Frequently Asked Questions

If air is being sucked in at the pump – The most common places for air to be sucked in at the pump are at the pump intake or at the pump lid. The first thing to do is check these areas and lubricate O-rings (with a silicone lubricant) and tighten if necessary. The majority of pump lids have a recess for the O-ring. If the O-ring is not sitting correctly in the recess and has dirt caught around the area, the pump will continue to suck air.

If air is being sucked in somewhere else – perhaps between the skimmer and the pump. A low water level in the pool can easily allow air to mix in with the water at the skimmer box. Simply top up your water level.

Often when it appears there is ‘low pressure’, it can mean that there is in fact plenty of pressure, but that the flow is low. This is caused by a dirty or clogged filter, a blocked return line or a valve that is shut off or partially shut on the return pipe. If there is a humming sound emitted from the electrical end, this may also be a sign that the pump’s impeller may be clogged with debris. To check if this is the case, shut off the pump and remove the basket. Check the impeller by putting your finger into the suction hole found in the pump strainer housing. If the seal is broken, it may need to be replaced.

Motor noise – the front bearings may need replacing. Perhaps water got into them, which will ruin them in a short period of time. The bearings can be replaced but often the motor is replaced as a whole.
Clogs – If the water flow is restricted with clogged intake and the basket is full it will be much louder than normal. If something is clogged in the impellor this will be noisy too.
No Water – If a pump is starved of water it will tend to cogitate. This makes a lot of noise because the pump is working against itself.

There are a number of potential causes of bubbles returning to the pool. It may be one of the following;

• The pool water level may be low, therefore allowing air to mix with water through the skimmer. To stop this from happening, you will need to top up your pool water level.
• The skimmer weir may be stuck in the ‘Up’ position, allowing air to mix with water in the suction line.
• There may be a leak at any connection point in the suction piping or a leak inside any suction side valve at the stem O-ring. Please contact the Service Department on (08) 9258 5000 for more information.

The length of time between when you need to clean your filter is referred to as the ‘filter cycle’. A brand new filter would be likely to run for about 30 days between cleans (however, cleaning cycles do vary). Consideration should be given to the following as these could be causes for shorter filter cycles;

• Location of your pool (is it near a building site? Trees? Beach?)
• Usage level of your pool (high usage during summer months? Do pets use the pool?)

Filter sand or cartridges can deteriorate over a period of time and increased backwashing is a good indication that it is time to change your filter media. As a general rule, filter sand should last between 5-7 years and a filter cartridge may only last 3-5 years before requiring replacement.
If you are unsure as to whether you need to change your filter media, contact your local pool shop.

You should regularly be testing the following;

• pH
• Chlorine
• Total alkalinity
• Calcium Hardness

Stabiliser levels should be regularly maintained in outdoor pools which use chlorine.
You should regularly take a sample of your pool water to your local pool shop for professional testing. Approximately every 4-6 weeks in the summer months.

Cloudy pool water is often a sign that the water chemistry is out of balance.
Some potential causes of cloudy water could be high phosphate levels (caused by garden fertiliser, contamination from animals), early algae growth, high calcium concentration, sanitiser issues, pool water that is too warm, build-up of un-filterable wastes (make-up, lotions) and also a lack of backwashing the filter.

In this case you should check the stabiliser level. If it is above 100ppm, this will cause ‘chlorine lock’, whereby chlorine is present in the water but is not able to kill off the algae. Reduce the stabiliser level to within the recommended ranges (80-100ppm).

Cartridge Filters – Soak the filter in an approved cleaning solution for 24 hours, and then hose off with clean water before re-installing.
Sand Filter – Sand filters cam be cleaned by backwashing, where the water is pushed back up through the filter, loosening particles. This should be done approximately once a month.
If your sand filter is around 5-7 years old you may need to replace your sand. Contact your local pool shop to see if your sand requires changing.

Check all breakers, fuses, switches and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets. Then check to ensure the light is switched on at the transformer location. If any of these have tripped, the power will not continue on to the pool light transformer. You should call for service at this point to determine where this problem is coming from.

Many pressure cleaners have a backup valve to stop this from happening, so make sure that this valve is operating every 3 minutes.
If your hose is too short for the pool, this can prevent the cleaner from turning properly and reaching other areas of the pool. Loose wheels on the cleaner can cause spinning and inhibit movement.

The cleaner’s hose, skirt or some other part may be faulty or need replacing. Contact the manufacturer. A stone, leaf, stick or other object may be blocking the cleaner. Check the cleaner for any blockages and remove.

Evaporation can be reduced by using a pool blanket. Plumbing, valve and pool leaks need to be located and repaired. Contact our Service Department on (08) 9258 5000 for assistance.
Excessive splashing can also lower the water level.

This could be a result of a calcium/chemical build up on the surface of your pool. Test the Calcium hardness of your pool to determine if this is the problem. Your pool shop will be able to advise the appropriate solution to reduce the Calcium build up.