HELP! My above ground pool doesnt circulate water the way I know it should. It is very frustrating.....?

Question

The pool is about 10k gallons and I have a Hayward pump and filter. The pump is 1 hp and the filter is a cartridge. I clean the filter, skimmer basket, and pump filter-basket every week. There are no clogs in the hoses. I have even checked the propeller in the pump. I believe that there is a leak in the filter where the ring locks filter top and bottom together. Nothing is chipped or broken and the o-ring seems ok, although I have been told the o-rings could expand over time due to the choline. I am also not sure if I am turning the pump on correctly. By that, I mean I dont know if I should let the air out of the filter b4 or after I turn on the pump or if I should let the air out at all. So, all in all, I have been told it could be the o-ring has expanded, I need a new filter, maybe some lube(for what, I dont know). The people who told me these things didnt seem convincing enough to me. Someone who knows what they are talking about, please point me in the right direction!

Answer 1

You should let the air out before you turn on the pump. You should have a little k**b on the top and one on the bottom. Open one and let the air bubble out until it is just water coming out. Close the k**b and turn on the pump. Do you have those plunger things on the inlet and outlet hoses? You have to close them and then open the top one first. then repeat with the other hose. Can you see water being drawn in from the skimmer basket? And does it come out somewhat forcefully from the outlet side? If so, it is probably working OK.