 |
| Pool Equipment |
The swimming pool pump is undoubtedly the heart of any swimming pool in operation. It is responsible for the intake and overflow of water, to keep it circulated and preserve water cleanliness and clarity. The swimming pool pump consists mostly of the same basic parts; the pump pot (where the basket is contained), the vacuum chamber or volute, the impeller and the shaft seal. The water enters the pump pot, which keeps a reservoir pooled to allow the pump to prime itself.
All of the water that passes through the pump must first pass through the pump basket. This collects debris that has sucked up preventing it from passing thru and clogging the pump impeller. The action of the pump takes place in the vacuum chamber this houses the impeller that moves the water. The impeller attaches to the motor shaft and spins inside the vacuum chamber. The impeller will either be open faced, which are bronze with the visible vanes, or a closed faced impeller, which are plastic and have a cover over the vanes with an opening in the center to allow the water to enter.
Last in line is the seal. The seal has the responsibility to prevent the water from leaking out of the vacuum chamber. A seal must keep the water in the wet end of the pump so the dry side will stay dry. Swimming pool pumps use centrifugal force to move water through the circulation system. The definition of centrifugal force is an object moving away from the center, like a roller coaster. When water enters the middle eye of the spinning impeller, it is forced out to the impeller vanes. As the water is thrown out to the edges of the impeller there is a reduction of pressure in the eye of the impeller, and this creates a vacuum which will draw more water into the impeller. The water thrown out of the impeller is forced up and out at the top of the vacuum chamber and moves on through the rest of the circulation system. What causes the pump to lose its prime? This could a number of things. An air leak in the suction line, water level is below the skimmer, baskets are clogged (skimmer and pump), suction valve is wrong position, lid of pump is loose or o-ring is damaged, bad gasket or loose connection between pump and pump housing.
How does low pump flow and filter pressure correlate? If you have low flow and high filter pressure it usually means your filter is dirty or your return line is restricted or blocked. Check all return valves and make sure that the backwash valve is in the correct position. This could also mean an air leak or blocked in the suction line, clogged baskets or clogged impeller. How can the pump get blocked when there is a basket inside? Most pumps have a basket inside which catches the debris that travels from the pool to the filter. Small debris like sand and silt pass through to the filter, but large debris like leaves and bugs, get caught in the pump basket or trap. If a basket gets too full or a basket gets torn, larger debris will then travel through the pump pot to the impeller where it can get jammed. When this happens, the pump has to be broken apart in order to clean out the impeller. This is also the reason that whenever a basket skimmer or pump deteriorates, we change it immediately. Preventive maintenance is the key. Keeping a well maintained pool pump is secret to keeping clean water in your pool.
Last in line is the seal. The seal has the responsibility to prevent the water from leaking out of the vacuum chamber. A seal must keep the water in the wet end of the pump so the dry side will stay dry. Swimming pool pumps use centrifugal force to move water through the circulation system. The definition of centrifugal force is an object moving away from the center, like a roller coaster. When water enters the middle eye of the spinning impeller, it is forced out to the impeller vanes. As the water is thrown out to the edges of the impeller there is a reduction of pressure in the eye of the impeller, and this creates a vacuum which will draw more water into the impeller. The water thrown out of the impeller is forced up and out at the top of the vacuum chamber and moves on through the rest of the circulation system. What causes the pump to lose its prime? This could a number of things. An air leak in the suction line, water level is below the skimmer, baskets are clogged (skimmer and pump), suction valve is wrong position, lid of pump is loose or o-ring is damaged, bad gasket or loose connection between pump and pump housing.
How does low pump flow and filter pressure correlate? If you have low flow and high filter pressure it usually means your filter is dirty or your return line is restricted or blocked. Check all return valves and make sure that the backwash valve is in the correct position. This could also mean an air leak or blocked in the suction line, clogged baskets or clogged impeller. How can the pump get blocked when there is a basket inside? Most pumps have a basket inside which catches the debris that travels from the pool to the filter. Small debris like sand and silt pass through to the filter, but large debris like leaves and bugs, get caught in the pump basket or trap. If a basket gets too full or a basket gets torn, larger debris will then travel through the pump pot to the impeller where it can get jammed. When this happens, the pump has to be broken apart in order to clean out the impeller. This is also the reason that whenever a basket skimmer or pump deteriorates, we change it immediately. Preventive maintenance is the key. Keeping a well maintained pool pump is secret to keeping clean water in your pool.
Click here for more information about Pool Equipments.
