened the valve again to half-way, so that skimmer gets half, and vacuum pump gets half. It's moving now, and the pump is staying filled near the top.

 

[GonnaTryTFP]

I was also gifted an aquabot robot cleaner. I'm tempted to just do away with the g3 and just run with the robot here on out. Any pros and cons to that? The biggest con is constantly taking the robot out. But is it good for the life of the pentair pump to have a vacuum pumping when it's running? They seem to go hand in hand, so I've been hesitant to remove the G3. Because even when everything is working properly, it still doesn't solve the stuck problem. Dude is always stuck near my steps. I just checked on it right now, and even with the new propeller/deflector wheel, he still gets stuck at the steps.

 

[Jimrahbe]

G,

Glad you go it working...

I'm a robot kind of guy, so not much experience with water powered cleaners.

I have three robots in three pools. Two robots are in rent house pools and stay in the water almost 24/7. The one at my house is only put in the pool 2 or 3 times a week. I don't see any difference in their operation or lifespan.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[GonnaTryTFP]

Okay, so after several hours went to check on the pump again and again it was low. I'm going to eliminate the G3, and see how it goes for a few days. I also have a pentair leaf thingy with the G3, so it's another point of failure where air can get it in. I'm going to take it all out of the equation and see if I can truly pinpoint them as the culprit. But without a vacuum pump, is it okay to have the valve wide open for the skimmer, and completely closed for the vacuum side? Obviously, right? Since there won't be any vacuum pump? My pool guy used to do all of this, so I'm a newbie.

 

[Texas Splash]

I have a Barracuda version that came with my pool. I've used it off & on several times and it just doesn't make me happy. One day I'll bite the bullet and get a robot when I'm not tossing $$$ in other directions. Go ahead and run the skimmer wide open and just leave the vacuum port closed for now.

 

[mknauss]

Without the suction side cleaner, you should be able to lower your rpm on the pump quite a bit. Try 1200 rpm and see if that is good enough to skim.

 

[GonnaTryTFP]

Hey Guys, so it's about two weeks, and I haven't seen the low water level pump issue again. It was definitely the Baracuda. I've been using a Robot now. But I have a new newbie question.... During the course of a day when the pump is running... When does the spa water spill over to the big pool, maybe not when, but perhaps what? What causes the spa water to spill over? Is it the RPM speed? When the barricuda was attached, I had a schedule that would have it go 3000 early in the day, and I think that's when I would see spa water spill over. Without the Baracuda, I've completely closed the vacuum valve, so the skimmer is wide open, and I've lowered the RPM to a constant 2000. I think the spa still spills over, but I'm trying to catch the moment it does that. Or, what causes that. That's what we want, right? We want the spa water to also be filtered and when it spills over to the main pool, that's a sign that everything is working, right? I want to make sure the spa is spilling over. What should my RPM be set to? Thank you.

 

[Texas Splash]

Between your pump speed and/or spa valve settings you should be able to experiment with what works best to either stop spillover or encourage it. When spa water turnover isn't required, you should be able to keep the pump rpms on a relatively low speed (i.e. 1,200 - 1,400). Not an exact science, just something you can experiment with.