I have an A&A pop-up cleaning system. Noticed yesterday that the heads are not popping up fully in any of the zones. Filter pressure is showing 12 psi. When we moved into the house 2 years ago it would run around 25 psi. I replaced the DE filter element at the start of the season last year and noticed it started up around 18 psi (not sure if it was actually related to the new filter element as I made the change prior to initial startup). This year we had the pool company tear down our 15-year-old pump to investigate a noisy running condition, and now after reinstalling (no repair attempted) I am noticing the lower pressure at the filter, ~12 psi. I do not have a pressure gauge on the distributor. Any thoughts on how to troubleshoot this? I have a new Calimar 3hp pump arriving today, maybe I should install the new pump and see if that resolves the issue before I waste any time on it.
Low filter pressure, pop-up heads not popping up
- Thread starter petorius
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 64,775
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You need more PSI to drive your pop ups.
We have no idea what the pool company did to your pump during the teardown. Was the impeller replaced? Did they give you any itemized invoice of parts replaced?
You should check the impeller for anything stuck in it, such as seeds.
@proavia may have ideas.
We have no idea what the pool company did to your pump during the teardown. Was the impeller replaced? Did they give you any itemized invoice of parts replaced?
You should check the impeller for anything stuck in it, such as seeds.
@proavia may have ideas.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,787
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The A&A system doesn't use a pressure gauge on the water distribution valve.
I'm with Allen - no telling what the pool company did during your pump teardown.
Any chance they might have changed a valve position that you haven't noticed yet?
I'd seriously plan on installing the new VS pump and see how you fair with the IFCS after that.
You will still have to run at a higher RPM (maybe not full speed) when you want the IFCS to clean. The rest of the time, a slow speed will work fine.
Show us a few pictures of the equipment pad and water distribution valve from a few different angles.
I'm with Allen - no telling what the pool company did during your pump teardown.
Any chance they might have changed a valve position that you haven't noticed yet?
I'd seriously plan on installing the new VS pump and see how you fair with the IFCS after that.
You will still have to run at a higher RPM (maybe not full speed) when you want the IFCS to clean. The rest of the time, a slow speed will work fine.
Show us a few pictures of the equipment pad and water distribution valve from a few different angles.
Is the water valve broken. If water is going to all the heads at the same time then none of them will, which would account for the low filter psi A longshot, could the gears be missing from the water valve?
The pool company took the pump back to their shop to attempt to replace the motor bearings, and later told me they were unable to open up the motor so they did not attempt a repair. They quoted ~$600 to replace the motor and diffuser, so I said no thanks and bought a new Calimar 3hp online. I reinstalled the old pump to use until the new one arrives. Last night I noticed that the pump is leaking from the seal plate / tank body union, see puddle underneath. Now I'm thinking this may be the culprit, although I can't imagine such a small/slow leak would cause such a significant pressure drop. I have not opened up the IFCS distributor valve yet. Hard to tell if water is coming through all the return heads simultaneously or a single zone, it seemed like it purged air through one zone at a time after I opened up the filter tank the other day though.
The vacuum port valve is open in the picture below, but I closed it later and the problem persists.
The vacuum port valve is open in the picture below, but I closed it later and the problem persists.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,787
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The two return lines after the filter - where does each one go?
Obviously, one should go to the IFCS water valve - but there really should be a Jandy 3-way valve at the junction to allow adjusting water flow to each pipe.
Post a pic of the water valve and of the popups in the pool.
Obviously, one should go to the IFCS water valve - but there really should be a Jandy 3-way valve at the junction to allow adjusting water flow to each pipe.
Post a pic of the water valve and of the popups in the pool.
Circling back in case this is useful for anyone. I paid a local pool guy to install my new Calimar pump, and he was gracious enough to help me look at the pressure issue gratis. The main issue was a bunch of the T-valves in my A&A distributor were not fully seated, so water was flowing to multiple zones simultaneously. After snapping them down fully, pressure was restored, zones are cycling appropriately, and my pool floor is clean again!