Automatic Cleaner Stopping/starting All The Time

[TonyS93]

Just bought an automatic suction-side cleaner today, set it alll up okay and I guess its doing its job but it only does the ticking/sucking movement in about 10 second intervals every minute or so, it speeds up really fast then slows down.

I know the cleaner is working fine, its the pump thats the issue. Ever since moving to this house, connect anything to the skimmer, wether it be the vacuum or cleaner, manual or automatic, the pump seems to start struggling instantly, we get limited suction, cleaning takes forever, and if you look into the pump window, its taking in a lot of air, and the return line always bubbles badly. This seems to screw with the filter too and make it spew out dirt back through the return. I can't see the issue though, weve changed hoses, heads, even the whole vacuum unit. Its getting frustrating to wait 30 minutes for the cleaner to do one lap of the pool.

By the way, in ground pool, around 50,000 litres, and its filtrite (i think?) CTX series. 1070W, using an Onga sand filter.

Help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[ps558]

Just bought an automatic suction-side cleaner today, set it alll up okay and I guess its doing its job but it only does the ticking/sucking movement in about 10 second intervals every minute or so, it speeds up really fast then slows down.

I know the cleaner is working fine, its the pump thats the issue. Ever since moving to this house, connect anything to the skimmer, wether it be the vacuum or cleaner, manual or automatic, the pump seems to start struggling instantly, we get limited suction, cleaning takes forever, and if you look into the pump window, its taking in a lot of air, and the return line always bubbles badly. This seems to screw with the filter too and make it spew out dirt back through the return. I can't see the issue though, weve changed hoses, heads, even the whole vacuum unit. Its getting frustrating to wait 30 minutes for the cleaner to do one lap of the pool.

By the way, in ground pool, around 50,000 litres, and its filtrite (i think?) CTX series. 1070W, using an Onga sand filter.

Help would be appreciated.

Thanks

you need to inspect all fittings and glue joints at the pipes before the pump. Sounds like it is sucking air and loosing prime. Sometimes with the pump off you can hear a hissing noise. If the unions you can unthread fittings and retape them. If there is no unions and everything in glued try using a outdoor silicone at each joint one at a time until you find it. If you have any valves with handles and srcewed on tops air could be leaking at the oring were they come together.

As for dirt going back to the pool. Either the standpipe in the filter is cracked or the sand if channeled and not filtering. But 1 problem at a time

[The_Pool_Guy]

How old is the pump ? Check the O-rings as this can allow air into the system.

Also, how old is the sand in the filter ? This too can make a huge difference in circulation on the pool

Hope that helps

J

[TonyS93]

I have no idea of the age, possibly 30 years? The pool isnt new. I know the pump is new though. When air doesnt run through the pump, the filter does a good job so. :/

[TonyS93]

and if there are air leaks in the pipes, why does it run fine when its just running as the skimmer?

[TonyS93]

here is a 30 second clip of the problem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMRhi4sh2js

[quantumchromodynamics]

and if there are air leaks in the pipes, why does it run fine when its just running as the skimmer?

There is a small air leak on the suction side. When it's just the skimmer, the suction is not enough to suck in a lot of air. When you add the cleaner, the vacuum increases enough to suck in a lot of air.

[TonyS93]

I put silicon over all the unions leading to the pump, and checked for air leaks. Nothing, still does it. I also checked the pump windows O ring, tightened it again, still air suction. My dad changed the speed valve on the cleaner though and now it starts really fast and then dies down to slow and stays slow, butatleast doesnt stop now. Still air being sucked in though. My water level only half covers the pipe thats got the cleaner attatched the to vacuum plate, Im sure its airtight, but could this be the problem?