No pressure at slide

[jtucker615]

Hello there. Just bought my house with pool and I'm doing what I can to learn. My pool has a slide but when I turn the water valve it barely trickles down from about 1/2 down the slide and nothing comes out at the top. If i remove the hose feeding the slide from the valve i can put my finger over the outlet and stop the flow of water. My pool guy who I fired originally told me he thought the second pump was to run the slide, but I believe it's actually for a Polaris vacuum that is no longer here. When I turn that pump on a 3rd center jet in the pool blows water out just below the slide and it actually kills what little pressure the slide had. If that 2nd pump is off I can still feel water coming out of the center jet, but it's weak pressure. The other two jets have really strong pressure. Please advise how pools slides are supposed to work, so I can troubleshoot the low pressure. Pics attached of everything involved. Thanks in advance

 

[HermanTX]

What you explain indicates the second pump is in fact used for a pressure side cleaner. The hookup for this pump (called a booster pump) requires that the suction pipe (front of pump) connects to the return pipe to the pool. That most likely is done underground based on your photo. The return pipe for the booster pump is a dedicated line to the pool, which you indicate is on the side wall near the slide. It is common to have low flowrate through the booster pump when it is off and just the main filter pump is operating. When the booster pump is on then that same dedicated return line is full pressure.

So that implys that the slide is fed by the main filter pump. The only control you have is that faucet like valve next to the slide steps. You indicate that is very low flow, even when the main filter pump is on. That is concerning because your photo shows only 1 return pipe from the filter (the one with the tab feeder on it going into the ground). The assumption is that underground it splits and goes to the 2 pool returns and to the slide. But you should have fairly good pressure at that the slide with the main filter pump. It is strange that you can actually hold it back with your finger.

One idea is to connect a standard hose to the slide hose and determine if you can get good flow through the 2 outlets.
The other idea is to ensure that the faucet valve fully opens and not partially blocked. Is that valve screwed into the PVC pipe protruding from the ground or is it glued in place? If it is threaded, unscrew it and check the valve. You could even turn on the main filter pump (just for a short time) to see if there is good flow through that PVC.

Maybe show another photo on the other side showing the full filter pump and a close up of the booster pump showing model number and other details.

 

[jtucker615]

Maybe show another photo on the other side showing the full filter pump and a close up of the booster pump showing model number and other details.

You are correct. There is only 1 return from the filter back to the pool, but the pool has two return jets. I assume you are also correct in that it splits underground. The pressure at the two jets when the main pump is running is pretty strong and feels about even. With the jets pointed downward at 45 degrees the pool has great circulation. As for the valve for the slide I can unscrew the top and see it opens fully. There just isn't a lot of pressure. I've added additional pictures of the valve, booster pump and main pump. Main pump was replaced when I bought the house by the pool guy I had working for me. I hope it's not because the pump isn't strong enough. It's single speed 1.1HP

 

[HermanTX]

Thanks for the extra photos.
When you took that photo of the slide valve wide open. Was the main filter pump off? Did you try to turn on the filter pump with that valve open to the atmosphere?
If so, it appears the plumbing underground is diverting all the return flow to the 2 returns. Water will take the path of least resistance. With no valve to reduce flow to the main returns, there may not be any pressure going to the slide.

If you wish to hook up the booster pump to that slide, then that will require some digging to find where the slide plumbing is tee'd into the return plumbing. Just throwing out an idea. If you want to keep the booster pump as a cleaner then we need to determine how to run the slide plumbing back up to surface and be able to control it with a valve to open it and close off flow to the 2 returns.

 

[jtucker615]

When you took that photo of the slide valve wide open. Was the main filter pump off?

Yes the pump was off. Water will flow through the valve with the pump on its just weak pressure.

If you want to keep the booster pump as a cleaner

The previous owners left a dolphin cc plus, but I mostly hand vacuum anyway. If I knew how to take the booster pump out all together I probably would. I've already had to spend 10k replacing the pump, liner, bottom / slope repair and filter.

The slide has some cracks in it so I might just remove it all together. Then I'd just have to figure out how to cut the pipe flush with the concrete and cap it.

I appreciate the insight and replies. Thanks for confirming the 2nd pump is in fact a booster pump.

 

[HermanTX]

If I knew how to take the booster pump out all together I probably would. I've already had to spend 10k replacing the pump, liner, bottom / slope repair and filter.

If you want to remove the booster pump, simply undo the connections on the suction and exit of the booster pump. Then plumb those 2 pipes together. This then will create a 3rd return to your pool. It acts that way now, just that it goes through the pump. So remove the pump and connect the 2 pipes together.

Remember to switch off the breaker to the pump when you are undoing the electrical connection in the box.