The strainer basket in the pool pump housing assembly collects large pieces of debris that were missed by the skimmer or were sucked in through the main drains. The pool pump strainer prevents debris from entering the pump assembly and clogging the impeller. To prevent the strainer from clogging and reducing the flow of water through the pool system, the pool pump strainer basket should be checked and cleared weekly.
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/4/2015
empty basket - I don't know how your system is moving water. If the pump basket area in not full of water, it can't move water through the system into the filter. I would guess you have a suction leak between the pool and the front end of your pump. See our guide on "How to Identify and Correct Air Leaks". The pump should not be run without water in the basket.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 6/3/2015
Should the pool pump basket chamber stay full of water? Everything seems to be fine but mine is completely dry?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/31/2015
no discharge - Sounds like your pump has lost prime and doesn't have enough water to fill up the pump basket. Check to see if you have a suction leak in the connections between the pool and the front port of the pump. If you have a multiport valve on your filter, make sure it is in filter mode.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/30/2015
5000 gallon pool - Sounds like you aren't getting enough water to the pump to maintain prime. Look for suction leaks in the connections from the pool to the pump input port.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 5/28/2015
We just bought an above ground small 5000 gallon pool. The pump was working but now the pump will suck the water but not blow it back through. All valves are opened. Please helpReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/17/2015
dfhanaway - It's hard to isolate your problem without more information. Please look at these additional guides to see if they will help: "How To Correct Low Water Pressure in Your Pool System" and "How to Identify and Correct Air Leaks".Reply
dfhanaway Posted: 5/14/2015
Can you please tell me why the pump willNot backwash or filter? It was working
earlier today and now it want . We have cleaned
out the basket and checked everything please help
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/11/2014
Maintaining an AG pool -Sounds like you have a blockage in your pool system. Here's a link to our guide on "How To Correct Low Water Pressure in Your Pool System". A clogged pump impeller seems to be a common problem.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 7/10/2014
I was left with the maintaining an above ground pool. The pump seems to not be working well. It seems it may be blocked but I dont know how to correct the situation. I cant get anyone to come and look as no one in Fl. seems to like above ground pools.Reply
Spacecase Posted: 6/18/2014
Thank You ! Even though I have had this pool for forty years, I learned something I didn't know before. Thank You!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/17/2014
Dynamite - Sounds like you have a clogged return line or one or more of your return valves are closed off too far.Reply
Dynamite Posted: 6/16/2014
High pressure in pool.... Runs at 18-20 normally but it's now around 40 psi... Filter not that dirty... One of the jets not blowing anything out.... Clogged line??Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/9/2014
strainer lid - Try twisting it off using a large stray clamp - twist counterclockwise.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 6/8/2014
cannot remove the lid from my strainer housing. it's the type with the two ears it is the twist off style. please helpReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/13/2014
Poman - Could just be because the filters are new. As long as your water is staying clean, you should be all right.Reply
Poman Posted: 5/12/2014
Just installed 4 new Carthage filters now my tank pressure 5 psi before it ran at 12 to 15 psi, any suggestions?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 12/28/2013
gian - Assuming at this point you are going to replace the strainer cover - I would drill a couple of 1/4" holes into the cover on either side of the center. Then drill a couple of 1/4" holes in the center of a 2 foot 2x4 the same distance apart as the cover holes. Drop 1/4" bolts thru the sets of holes and twist the 2x4 counter-clockwise. Be sure to lubricate the O-ring on your new cover each time you clean out your strainer and only hand tighten the cover.Reply
gian Posted: 12/26/2013
My strainer's cover of the pool is crew in type. It does not turn. I have broken off all the plastic ridges by turning those hard to open. ven I have applied WD40 for over 24 hrs. The lid is stuck. Please help, what should I doReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 9/7/2013
drain plugs - There are generally two drain plugs at the bottom of a pool pump, one under the strainer and one under the impeller. They are used to drain all the water out of the pump for winter storage.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 9/7/2013
Can you tell me what the drain on the side of my skimmer/pump is for? It has a screw on cap. Ty.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/28/2013
Wailupe - If you set the multiport valve to "closed" before opening the basket cover, it will prevent water from backing out of the filter, but will not prevent water from flowing back from the pump to the pool. You might consider putting a check valve in the supply line to stop backflow from the pump when the basket is open.Reply
Wailupe Posted: 7/23/2013
Our sand filter doesn't have a relief valve.Should I turn to "closed" before opening lid to basket of pump? I primedit after cleaning ( ran water via garden hose) but it took forever
to fill and to get the pressure up on the sand filter! It's working okay but need to know what to do next time before I burn out the motor! Appreciate your help!
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/22/2013
plastic in pipes - You might try blowing the line out from the skimmer end to the pump using a wet shop vac.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 7/21/2013
Plastic from my vacuum hose broke off and is in the strainer basket. When I release the pressure the plastic floats out of the intake line with the water. How can I get this plastic out of the lines?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/23/2013
Tom - If you are sure the pin hole leak is in the pump housing, I would replace the housing. This leak indicates a weakness in the housing that may cause the housing to explode.Reply
Tom Posted: 6/22/2013
I have a pin hole leak in my Hayward pump housing. Is there any way to fix it? I know it is not the gasket.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/1/2013
Lee - Sounds like you still have an air leak on the suction side of your pump. If you have an older pump, you might try replacing the O- ring on the strainer basket. If you have any unions on the suction side of the pump, take the union apart and make sure the o-ring is set properly. Also you may have to prime the intake longer and if you have long pipes to the pool , it might take up to 3 minutes to reach prime, especially is have blown the pipes out. One other point, if you are trying to use an above ground pump in an in ground pool, it will not prime. AG pumps are not designed to suck water.Reply
Lee Posted: 4/30/2013
Gentlemen or Ladies,My pump is running, but not priming. I have blew out the lines from the skimmer. Emptied the basket. Impellor moves freely. Primed the intake. I sealed one small pin hole on the out valve. Still no suction.
Any other suggestions?
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 2/11/2013
Rod - Sounds like your system has developed back-pressure caused by blockage in or after the filter. When the pump is shut off, the back-pressure pushes water back through the pump (and Pump basket) and back into the pool. Sometimes this is so bad that it blows the cover off of the skimmer. First try cleaning out the filter. If sand, backwash a couple of times. If you haven't replaced the sand in 5-7 years, replace the sand. Check pipe and laterals for blockages. If Cartridge filter, it may be time to replace the cartridge.Reply
Rod Posted: 2/7/2013
Thank you for info..but when the pool pump is running you can see leaves and other debri in the basket. But when the pool pump stops. It sucks everything back in the pipe. I don't recall that hPpening in the pastReply
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 12/14/2012
Jim,It sounds like you may have the wrong basket in your strainer. Check the number on the top of the strainer cover to identify your strainer and then check parts for that strainer to find your correct basket.
Reply
Jim Posted: 12/12/2012
I cleaned the plastic filter basket beside the pool pump last week, one week later I cannot get the basket out of the casing I have removed the dirt etc by hand but cannot free the basket from its housing.It is well and truly stuck.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 12/3/2012
jonathan You might look into installing an in-line valve in the water line going from the pool to the pump. Many above ground pools come with this feature.Reply
jonathan Posted: 11/29/2012
I just bought a house with an aboveground pool, Hayward S210T filter with Columbia PMX 2 hp pump. I wanted to look in the strainer and turned the cover off and water poured out nonstop. I only got the cover on partially such that the O-ring is a bit mashed so water is dribbling out steadily. How do you stop the water flow in order to get the cover on properly? Thanks.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 9/4/2012
No flow - Here are some common problems that lead to low or no flow: clogged skimmer box, clogged strainer box, clogged impeller, dirty filter, some suction side valves closed off. See our how to guides for correcting many of these problemsReply
Anonymous Posted: 9/2/2012
Hi i am getting nothing coming out my fliters in my pool i have cleaned and backwash many times also cleaned the propellers still nothing can any one helpReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/6/2012
Mary - Check to make sure your motor's capacitor is still functioning. See our guide on replacing a capacitor.Reply
Mary Posted: 8/2/2012
I turned our pump off to clean stainer basket and when I tried to turn it back on, it just kind-of clicked and then nothing. I let things sit as the motor did feel hot but even after a 4 hr cooling off time - still nothing. Any ideas - or do I have a burned out motor? Thanks ---Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/15/2012
Theo - If it looks like you have good flow, the problem may be in the unit that is telling you that you have "no flow". Talk to the manufacturer of the unit for suggestions. Many times the issue is just loose connections.Reply