How to tell if pump & filters are working properly?

[tbrown1025]

Hello, everyone. Our large inground pool always has leaves/bugs/grass/gnats/etc on the top of the water. Our skimmer baskets don't seem as full as they should be & the debris swirls on top of the water in the skimmer. I'm certain that most of the debris just floats right past the skimmers. We have weir doors thanks to these forums, but still so much top debris.

There's always so much debris that the pool is not appealing to get in and I often wash bugs and grass out of my hair after swimming. We use a fine sieve net and it takes about 20mins to almost clear the top.

Should our pump and/or filter be pulling more of this debris into the skimmer basket?
*I know nothing about pools but hoping to become an expert on my pool through these forums. Previous pool guys assured us that all of our equipment is working as it should. Since the debris seems like so kuch, I'd like to confirm/check myself.

 

[reggiehammond]

Post a full set of test results.

If you have perfectly clear, properly sanitized water, your filter could be restricting flow, you could have valves set incorrectly, you could have too much flow from main drain, not enough from skimmers....

Or you could have algae and your filter is dirty, etc.

 

[Jimrahbe]

T,

Please show us several pics of your equipment pad, so we can evaluate what equipment you have and how it is set up.

Tell us how many hours a day your pump is running...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tbrown1025]

Our pump is set to variable speed(?) per the pool guy and runs 24/7. We changed it recently to full speed and it hasn't helped.

My recent results as of this morning:
FC 10.5
CC .5
TC 11
TA 30 (just added baking soda to help raise)

CH 100 yesterday afternoon
CYA 30 yesterday afternoon
Salt 2600 ppm yesterday afternoon

Pool is clear.

Our pool has been cared for a pool guy for the 5 years since we moved in with the pool. We're on our own after been dropped from the client roster at the end of June. I'm working to learn how to care for the myself.

 

[PoolStored]

Post a picture of your skimmer mouth. The water should be 1/2 way up the skimmer opening.

When was the last time you backwashed the filter?

Weir Doors,
Water 1/2 way up,
Clean filter,
pump above about 1700-2000rpm
and your skimmer should skim.

 

[reggiehammond]

Rotate that SWCG so the bump is facing down too.

 

[proavia]

When was the filter last backwashed?
What is the filter pressure at high rpm (3000 or greater)?

The Jandy valve on the pump inlet with Drain/Skim writing - turn the OFF part so it is 1/2 to 3/4 between present location and the Drain line - rotate OFF clockwise 45 degrees to 75 degrees so OFF is more toward the Drain line. This should allow the skimmer to draw more water.

 

[tbrown1025]

It was backwashed 9 days ago. The pool guy was backwashing weekly at each visit.

Two skimmer mouths (one in the shallow end, one in the deep end) - pics attached of each

How do I determine filter pressure? Supposedly pool guy cleaned the filter each visit too (weekly). Can't confirm this. Will check the filter ourselves soon.

 

[PoolStored]

The Jandy valve on the pump inlet with Drain/Skim writing - turn the OFF part so it is 1/2 to 3/4 between present location and the Drain line - rotate OFF clockwise 45 degrees to 75 degrees so OFF is more toward the Drain line. This should allow the skimmer to draw more water.

If all else is working, @proavia nailed it. ^^Do this above.

 

[tbrown1025]

I turned the Jandy valve as instructed. We cleaned the pump filter basket (it was nearly empty) . Do you need to know the pressure as mentioned above - if so, how do I find this info?

 

[Jimrahbe]

T,

Your filter has a pressure gauge on it.. What does it read? The pressure will change with the speed of the pump. So tell us the speed the pump is running and what the pressure is for that speed.

Check that both skimmers have working weir doors.. The weir door is between the entrance of the skimmer and the skimmer basket..

The weir door should float up and down with the water level.. Water should flow over the top of the weir door.. They can get stuck and they can 'sink'.. Go feel them and make sure they are free to move and that they kind-of pulse as water flows over them..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tbrown1025]

Thank you all for working to help me figure this out. I really want to be my own "pool guy."
The pressure gauge reads between 2-3?
Where do I find the speed to know what speed it is?

 

[Jimrahbe]

T,

Open the pump lid and tell us what it says..

Better yet, take a pic and show us what it looks like.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[tbrown1025]

There's also a message when we press "menu" that says "configuration locked."
I think I need to find a manual for the pump to learn more about it's use, etc as well.

 

[sande005]

I started a long reply, but it became moot with the above conversations. But here is what I think is the manual for your pump:

https://hayward.com/media/akeneo_connector/asset_files/1/0/1011784_RevA_c5ce.pdf

 

[tbrown1025]

I started a long reply, but it became moot with the above conversations. But here is what I think is the manual for your pump:

https://hayward.com/media/akeneo_connector/asset_files/1/0/1011784_RevA_c5ce.pdf

Thank you!

 

[proavia]

2875 rpm with a filter gauge pressure of 2-3 is unlikely.
Looking at the pics of the gauge, either water has gotten in or the majority of dampening fluid has leaked out.
Suggest you get a new liquid filled gauge that reads 0-30 psi (Amazon has a few listed in the $10 to $20 range).

Also - when was the last time the filter was backwashed?
Suggest you do a backwash now. Followed by a rinse. Use the backwash and rinse settings on the filter multiport valve.
If not 100% sure how to do this, ask first.

 

[Lake Placid]

I’m suspect of your pressure gauge working properly. It’s wet on the inside, and typically Hayward labeled gauges are not glycerin filled. In addition its readings at 2-3 psi at 2800 rpm seem abnormally low.

 

[tbrown1025]

Thank you all. I will buy a new gauge.
Pool was backwashed 10 days ago by the pool guy. We know how to backwash & rinse and will do so asap.

 

[tbrown1025]

Thank you all for replies! We bought an installed a new guage. Backwashed and rinsed. PSI is 10-11 with the pump at the highest speed.
I'm not sure it was always at this high speed as we think we inadverntly changed it while pushing buttons to try to find rhe current speed. I can say that since it has been on this high speed, the top debris seems to have lessened.

We don't want to run it high speed 24/7, but want to keep the pool clean. What's a good schedule for variable pumps?
We're in a middle TN suburb surrounded by mature trees (some flowering) and the grass is mowed weekly.

Thanks again for all your help! It's greatly appreciated.