Pump not operating as normal - please help me troubleshoot

[jtb777]

Hi all,

I have a Sta-Rite Intellipro pump (pic attached) and I wanted to run it tonight to add liquid chlorine. I hear the pump coming on, but the return jets aren’t pumping water, there isn’t liquid running through the pump housing basket, the air filter isn’t moving from 0 pressure and my suction-side vacuum isn’t moving like it normally does when the filter is running. One return jet does have bubbling water coming out of it (pic attached).

To get the pump running apart from the daily schedule, I usually just press the “Filter Pump” button and set “Service” mode using the Pentair water EasyTouch control panel.

Can you tell me what might be happening and how I can fix this? I’m very new to pools, so it would be helpful to have things broken down as I don’t know all the terms, etc..

Thanks so much!

 

[Jimrahbe]

jtb,

Is the pump running? Is it making any noise at all?

If not, it could be that the breaker for the pump has popped. I'd reset it.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[jtb777]

jtb,

Is the pump running? Is it making any noise at all?

If not, it could be that the breaker for the pump has popped. I'd reset it.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I turned the pump off after about 15 minutes. Yes, the pump was making noise when I switch it on, but it's different than the normal noise when the water is running through the pump housing, etc..

And, yes, just reset the breaker and it's still doing the same thing. Thanks!

 

[Jimrahbe]

jtb,

The next thing I'd do is make sure all the valves sending water into the pump and returning to water to the pool are open.

And make sure that the water in the pool is about halfway up the skimmer's mouth.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[jtb777]

jtb,

The next thing I'd do is make sure all the valves sending water into the pump and returning to water to the pool are open.

And make sure that the water in the pool is about halfway up the skimmer's mouth.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thank you. All of my valves are set to "L90" and "R90" (pic attached). And, yes, skimmer level is halfway up. I appreciate your input!

 

[Jimrahbe]

jbt,

You can take your pump lid off and make sure the O-Ring is there and in good shape. Make sure there is some water in the pump basket and make sure the lid goes back on tight.

Not sure what kind of filter you have, but if it has a Multiport, or backwash valve, make sure it is set to filter.

If the pump is just "humming" and not actually running, it would most likely be the start capacitor is bad.

With a flashlight, looking down through the pump lid, turn on the pump and see what happens. You should see water being sucked from the skimmer and into the pump. What do you see?

Were you recently vacuuming leaves up with a vacuum hose connected to your skimmer? I just re-read you initial post.. Are you trying to prime the pump with a vacuum line connected to your skimmer? Or do you have a vacuum port on the side wall of your pool? If connected to your skimmer, remove it and see what happens. If the side wall of your pool, turn off the valve that controls the vacuum line and just use the skimmer and see what happens.

Thanks

Jim R.

 

[jtb777]

Thanks so much for your help! I took the pump lid off, cleaned the lid and basket, filled it up with water and that seemed to fix it. Everything is back to normal now.

To answer your other questions, I have a vacuum connected to the side wall of my pool. I wasn’t trying to do anything before this issue happened. I guess the pump basket just needed a cleaning. This was my first time cleaning and priming(?) the pump so I guess it was overdue.

Thanks again!

 

[tstex]

It sounds like you had an airlock in one of your suction lines. skimmer can have a high water line but an airlock will cause exactly what you had. Filling up the pump basket to prime it also fills the suction lines too. But, by taking off the pump basket lid and tightening it back down, just a little air coming in can cause the same issue....

 

[jtb777]

It sounds like you had an airlock in one of your suction lines. skimmer can have a high water line but an airlock will cause exactly what you had. Filling up the pump basket to prime it also fills the suction lines too. But, by taking off the pump basket lid and tightening it back down, just a little air coming in can cause the same issue....

Thanks! What usually causes an airlock? Is priming the pump the usual method for fixing this?

I appreciate the help!

 

[tstex]

You’re welcome !

Causes:
- a skimmer weir door gets stuck and starves suction line for water(when kids do tons of cannon balls right by skimmer)
- pump basket lid is not airtight and allows an air leak
-anything that sucks in air vs water in suction line(s)or equipment pad
-anything getting lodged in a return line
-low water levels at skimmer
- Other TFP input ?

Fixes:
-priming pump w water for 5-10 mins
-sticking water house down suction line and turn on full blast
-securing pump lid & applying silicone to o-ring
-closing and relief valve (filter) that might be slightly open
-Other TFP member input?

Hope this helps…

 

[jtb777]

You’re welcome !

Causes:
- a skimmer weir door gets stuck and starves suction line for water(when kids do tons of cannon balls right by skimmer)
- pump basket lid is not airtight and allows an air leak
-anything that sucks in air vs water in suction line(s)or equipment pad
-anything getting lodged in a return line
-low water levels at skimmer
- Other TFP input ?

Fixes:
-priming pump w water for 5-10 mins
-sticking water house down suction line and turn on full blast
-securing pump lid & applying silicone to o-ring
-closing and relief valve (filter) that might be slightly open
-Other TFP member input?

Hope this helps…

Thank you so much for this detailed reply!

This same problem came back a couple days later (return jets not pumping water, liquid running not through the pump housing basket, etc.). Looking at the info you gave me, I'm thinking maybe the o-ring needs replacing and the lid needs to be cleaned. This is my first time having a pool so I'm not sure what a lid/o-ring in good condition looks like. To me, it looked dirty so hopefully replacing the ring and lubing it up will fix things!

 

[Jimrahbe]

jtb,

When was the last time the filter was cleaned?

Jim R.

 

[jtb777]

jtb,

When was the last time the filter was cleaned?

Jim R.

About 5 weeks ago.

 

[wireform]

Can you post some pictures of the pool equipment maybe we can see something

 

[JamesW]

Below is a Sta-Rite Dyna Glas Uprated Pool Pump | 1.5HP 115V/230V | MPRA6F-148L

Below that is the IntelliPro.

Which pump are you talking about?

 

[jtb777]

Can you post some pictures of the pool equipment maybe we can see something

Sorry, I didn't see this message until now. I plan on getting a new o-ring this weekend so I'll post pics of the pump housing basket and lid before changing it out. Was that the pool equipment you were asking me to photograph? I'm not sure what things are supposed to look like when the pump is operating properly so it would be great to have others take a look. Thanks!

 

[jtb777]

Below is a Sta-Rite Dyna Glas Uprated Pool Pump | 1.5HP 115V/230V | MPRA6F-148L

Below that is the IntelliPro.

Which pump are you talking about?

View attachment 451989


View attachment 451990

Hi, the Sta-Rite Intellipro is the one that has the pump strainer basket I was talking about.

What would the Sta-Rite Dyna Glas be used for? I have both and thought they were all part of the same pump. I noticed the Dyna Glas has a smaller pump lid attached to it. Thanks!

 

[JamesW]

What would the Sta-Rite Dyna Glas be used for?

Can you show the whole system and the pool?

 

[jtb777]

Can you show the whole system and the pool?

Sure. Attaching a few pics and an unlisted YouTube video in case that’s better.

Thanks!

 

[JamesW]

I would guess that it might go to the fountain or maybe a spa jet pump.

What happens when you turn the pump on?