Sand Filter Getting Air

[godstreasures1]

The pressure stays at 20 while the pump is running. I can not find anything wrong with the suction side as far as leaks go. I have got hard pipe and I made sure everything was sealed tight. Any more suggestions?

[godstreasures1]

I keep the water at the third screw on my skimmer, it only has four screws. Is this far enough up? I can see a few air bubbles in the hair basket but not sure where they are coming from.

[hrsdennis]

Your water level is perfect. A few bubbles in lint basket is normal. They usually get sucked in through the lid. More grease might help that, just depends on the lid. Some of the older Hayward baskets warp and never seal 100%.

Unless you see the basket half full of air and making gurgling noises I don't think air is the problem.

Have you tried running the filter in circulate mode {if you have one}? This will let you know if the pressure problem is in the sand tank.

It is starting to sound like the water is not flowing through the sand properly.

[godstreasures1]

I have By Pass To Pool is this the same thing? What would I be looking for when I do this?

[hrsdennis]

You would be looking for a strong consistent flow of water back into the pool.

[godstreasures1]

If the flow decreases what would this mean?

[matt4x4]

Air getting in the filter can only mean one thing - leak on suction side of pump, air leak anywhere else and it'll be water getting pushed out the leak.
if it's not the strainer basket or low water level, have you chacked all connections between the skimmer and the pump - this is the ONLY place you could be drawing air from.
in answer to your recirculate question - nothing should change since you are effectively bypassing the filter and just pumping water from the pool through the pump and valve of filter (valve only) back into the pool.
Have you got a bypass chlorinator on the system - these usually connect into teh main lines before the pump and after the filter, the air could be getting in before the pump - check the stainless clamp to see if it's tight enough.