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Pool pump starts dry each day?

16 years ago

Every time the pump shuts off you can hear the water draining from the filter and backflowing into the pool. Eventually it stops and the filter basket before the pump is nearly dry. When the pump starts it has to clear all that air out of the system before water starts flowing into the filter basket and to the pump. Our PC is not concerned, even thought the pump manual says not to start the pump without filling the filter basket with water first.

Is this normal?

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Comments (7)

golfgeek
16 years ago
djcodyblue,
This is not normal. You most likely have a suction leak. Check the lid on the pump and all fittings in front and after the pump and up to the filter. Good luck.
mikep_2007
16 years ago
I had the same problem with new pool equipment installed. I figured from a new install it was normal. My check valve in front of the pump has a union fitting and I found I could tighten that a bit and the air leak went away. If that doesn't work for you I'd suggest adding some magic lube on the o-ring to seal it (that's what someone suggested to me here but I didn't need to do it).

Worse, if air gets into the system and you have a multi speed pump such as the Intelliflo 4x160, lower speeds don't provide enough prime to get the pump started so it runs dry for the whole cycle. This happened to me over last few weeks on a new pump hopefully its not damaged but I see it working fine now after I fixed the air leak.
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Thanks for the feedback. I'm running it 12 hours a day now. So, if the 2.5 hours is accurate, I guess I am turning it over a little less than 5 times a day. It appears very clear and clean. No trees to worry about. Weather is certainly variable, so can't really consistently predict that. It is a Salt Pool with a 425 sq. ft. filter... Hayward Swim Clear. Just wondering if 10-12 should be a normal target for the summer, or if cutting that down some will (1) save a noticeable amount on electricity, and (2) cause any issues with the pool. Anyone else in favor of 24? Seems like a lot if I turn it over 10 times a day or so. But would be interested in additional feedback on that point. Thanks.
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Don't waste your time. That pump runs at max 10 lbs. After that the sand filter is supposed to be back washed. You could try a flow switch. You could be hard pressed to find a pressure switch that cuts in and out below 10 lbs. You have to remember that pump is a volume pump not a pressure pump. Bottom line is if you find the pump motor in the same condition as the old motor with the same complaint there is no warranty. The customer did not follow proper maintanance How can you not notice your skimmer is plugged and not maintain your pool ? My pool pump is over 200 dollars plus down time and if my water flow is restricted my pool heater locks out. My system is checked every morning and every night whether it needs it or not after i replaced the motor and pump assembly. I've found things in my skimmer that to this day i have no idea as to what it was. Some kind of bug. I think. I removed it with needle nose pliers. I wasn't touching it. your cutomer is not doing their part to help prevent this. If you have to go back with a similar problem bill them with 4 figures. that will knock their maintanance program into place.
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repair_guy
16 years ago
hey mikep!

Just curious. What did you pay as "wholesale" for your pump and what model StaRite filter did you get at what cost?
mikep_2007
16 years ago
Here's what I paid.
intelliflo 4x160...$835
starite system 3 DE 60 sf filter...$610
installation...$225 (5 hrs @30/hr + $75 parts)

My pool guy told me it was his cost. It was lower than anywhere else I could find even online - was this a good deal?
repair_guy
16 years ago
Not cost but I would not disclose his cost here. Still a good price. If he's doing good work for $30/hr send him my way. That's about a third of what i charge. I find it hard to believe a licensed contractor with any technical skills is charging that though.
mikep_2007
16 years ago
Regarding my contractor, yes he is licensed but I got through a friend so maybe from that my rate was lower than his normal rate. He did some good work other than the check valve leaking a bit of air. Maybe I can't fault him for that since he said the pipe glue had to dry so he couldn't turn it on and see, so he said (or maybe I can since other pool guys would have turned it on before they left?).

He does have a general license and does a lot of stuff besides pool installs. I presume due to his rate his schedule was backed up for about a month or so but since other pool guys like yourself charge a lot more I felt it was worth the wait.

I had another more experienced pool guy come and give a bid for other equipment (and charged $75 to do so, which I feel is worth his time). Eventually he got tired of my questions about intelliflo as he was pushing me to the wisperflo. The wisperflo was more expensive since it required the controller where the intelliflo 4x160 does not. So he ignored my emails, etc and I got the filter he recommended and the pump I wanted and got it installed at the price I did and figure I saved about $800-1000. Also got his recommendations about replaster, tile, rebar stains, etc.

If I was going to do it over again, probably would have got the 3.2kw from your other post..but too late for me as I already have the 4x160. I don't care about the display/etc but as I have found the shutoff feature when it can't prime is nice. :(
minghellipools
16 years ago
hi
i build pools and yes i would not recommend starting and pushing water through your system for 24 hrs. that being said i have done it to make customer happy. it is common to have a union leak

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