Bubbles from return

[sammm]

Do you have a release valve on top of your filter? If so, open it up until you get a steady stream of water.
One thing I had to do last year on my pump was 'crack it open' where the adjustable metal band seals it and lube the o-ring in there.

[waste]

Sam, this may or may not be the case, but sometimes the simplest answer is the right one --- try turning the vac hose around (switch the end in the skimmer and the end on the vac head. Many of the vac hoses have a swivel cuff on the end that attaches to the vac head, if you connect that end in the skimmer, it can suck air and momentarily kill the prime (ther swivel end isn't air nor water tight).

[spcchap]

I will look at the vacuum hose this afternoon. Thanks for the replies. Here's something else I noticed:

I have tightened all fittings, greased all o-rings, etc. and my pressure now stays constant around 10. But I seem to remember that my lint/hair trap was totally full of water last season. In fact I would always have to open the top to make sure it was even full of water because it was so clear (no bubbles, etc.) that I thought it might be running dry. This year there is about 3 inches of air above the water line in the trap. I can see the water pulling in from the pool and churning all over the place.

If the trap is supposed to be without air, I could see why I would have bubbles in the return, because there is a lot of air in the pump.

Does this sound like the pump isn't priming? I tried filling the basket to the brim, but when I cut the pump on, it immediately drops a few inches I backwashed and rinsed the sand filter and the water is clear, so I don't think it is an issue with the filter.

Any other ideas? Thanks!!

[spcchap]

Got it fixed. The flex hose from the skimmer basket to the pump had a hairline crack. Replaced it and it now works like a charm. Thanks for the help everyone!