Pool Specs. 48,000 gallon free form pool. Saltwater, Pentair SVRS Variable Speed Pump, DE Filter, Heat Pump. 2 Main Drains. 2 Skimmers, 12 Return Eyes. ( 1 valve controls 2 Jets, 1 Valve controls 3, 1 valve controls 6(sundeck) and 1 Valve controls Waterfall.
Pool is crystal clear. Just opened and have been dealing with this problem since last season. So, I open the pool this weekend, make all connections. startup, all working great, add the DE (10 Coffee Cans). Running at 2500 RPM, Pressure is 20PSI. Add 600lbs of Salt and let run. About 3 hours after starting. I notice the return jets flow diminishing, pressure on Filter same. ran 24 hrs. Next morning, not even a hint of surface motion from jets, still running 2500RPMS and pressure 21lbs. Quick backwash, rinse and restart (did not add anymore DE) and restart. 2500 TONS of surface flow from jets, pressure 20PSI all good. 2 hours later, surface motion slowing down again, 4 hrs no surface motion. Pressure 20PSI and still 2500 rpms. If I do a quick backwash, after restarting the flowis as should and then slowly drops but the PSI on Tank stays constant. Any ideas as its not turning the water over enough unless I backwash. Mind you, haven not added more DE since initial recharge to see if its was actually the filter clogging.
Frustrated and thanks in advance for any insight.
Hi rgnbull1227,
I posed your question to a few of our technicians and I got the following response back. Does this sound like what is occuring in your pool?
One possible cause of a gradual reduction in water flow is a buildup of air pressure in the top of the filter tank If you have a closed system, air cannot enter into the tank, just water. But if you have a suction leak at or before the pump. air will get sucked into the system and be collected at the top of the filter tank.Over a short time, this air will cause a substantial buildup in backpressure which will impede the flow of water through the filter. When you do a Backwash, your will release this pressure. Returning to “Filter” will restart the air buildup cycle, One indication that you have a backpressure comes when you turn off the pump. If you have a strong surge of water shooting back through the pump and out the skimmer, it’s the immediate release of this backpressure. Some customers have seen a column of water blow the skimmer cover off after shutting off the pump. The solution to this problem is to isolate and correct the suction air leak. Thank YouPatrickwww.inyopools.com