Pressure on sand filter reads at like a 3-4, new gauge, great flow, great suction... am I over thinking it?

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Gilligan8

Well-known member
Nov 30, 2023
60
South Louisiana
I have a Pentair Challenger High Performance Pump (346204) with a Century 1.25hp motor on it. Hayword Pro Series S-244T sand filter. One skimmer, no drain, 3 Jets plus the Polaris Boost pump is still plumbed in so it flows fairly well as well (even when off).

1.5" PVC

I just bought and installed a new Pressure Gauge and it's sitting at a 3 or 4 and I've looked around and most everyone is saying that's pretty low.

This is a new to me pool, but was "maintained professionally" (I did see them out here cleaning it) before we purchased and was clear. I covered it for the winter and recently removed the cover and it is still clear. We do have a LOT of oak leaves that fall in the pool and we keep cleaning them out.

I guess I shouldn't be worried but from what I'm reading is that it should be higher.
 
Gilligan8 said:
I have a Pentair Challenger High Performance Pump (346204) with a Century 1.25hp motor on it. Hayword Pro Series S-244T sand filter. One skimmer, no drain, 3 Jets plus the Polaris Boost pump is still plumbed in so it flows fairly well as well (even when off).

1.5" PVC

I just bought and installed a new Pressure Gauge and it's sitting at a 3 or 4 and I've looked around and most everyone is saying that's pretty low.

This is a new to me pool, but was "maintained professionally" (I did see them out here cleaning it) before we purchased and was clear. I covered it for the winter and recently removed the cover and it is still clear. We do have a LOT of oak leaves that fall in the pool and we keep cleaning them out.

I guess I shouldn't be worried but from what I'm reading is that it should be higher.
Click to expand...
Clean the filter and then note what the pressure is and clean it again when it raises 25%. Lower pressure is better.
 
Maybe there is something clogged up under the lid causing the low PSI. It should be much higher with a SS pump. We get 3 or 4 with VS pumps but with much less flow.

When mine was wonky it was pool brush bristles up in air relief valve below the gauge.

If the gauge returns to 0 when the pumps off, it's likely not the gauge. (Yes it's new, buy QC went to crud everywhere).
 
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Is your pressure gauge PSI or BAR?
3 bar is like 40psi.

It is unusual to have a reading that low when you don't have a VSP. I'm also assuming it's pressurizing properly and your impeller isn't slipping.

That said, it's not likely to be an issue unless the gauge is faulty. In which case you can't monitor the rise.
 
Show us pics of your equipment pad and the new PSI gauge.
 
Newdude said:
Maybe there is something clogged up under the lid causing the low PSI. It should be much higher with a SS pump. We get 3 or 4 with VS pumps but with much less flow.

When mine was wonky it was pool brush bristles up in air relief valve below the gauge.

If the gauge returns to 0 when the pumps off, it's likely not the gauge. (Yes it's new, buy QC went to crud everywhere).
Click to expand...
When I pulled the old gauge there was definitely a decent vacuum being pulled through the fitting as I had just turned everything off.

Also, I just replaced the whole key assembly on the Hayward Vari-Flo XL like a week ago.
 
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Check that your pump basket is not cracked anywhere and is seated properly (there's a slit in the rim of the basket that goes over a rib in the pump pot, about 8:00 position).
It sounds like you may have debris in the impeller, but that usually also exhibits difficult priming and low water flow from returns.
What's nice about the Challenger pump is that the impeller is fairly simple to access.
 
Mayorb said:
Check that your pump basket is not cracked anywhere and is seated properly (there's a slit in the rim of the basket that goes over a rib in the pump pot, about 8:00 position).
It sounds like you may have debris in the impeller, but that usually also exhibits difficult priming and low water flow from returns.
What's nice about the Challenger pump is that the impeller is fairly simple to access.
Click to expand...
As I stated, I get good flow, good suction... like its hard to remove the hose attachment disc thing when it's on there.
 

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3 to 4 psi is low for that system.

10 to 15 might be more in line with normal expected pressure.

Maybe show a video of the system operating and what happens when you turn it on and off.
 
Excuse the oak tassels... they are dumping down faster than we can keep up right now! Crazy how over night the pool will look like this and the skimmer will be full!

Video shows flow, pressure, pressure drop when power is turned off and pressure come back up and the pump basket flow.

Oh, and keep in mind that the polaris booster pump is NOT on... that flow coming out of that is just because it's still T'd into the plumbing!

 
JamesW said:
This is consistent with the clog hypothesis.
Click to expand...
Just went through the filter basket side with a few screwdriver type things and scraped around as I saw in a video.

Nothing major came out but a few small leaves and a tiny twig did.

Maybe I broke up more stuff and it passed through because now I'm getting almost 10 PSI, the pump is quieter and seems to be flowing more and there is less air in the top of the pump basket.
 
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