This guide provides explanations and tips for troubleshooting your pool for low water flow issues. We also provide links to any relevant guides for more in-depth guides.
Click Here to Find Your Pool Pump Replacement Parts (Gaskets, Baskets, Impellers & More) 
.jpg?format=jpg&scale=both&mode=pad&anchor=middlecenter&width=300&height=250 "Image for Step 9")
bill Posted: 6/1/2016
I am having issues with low flow coming out of my pump. I removed the filter from the equation by going straight to the pool from the pump and still have low flow issues. I checked and the impeller is not clogged....it runs full speed. Hayward said I seem to have an air leak. I have a new hose from the skimmer to the pump and new clamps on both ends of that hose. I am not sure what else the issue could be. Is it possible the basket cover has an air leak in it? Should I replace the o-ring gasket on the basket cover? I'm at a loss.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/30/2016
Charlie - If your filter has a breather tube going up the center of your filter top to bottom, check to make sure it and the screen cap are not clogged. If it is clogged, you may have air building up in the top of the tank causing backpressure.Reply
Charlie Posted: 5/26/2016
I have cleaned my filter spotless. I turned it on everything was great. Then the pressure inside increases and the water flow into the pool decreases. I backwash a few times then everything is good for about a half hour. Is there anything else I could check? Doesn't sound like its sucking air. Pump is running fine...helpReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 10/19/2015
Dwalsh - If your pump has prime and is pumping without significant bubbles showing under the strainer cover, I would guess that you have a blockage somewhere. Check your pump's impeller - "How To Clean Out a Pool Pump Impeller". Then check for blockage in a suction side pipe. If you have diverter valves that allow you to shut off each of your suction side pipes, try turning off each of them to isolate a possible blockage. Most blockages are in the first elbow from the pool. Toys will often get stuck there. You may be able to unblock it using a plumber's snake or you could try blowing it out by removing the pump and attaching a blower to the pipe to blackflush the pipe from the pump to the pool.Reply
Dwalsh Posted: 10/15/2015
Motor went and replaced with exact match. New season started pool and not enough water pressure either with filter or bi pass filter. Checked for air leaks and everything was good.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/28/2014
jack of all - Sounds like you have a suction leak. If you changed the whole filter recently, I would start looking for leaks around those connections.Reply
jack of all Posted: 7/26/2014
have changed the filter (50) in our spa/pool for baptism and have problems with surging flow and pressure. Tried to back flush with garden hose but still have the problem. Can t tell if the pump has anything in it. Also can t tell if there is air leak( most of suction is inaccessible. Starts up ok but after a couple minutes surges starts. Have worry that continued use will damage the pump.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 4/1/2014
Jordan - You pool water has something suspended in it that's clogging your filter. Take a sample of your water to a pool store and have them check it to make sure your pool's water chemistry is within limits. If your water chemistry is good, give us a call to discuss what might be added to reduce the suspended matter.Reply
Jordan Posted: 3/31/2014
I run my pump without a filter and it flows like a river but whenever I put my filter in, I get low flow and sometimes trickling. I have to pressure wash the filter almost every day just to keep a good flow. I'm certain that my problem is the filter but it is literally 4 months old..Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/13/2013
Help!! - First thank you very much for your feedback. It will help us on the next customer's question. For a leaf collector used in line with vacuuming, we would recommend a Clear Leaf Trap 186A for Pool Cleaner.Reply
Help!! Posted: 6/12/2013
Thank you so much for your help! It turns out all it was was a blockage in the skimmer line. Phew! I just kept at it using the priming plug and filling pump with water. I ran it on recirc and eventually it cleared! I then backwashed and rinsed filter.What do you recommend to use when vaccuming as I seem to have a lot of debris in pool due to lots of trees. I use a skimmer sock when filtering but have nothing for vacuuming so I don't run into this problem again. I have seen leaf collectors for automatic ... anything for regular?
Thanks again!!
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/11/2013
Help!! - I'm not sure what's going on here. You are correct. If you run in recirculate mode you shouldn't have to worry about the filter, but? Try a couple of other approaches. Take the plug out and fill the strainer basket with a hose for 3-4 minutes to get some water into all of the pipes. Close the strainer basket. Then try setting the multiport valve to filter and running the pump for 3-4 minutes to see if it will prime.Reply
Help!! Posted: 6/10/2013
I took apart the pump and the impeller is prestine. I do start the pump on high until it primes.How can I tell if the filter is clogged? My psi is at zero and I prime the pump on recirc.
The purpose of the priming plug is to block skimmer while forxing water through the lines out the jets to rid the lines of air. When I first primed it before I vacuumed, priming plug worked perfectly and did what it was supposed to, stayed in skimmer until I pulled it out. Now the water pressure forces it back out but doesn't go through the lines
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/10/2013
Help!! - Sounds like you covered most of the bases. A couple of comments. First the simplest. Is it possible that this 2-speed motor is starting up in low speed. It has to run at high speed initially to prime the pump. Next, since there was a lot of debris in the strainer basket, is it possible that some of the debris got into the pump and clogged the impeller? Then check to see if your filter is clogged with debris.Reply
Help!! Posted: 6/9/2013
We opened our in-ground pool last weekend. We took the cover off, filled it up to the line with water, and put degreaser in, changed out the sand (21" cooper ranger". When we went to turn the pump (jacuzzi magnum force) on, it wouldn't prime. Eventually found out we had a crack in the bottom. So we bought a good condition used 2 year old starite 1hp 2 speed pump from a guy who was closing his pool. Hooked it up, got rid of the leaks, primed it using a priming plug and it worked great!I tried cleaning the bottom of the pool with the leaf net before I started vacuuming on waste, and got as much as the leaves out as I could. I vacuumed the pool on waste, until the water got below the skimmer (still learning about how to properly vacuum with the water above the skimmer so I don't lose suction. I cleaned out the pump basket which was overflowing with leaves and debris.
I filled the pool back up to the line, but now I can't get it to prime. I blew out the line going from pump to skimmer thinking it was a blockage, I took apart my pump to see if it was the diffuser and it was pristine. When I put the priming plug in, the pressure kicks it back out again. We found we had 2 small leaks in the line from skimmer to pump and repaired those. I try to recirc the filter to prime it but nothing goes to the jets. There isn't enough pressure or water coming through to backwash properly either.
I am at my wits end as this pool has been nothing but problems since we bought the house last August. Shy of paying a fortune to have someone come out, how do I fix this problem I am having, or what could be causing it?
Reply