My Pressure Side Swimming Pool Cleaner Isn't Moving
Pressure Side Pool Cleaners are often very reliable
but there are some things that can happen to stop them from operating in your
swimming pool. There are two types of these cleaners, some that work off of a separate
dedicated booster pump (cleaner pump) and others that connect directly to the
pools return line. I will cover some of the troubleshooting that I perform on
my route when I find one of these not moving in a pool.
Let me start with the booster pump versions. The first
thing you need to know about these Pressure Side Cleaners is that in order to
work properly both the main pump and the booster pump must be set to come on at
the same time. If the booster pump is not set to come on with the main pump,
there will not be enough water going to the cleaner. The booster pump actually
takes water from the main pump and uses that to inject a strong flow of water
into the dedicated cleaner line. I always check this first to make sure both
pumps are set to come on together.
Next, you will want to check the Quick Disconnect in
the pool wall that is connected directly to the dedicated return line for the
Pressure Side Cleaner. There is a small screen in here or in the newer models
there is a screen inline attached to the hose. If this screen gets clogged
with debris that has bypassed the filter, the cleaner will stop working. Even a
very small amount of debris will stop a cleaner from moving. So remove and check the screen for any
debris.
The Quick Disconnect on all of these cleaners also
acts as a regulator valve for return flow. So if the valve is open and some of
the return water is being diverted away from the cleaner this will cause it to
stop moving also. Check to make sure the valve is not letting too much water
bypass the cleaner by closing off the valve. A crack may also form somewhere on
the Quick Disconnect allowing some of the dedicated return water to flow out
and reducing the amount going to the cleaner. The bottom line, the Pressure Side Cleaner
needs a large amount of water flow to get it moving in the pool.
For a Return Side Cleaner like the Polaris 360, the
cleaner is connected directly into one of the pool’s return lines. In this case, a very dirty filter or a clogged pump basket can affect the flow of water to
the cleaner. Another factor is the number of open return lines in the pool. You
may need to cap off one or two other return lines or add restricted eyeball
fittings to reduce the flow from these other return lines and direct the flow to
the line where the cleaner is connected. It also has a Quick Disconnect like
the Pressure Side Cleaners so also check that for debris and cracks.
After checking all of the above and ruling out the timer,
equipment, and Quick Disconnect you will need to examine the cleaner itself for
possible wear. The Polaris and Pentair cleaners have either a drive shaft, belt
or chain that moves the cleaner along. If these are worn out in any way the
cleaner will also stop moving. The wheels of these cleaners also have bearings
much like a skateboard. Once the bearings wear out the wheels will spin poorly,
and the cleaner may even stop moving. There are also other issues that may
arise that will stop the cleaner.
If at any time you are unable to get your cleaner
moving again, you can always pool it out of the pool and take it into your
local pool store. They should be able to figure out what is wrong with the
cleaner and get it working for you again.
Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A
list of all of my videos.
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