[Cajundaddy]

Without going deadhead you could simply thread a 1/4" vacuum gauge into the suction side of your pump strainer and note inches of mercury. That X1.13 will give you suction side head loss. The pressure side gauge psi X 2.31 will give you return side head loss. The sum of these applied to your pump curve will give you flow rate in GPM.

CALCULATE TDH - Multiple the Vacuum gauge reading x 1.13. Multiply the Pressure gauge reading x 2.31. Add the two products together to determine TDH for your system. Our readings were 15 and 23 respectively So (15 x 1.13) + (23 x 2.31) = 17 + 53 or 70 TDH.


If a typical pool system runs 10psi with a clean filter and 18psi with a dirty filter, that represents the normal operating range. If pressure is below 10psi it indicates an obstruction in your suction side increasing head loss (clogged basket, jammed impeller, gopher stuck in skimmer). If pressure is above 18 psi it indicates an obstruction in your return side (closed valve, jammed heater flow control, clogged jets).