Troubleshooting Guide - STA-RITE PTM50 Owner's Manual

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

A. Short Cycle:
NOTICE: Time between cleanings will vary with
each installation and between different areas of the
country. The following causes and remedies are for
cycle times shorter than normal for your area.
NOTICE: Some pool disinfectants may clog filter
media. To maximize media life and filter cycle time,
closely follow disinfectant manufacturer's instruc-
tions when cleaning pool or filter.
1. Chlorine residual too low; maintain proper resid-
ual (consult pool professional for recommenda-
tion).
2. Flow rate too high; restrict flow to rated capacity
of filter (see instruction decal on filter).
3. Filter too small; install larger filter or additional
filter.
4. Unstable water; consult pool professional.
5. Filter element not cleaned properly or plugged
with algae, iron, calcium, etc. - see "Special
Cleaning Instructions", Page 10.
6. Heavy or improper application of powdered
chlorine or chlorine pills using a binder; see
"Special Cleaning Instructions", Page 10.
7. Algae in pool - Apply heavy dose of chlorine or
algaecide as recommended by pool manufac-
turer. Continue until algae is controlled.
B. Low flow:
1. Element is plugged; see "Special Cleaning
Instructions", Page 10.
2. Pipe blocked downstream from filter; remove ob-
struction.
3. Piping too small; replace with larger pipe (con-
sult dealer for recommendation).
4. Pump hair and lint trap is plugged - empty and
clean.
5. Pump impeller and diffuser worn - replace with
new parts. Consult pump owner's manual for in-
formation.
6. Pump too small for system - replace with larger
pump.
C. Pool Water Not Clear:
1. Chlorine dosage too low; maintain adequate
chlorine residual (consult pool professional for
recommendation).
2. Element cloth torn or punctured; replace ele-
ment.
3. Filter too small, flow too low, or daily operating
time too short, giving inadequate turnover rate;
consult dealer to verify that equipment is prop-
erly sized for your pool.
4. Pump too large - overpumping - reduce flow
rate.
5. Filter installed backward - replumb.
D. Long Recovery Time After Heavy Usage:
1. Residual Chlorine level is too low - add chlorine.
2. Filter too small - replace with larger unit.
3. Pump too large - reduce flow rate.
E. Filter Bypasses Dirt:
To avoid severe injury or major prop-
erty damage, exactly follow instructions under
"Disassembly" and "Assembly" (Pages 8 and 9)!
1. Air bleed tube and/or tube filter not in position.
Exactly follow instructions in "Filter
Disassembly/Assembly Procedure", Pages 8 and
9, and reinstall correctly.
2. Element cloth torn or punctured; replace ele-
ment.
3. Filter element is not seated properly in filter base;
follow instructions under "Filter
Disassembly/Reassembly", Pages 8 and 9, and
reposition properly.
4. Filter is plumbed backwards and element cloth is
ruptured - replumb properly and replace ele-
ment.
5. Colloidal fines (very small suspended dirt parti-
cles) are present and passing through element
covering. Floc with alum, or if fines have already
settled, vacuum to waste.
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