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AR15.COM
7/13/2005 10:51:48 AM EDT
Anyone out there that can come up with a suggestion to what's wrong with my pool. Here what happens-bowl next to pump doesn't fill to top all of the time, has air in it. I tested the lines, replaced the sand in the filter, replaced the lid on the bowl. Worked fine since Saturday & now it's back to the same problem. I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Rick
7/13/2005 10:57:37 AM EDT
[#1]

Quoted:
Anyone out there that can come up with a suggestion to what's wrong with my pool. Here what happens-bowl next to pump doesn't fill to top all of the time, has air in it. I tested the lines, replaced the sand in the filter, replaced the lid on the bowl. Worked fine since Saturday & now it's back to the same problem. I'm out of ideas. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Rick



Check all teh O-Rings and lube them with silicone.  Do you have a solar heat system?  Mine leaks like a sieve, especially after the hurricanes last year slapped it all over the roof.
7/13/2005 10:58:33 AM EDT
[#2]
You are losing prime on your pump - when mine was doing the same thing, my sand filter had to much pressure and needed to be backwashed.  I had the sand changed in the filter this spring and found out that the filter was less than half full of sand which could have been a contributing factor.  I also replaced my pump since it was ancient, which also could have been part of the problem.  Since doing these two things, I haven't had a problem.

If your pump is in pretty good shape and you know its not the problem, try putting some silicone or vaseline on the o-ring that seals the clear lid - I was told that this will help it from sucking air.

Good luck - pools are fun, but can be a PITA.

Harb
7/13/2005 11:02:05 AM EDT
[#3]
Lubed the o-rings with seal lubricant, the sand is new, no leaks what so ever on filter. I don't have a solar heat system.
I'm out of ideas. PS pool repair places are no help at all.
7/13/2005 11:05:17 AM EDT
[#4]
Have you dissassembled your pump and checked the impeller?  It could be that one ofthe vanes is broken and it is not pumping enough to keep the pump completely primed.  Just a thought.

Harb
7/13/2005 11:06:10 AM EDT
[#5]
Take a track-hoe to it like I just finished doing with mine.  Way more trouble than it was ever worth.
7/13/2005 11:09:49 AM EDT
[#6]
Harb,
I keep thinking it's a pump problem, pool places say no way. Took the pump to a pool store & they ran it on their above ground pool. Filled right up, they said it needed a new lid which I purchased. Had the same problem when I ran it a home. Pump is appx 18yrs old, motor is about four years old. I'm stumped. Also snaked the line & it was clear.
7/13/2005 12:17:19 PM EDT
[#7]
If you can find one that fits, you could replace just the pump/impeller assembly and use your motor.  That may fix it.  When mine was doing it, I just backwashed once a week, which is entirely too often, too keep the pump primed.

Have you tried to backwash and see if it stays filled for a week?  If they ran it at the Pool shop, it may have filled right up.  Problem is, they didn't really diagnose any problems, it could be that once it runs awhile, it is overheating or once the filter gets enough pressure buildup, the pump doesn't have enough flow to overcome that pressure forcing it to lose prime.  More than likely a combination of problems, but I would look at the impeller assembly first.

If you have put new sand in, it it filled to the full line?  I think that contributed to my problem as much as the old pump.

Like I said, Good Luck - hope you get it figured out, a complete pump assembly is 3 to 4 hundred dollars, so I hope it doesn't come to that.

Harb