Are you a pool expert? Help! The PSI is rising!?

Question

The water is turning green. We have cleaned the filter, cleaned the skimmer, and cleaned out the tank. But the PSI is rising. Will the PSI cause the tank to burst? We can't keep it below 22 right now. Does this make sense? Any suggestions? This is a public pool.

Answer 1

You don't mention if it's sand or DE filter. Get your water chemistry under control and shock shock shock and as it's commercial, likely you are using gaseous chlorine, pump up the volume and double your hourly test. A poly quat algaecide will help as well. Your pressure is going up, because of the increased bather load in this heat wave. That, in turn is using up the free avaliable chlorine in the pool leaving less to combat algae. Now to the filter.I have no idea what your normal start up pressure is. Every pool is different, none have the same plumbing run, elbows in the plumbing, return fittings or equipment. These all induce back pressure to the tank. Generally, a spike of 5- 10 PSI over your normal operating pressure means it's time to clean the filter in an average commercial pool. No idea which filter you have, you don't say. DE and sand filters are used in commercial applications If it's a DE, time to clean off the elements and charge the system with new DE. If it's sand, just keep on top of backwashing. One other thing to check. Has anyone turned off or throttled down a return valve? That might explain an enormous jump in your filter pressure as well.Check your plumbing map, all commercial pools should have one and the valve positions with settings marked.
As to the filter bursting, not likely. They are built to handle quite a bit. Chances are a plumbing fitting wil let go first.

Answer 2

I'm not a pool expert, but have had a pool growing up and even now....so about 30 years total)

By cleaning out the tank/filter/skimmer, does that mean your backwashing the filter? When our PSI is up to 20 we back wash our sand filter, run the rinse cycle and then restart and it goes back to 15-16PSI.

If it's a DE filter have you changed the DE? Taken the cartridge out and sprayed it clean? Or maybe need to replace the filter? I'm not as familiar with a DE filter anymore- we had that type about 20 years ago and I've forgotten all that info...:(

If those steps are done, you might have a problem with the filter and will need to call a tech.

Make sure you test the water and know the Chlorine level and the PH level. Add chlorine as needed or PH increase or decrease as needed. You may need to get some clarifier.