Taking care of parents pool. The pressure is not like it was last season. They have a filter in the middle of their pool (above ground) I pushed the leaves away to see if the pressure would increase, but it really didn't much, went from 5 to 7 or 8 on the guage (it used to register like 10-12 if I remember correctly) and the feel of the water is nothing like it was last year...it had some serious flow. I can really reach the leaves to vacuum without getting in, and it's to cold for that right now. Could it be that there is debree in there that is keeping the pressure low? Or could there be a problem with the pump?
Low pump pressure
- Thread starter Staci
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,011
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Possible. What about in front of the pump - the pump basket with the clear lid? Is it always full of water to the lid? Also, it's possible the gauge may be bad. If you turn the system completely off, does the needle go back down to zero?
Yes the water is full on that. I don't think it's the gauge, because the flow coming out is not nearly as strong as it used to be and yes the guage goes to zero once turned off 
I'm stumped
I'm stumped
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,011
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
If it was simply a matter of the filter itself being clogged/dirty, then eh pressure gauge should go up. Since you are seeing the gauge go down, I would explore the fact that there may be a partial clog in the suction line before the pump. Maybe not enough to effect pump basket prime, but enough to slow water down and create a lower pressure.
- Jun 13, 2017
- 450
- Pool Size
- 9600
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You might want to check the impeller. My mom's pool would end up with leaf veins getting through the pump basket and then hung up on the impeller. When this happens, pressure would drop on the pump gauge. Cleaning the impeller would clear up the problem with low pressure.
- Jun 13, 2017
- 450
- Pool Size
- 9600
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The pump basket is on the left. The motor is on the right. In the middle is the impeller.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,011
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The impeller is like a small fan blade inside the entrance to the pump that pulls-in the water. It should turn relatively freely. Make sure the power is off to the pump before reaching down in there with your fingers.
- Jun 13, 2017
- 450
- Pool Size
- 9600
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Here's a link to instructions on how to clean an impeller How To Clean Out a Pool Pump Impeller - INYOPools.com