Hey guys i have a 18ft above ground pool. I have an intex sand filter. So we had pretty much a swamp when we opened this year due to a broken cover. The problem i am having is my pump will run for 20min or so great in filter position but then slows way down till it is barely trickling out. If i switch to recirculate it runs great. Pressure seems fine and the sand was just changed 2 weeks ago. I have beem fighting with this pool all season and am ready to pull hair out!! Please help!
Pump runs great in recirculate but barely runs on filter
- Thread starter Angel0284
- Start date
Welcome to TFP!!!What does the water look like?
What you describe sounds like a typical filter pulling a lot of debris out of the water ... there is really nothing else that will slowly reduce the flow rate.
What he said^^^
Plus I'm curious if the pressure gauge works, does it return to zero, and if there is any chance you connected the hoses backwards.
Plus I'm curious if the pressure gauge works, does it return to zero, and if there is any chance you connected the hoses backwards.
Hey its cloudy and still a bit green but pretty free of debris except for some leaves that fall daily but i do have a skimmer to catch those. I cant get the pump to run long enough to clear the water up.
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Yes gauge returns to 0 and i didnt know it was possible to connect them backwards. Its all set up the same way it was last year and it worked great last year.
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Yes gauge returns to 0 and i didnt know it was possible to connect them backwards. Its all set up the same way it was last year and it worked great last year.
Are you backwashing when the filter clogs up? I'm leaning toward algae clogging it up. Are you following the slam process to clear up the algae?
Algae in the water and a small sand filter, clogging often is to be expected.
Again, are you following the SLAM Process process?
Again, are you following the SLAM Process process?
I am trying tp yes but it's really hard because my pump will not stay running. So i have really been wasting a lot of chlorine. I put it in an leave it for a while and when i come back its not running well...very frustrating.
Try adding the bleach and leaving the pool on recirculate until the algae is killed off. Backwash and rinse the filter first, then switch to recirculate. Once all the green is gone and the water is bluish gray, turn off the pump overnight and let the dead algae settle. Vacuum to waste slowly so you don't stir up the debris too much. Then switch back to filter and continue the slam until the pool is clear. When you have a 20% rise in pressure it is time to backwash. If you need to add chlorine and need to backwash, always backwash first.
Not sure my hubby does all that but i have been thinking something was wrong with my filter but i will continue with the SLAM and keep you updated
Thanks!
Thanks!
Ok guys an update...i upgraded to this pump: Best Choice Products SKY1639 Swimming Pool Pump System, 19". It is till doing the SAME thing even with a new system!! What in the world is going on. It filters for 20min or so and then output slows way down but if i switch over to circulate it is coming out full force. The algae is dead and is floating all in the pool so its very cloudy still. HELP!!
How much sand did you put in the filter? The filter should only be about 2/3 full of sand. Whenever the pressure rises 20% over the clean pressure you need to backwash and rinse the filter. Please post a current picture of the pool, water, and filter. That will help us troubleshoot your issue.
Show us a picture of your pool water.
If the pool is not crystal clear, then the filter would be doing its job by capturing whatever is in the water.
Get a test kit and follow the SLAM Process process yet?
If the pool is not crystal clear, then the filter would be doing its job by capturing whatever is in the water.
Get a test kit and follow the SLAM Process process yet?
Filters clog when they do their job. Cloudy water has suspended particles that will clog the sand filter requiring backwashing frequently. My experience with the small Intex sand filters is they perform okay with clean water, but require a lot of attention if the water is hazy or worse. Several kids with sunscreen in our pool will reduce flow to virtually nothing in a couple of hours and that's starting with crystal clear water. I do use a skinmer hairnet setup which catches a lot of fine gunk and is easy to pull out and replace. This helps with the need to frequently backwash and top up the water. Small pool woes...