Bubbles in return, air in filter, can't figure it out

[cmcq]

When I turn the pool on after it has been sitting for a few hours, I get a big burp in the returns. There is also air in the filter b/c I can open the pressure valve at the top of the pump and hear the air rushing out until the water replaces it b/c the pump is running. I've looked everywhere and don't see any leaks. Thoughts? How can I de-bug? I've already opened/closed the filter to make sure it was seated correctly.


22k gallon IG, DE filter, SWG.

Thanks

[George in Georgia]

I've encountered this with my sand filter, I'm not familiar with how DE filters are plumbed, but I imagine that there is a strainer/basket assembly on the suction side of the pump.

In my case it seems that air was being sucked into the strainer basket (which is on the suction side of the pump) via the o-ring on its lid, and that there seems to be a tiny crack in the fitting between the strainer and the valves for the skimmer and bottom drain fittings. When I turned the pump off I could hear a tiny hiss of air entering the suction side of the pump. Naturally there was no water leak to tip me off.

Carefully cleaning and re-lubing the o-ring seems to help, and while I can figure how to replumb the strainer fitting and valve assembly, some very thin vinyl electrical tape wound around the fitting seems to help a lot. The tape came from Lowe's, and is very thin and flexible, so it conforms to the fitting's contours.

Worth a try, perhaps. Good luck!

[dhanger]

I also had that problem, I found that the bolts that connect the motor to the pump had worked loose, I just re-tightened them and that fixed it.

Dan

[George in Georgia]

Thanks, Dan! I'll check that also. Lots easier than replumbing the suction side!

[steveinaz]

Check all (suction side) unions for tightness and o rings (condition and proper placement), make sure water level isn't allowing air in thru the skimmer. Check pump pot o ring for servicability and correct placement.

[cmcq]

I'll check all the suction side stuff again, but in the past, if the lid hasn't been tight enough and the pump was turned off, water has emptied from the basket and the pump. With my current problem, the basket before the pump stays full of water (and it seems the pump does too).

When the pump is off, I hear a "glug" in the filter, which I assume is the air entering from somewhere and rising to the top inside the filter. It sounds like it is near the top of the 2 pipes which go in/out of the filter. However, when the pump runs there isn't any water that leaks out from there so it could just be the point at which the air enters the filter, not that connection itself.

I had the pool company out to look at it over the weekend, but I wasn't around and haven't heard back from them. Not surprisingly, they didn't fix it.

Any ideas?

[aylad]

Mine does that when the spider gasket needs replacing. It only takes a tiny, tiny leak somewhere to make it gain air.

Janet

[cmcq]

Beginner question, but what is the spider gasket? Is that the suction side cover to the flap that is plumbed in prior to the pump basket? (e.g. skimmer->spider->pump basket->pump)

[aylad]

No, it's the gasket inside of the 6-way multiport handle. It usually will start leaking water around the multiport through where the handle comes through while the pump is running, and occasionally I'll see water running out of the backwash pipe while the filter is in filter mode. That's usually accompanied by a big air bubble in the pump strainer basket after the pump has been off for awhile. The longer the pump is off, the bigger the bubble tends to be.

Janet

[cmcq]

6-way multiport handle? I may know less than I thought I did :-(

I have one multi-position handle after the pump and before the filter. It is used to direct some of the water back to the pool to run a Ray-vac cleaner with the rest going to the filter.

I have another handle as the last item before the water returns to the pool. This lets me control the flow of water between the returns and 2 fountains I have.

Either way, I guess I should check them since it is after the pump

(e.g. skimmer->spider->pump basket->pump->handle for ray-vac->filter->swg->heater-> fountain control->pool)

Thanks for your patience

[aylad]

the one I mean is a round, multiport handle between my pump and sand filter. Some DE filters have one that looks similar although I've never taken a good up-close look at it.

Janet

[cmcq]

It is almost a worst case scenario. Apparently the pipes in my heater rusted and are leaking. I'm re-plumbing to skip the heater since I don't need it now, but will have to address this before the fall if we want an extended season. I need to get a new heater, and also understand what caused the issue. It is only 6 years old which I'm guessing is shorter than the average life span for a gas heater. My guess is the cause is a combination of the salt water generator and maybe high Ph, although I don't know which is a bigger culprit

Thanks for the assistance. Watch for cries for help in new thread later this year.
Bummed,
Charlie

[aylad]

Well, I'm glad you found the problem--but sorry it looks to be a major repair. Hopefully someone around here can shed some light on what may have caused your problem.

Janet