Not enough suction to vacuum?????

[Guest]

We have a 10,000 gal. inground pool with a sand filter. We also have a Nature2 Express cartridge on the line, and an automatic chlorinator.

The vacuum plugs into the hole under the skimmer basket.

Last year, when I would set the valve for full strength suction, it would suck so hard I was afraid to put my hand near it, and it vacuumed very well. But now the suction is weak, and the vacuum won't work with it at all. I checked the impeller, and it moves freely. There seems to be plenty of pressure coming from the return jets. Maybe even more than usual. And the pressure on the filter doesn't want to go below 15, where last year it went down to 12 after backwashing & rinsing.

Also, when I first turn on the filter, some water leaks out the top of it, but then it stops.

I don't know if any of these things could be related to the low suction. Does anyone have any idea what else I can check or do before having to call a repair guy?

Thank you!!!!

[muss08]

The leaking top can affect the suction. If air is getting into the strainer pot then it will reduce suction. Lube the o-ring on the lid and make sure there is no debris being trapped between the lid and the top of the pump.

[Guest]

I checked and lubed the o-ring yesterday, & it's clear.

Ok, I'm don't know the terminology, so please bear with me.

Under the skimmer basket there's a hole and there's a valve. Last year, I would put the valve in the vertical position when I wanted to vacuum. I noticed when I've tried that, the suction gets less (& I thought maybe I remembered it backwards). So today I tried putting it in the vertical position again, & when I went over to look at the filter, the pressure was bobbing up & down between zero & 5, and there was air in the basket where the pump is, and lots of air going into the pool through the return jets.


What does it mean????

thank you!