help, suction leak!! (fixed with new pump lid o-ring)

Ok, I tried not to post, but can not find a definitive answer. I have multiple problems this year on a 7 yr old IG 28k gallon vinyl pool. Have finally decided salt cell is bad and ordered replacment. Had it tested locally, it is 7 years old and runs year round--aquarite. Reads salt =zero, will not generate.

My issue here is bubbles coming out of the jets. This did not start until after I added some algecide a couple of weeks ago. Sorry, I try to use the BBB method, but lost my head and bought the algecide. I have several symptoms that may or may not be related, again my issue here is the bubbles.

Started with lots of DE in the skimmers, they were caked(1 time only), disassembled DE filter, cleaned and looked for tears, all looked good. Also noted DE had entered and clogged jets on Mars HP pool cleaner, had to replace parts. Suspected internal leak in DE possibly from the manifold, but have since decided no problem, may be wrong. Also pressure guage on DE seems about 5 lbs higher than before(I realize the guage may be bad, it is 7 yrs old too), even with less powder. Noted that it seems like the pressure from both the jets and the auto cleaner are higher than before. Had to turn down pressure on Mars HP to keep it from spinning wildly when in "reverse mode". Discovered I was putting almost twice the amount of DE that I should. Cleaned filter started over again with correct amount. Still have air bubbles, -------can not see any bubbles in the pump chamber. I think I can hear the air pockets going thru the filter and/or filter valve. I know from reading that to have air bubbles, the suction leak would have to be between the pool and the filter. Is this true? I only have the pipes from the pool, the 3 port jandy valve, and then the pump. The bubbles remain whether I am sucking from the skimmers or the bottom drain. Like I said, I do not see bubbles in the pump chamber. Is it possible for a leak on the other side of the pump to cause air bubbles? You guys are great, thanks in advance!

Bcrumb

Sometimes it the real simple things.
I had same issue...bubbles from the jets.
I re seated the O-Ring on the pump cup top (not sure what it is called - the twist off top that is connected to the pump)

Mine needed to be reseated...you may just need to buy a new one.

Depending on your plumbing, it may just be the SWCG creating the bubbles - I had a pool last year that had huge bubbles that were coming out of the return closest to the pump - apparently there is a 90 elbow that will collect the minute hydrogen bubbles that are a byproduct of using a SWCG until they get large enough to be forced out into the pool, this may be what you are experiencing.

Any air in the system would have to come from the influent side (before the pump) and you would see it in the pump basket leaks after the pump would leak water, not draw air into the system.

Glad you were able to figure out the DE - I've said a few times that too much or too little will negatively effect the filter's performance:cool:

Other considerations, any leaks after the pump are pressurized and should appear as water squirting out, not drawing in air. The only exception is if there is some sort of venturi action, such as with spa jets.
Another possibility is cavitation in the pump. Make sure you're not starving the pump or dead heading it. Cavitation will sound like popping sounds or gurgling noises in the pump.
Pump starvation will appear as a lack of water filling the pump trap. This can be caused by an incorrectly positioned valve before the pump or debris in the skimmer basket or plugging the suction lines.
Dead heading the pump is when a ball valve or diverter valve is blocked off or reducing flow after the pump, and not allow the water to flow back to the pool properly.

Alot of times, you cannot see smaller bubbles sucking into the pump trap area. At the same time, these small bubbles can be more apparent when they come out of the return jets.

I believe you mentioned that the salt system was not generating due to the low salt reading. Therefore, it probably is not as a result of the salt system.

Thanks guys, although I had already inspected and flipped over the gasket on the pump input canister lid, today I replaced it with a new one. The bubbles continued for a few minutes, then stopped. I guess some air had built up inside and it took a few for it to get out. BTW, had to order new cell for aquarite. Found it for 379.00 on the web. Pool store quoted me 815.00. I only paid 795.00 on the web for the whole system 6 years ago.

BC