Pump Not Getting Enough Water?

[Brownsfan]

Hello all -

I have a Hayward pump, and something's wrong.

When I run the pump, plenty of water in the pool, the chamber with the clear top is about half full. I start it with as much water as will fit, but when it starts running, the level goes down. I can see the stream of water coming into the chamber, it seems fast, but the chamber never fully fills. Also, when I turn the pump off, enough water comes back to blow my basket out of the skimmer section. Any thoughts?? Thank You -

[imnay]

Hello all -

I have a Hayward pump, and something's wrong.

When I run the pump, plenty of water in the pool, the chamber with the clear top is about half full. I start it with as much water as will fit, but when it starts running, the level goes down. I can see the stream of water coming into the chamber, it seems fast, but the chamber never fully fills. Also, when I turn the pump off, enough water comes back to blow my basket out of the skimmer section. Any thoughts?? Thank You -

Not a pro but our personal experience with our Hayward Super Pump is when the pump can't pull enough water into the filter chamber before it enters the pump itself then something is obstructing the water flow from the pool. Hayward pumps are self-priming.

We have valves that can allow us to shut off either our skimmer or bottom main drain or both and I can simulate what you describe by partially shutting our intake valves to restrict the flow of water. Your pump sounds okay cause when you turn it on it is trying to pull more water into it than is flowing.

If you only have the skimmer for water intake to the pump then there has to be some blockage between the skimmer and pump assembly.

How far away is your skimmer from your pump? I would try to insert a thin and flexible plumber's snake and carefully extend it through your inlet line to clean any obstruction.

A friend of ours with an inground pool suddenly lost water through his bottom drain causing a similar condition as you describe and he had a friend who is a plumber remove a blockage from that line.

Best of Luck

[txpoolguy]

Your description of the skimmer basket being blown out of position frequently indicates a problem in the filter, rather than the pump.

The pump can only pull as much water as it can push. If the pump cannot push normal volume, it cannot pull normal volume either. This shows up in the skimmer basket as you describe a reduced volume visible there. A very dirty or undersized filter can cause a great deal of backpressure. When the pump turns off, and the system depressurizes, the backpressure is relieved via the path of least resistance - backwards thru the pump, up the pipe into the skimmer basket, blowing it out of position.

What kind/size filter do you have? What is the reading on your filter pressure gauge, and how does current reading compare with previous (last year)?

[Brownsfan]

Thanks for the reply guys -

I have a sand filter, and to be honest, I don't usually pay attention to the pressure, as this is the first time I've had a problem. The hose can be checked, I can do that in the morning. I didn't even think of that. As for the filter, I've backwashed it a couple times, and it acts normal. I may have to pull it apart, see what's in there - Was just hoping for a "Oh, We've had this happen many times. Here's what you do..."

The pump sounds and acts just like it did last year. I will look at these things, and if I find the problem, I'll post it -

Thanks again -

[txpoolguy]

If your backwash valve has a position labeled "bypass" or "boost", put the valve in this position and see if you can tell a difference in the water movement in the pool and/or in the clear lid a.k.a. strainer cover or pump lid. If you see a noticeable difference, then the problem is definitely in your filter. The "boost" or "bypass" positon simply bypass the filter, allowing water to flow more easily, without the resistance that the filter naturally creates.

[LoveTheWater]

Hello all -

I have a Hayward pump, and something's wrong.

When I run the pump, plenty of water in the pool, the chamber with the clear top is about half full. I start it with as much water as will fit, but when it starts running, the level goes down. I can see the stream of water coming into the chamber, it seems fast, but the chamber never fully fills. Also, when I turn the pump off, enough water comes back to blow my basket out of the skimmer section. Any thoughts?? Thank You -

You've probably solved your problem by now, but this exact thing did happen to me after a storm the 4th of July. We purchased our pool just this year about 6 weeks ago. I wasn't able to be present at the installation, and I did not know much at all about how the pump and filter operate, so I was actually unaware of the filter directly in front of the pump. After I vacuumed after the storm and vacuumed up a bunch of leaves, I noticed the return water going into the pool from the filter had very low pressure, and the pressure gauge was almost 0. I also noticed the [chamber] never staying full. I tried to backwash about 4 times daily!!! I finally took it apart directly in front of the [chamber] and it was all clogged with leaves and mud! I cleaned it out, put it back together and the pump started working wonderfully!!! I'll know now to check that filter in addition to my skimmer basket. For new pool owners, like us, just be sure and put a "plug" (we used the vacuum hose!) in the hole allowing the water to the pump and filter before you start taking it apart or you'll lose a lot of water out of our pool (and it will end up all over you!)! Hope this helps you or any new pool owners.