Hi everyone,
So recently I've noticed small bubbles in my return jets. It appeared to have been getting worse over a few months. Background of the pool is that it was resurfaced (diamondbrite) about 1 year ago and a better skimmer was installed. Also current pump (which came with the house when purchased 4-5 yrs ago) appears to be a Pentair Sta-rite Dura-glad housing with a Century 0.75 HP motor). When I went to my reading here and the internet I realized that since there were bubbles in my pool pump lid and no obvious leaks noted that I had a suction side leak. Things that I have checked and done.
1) Pool level is midway up skimmer opening and no debris blocking flow of water flow into the skimmer
2) Completely replaced O-ring of lid (lubed with Hayward silicone pool lube)
3) Checked and replaced 2 drain plugs with O-rings (lubed as well) . Since one didn't have an O-ring on it. But this didn't change the issue.
4) Lubed and checked the union O-ring (the one prior to the 90 degree entering the pump) and it seemed ok.
5) Noticed that when the Main drain valve (Pentair 1.5-2 in 2 way diverter valve) was completely open and the Skimmer was shut off that the bubbles essentially went away... (barely any noticeable). The minute I opened the skimmer side a burst of bubbles would rush in. Not enough to loose prime but would slowly start to fill the top of the lid making it more turbulent.
6) I purchased a completely new Pentair diverter and just replaced the internal components (lubing the 3 o-rings) and placing it on the old housing. I did notice that one of the old small O-rings was warped and brittle and broke off. With the new components it swivels much better but still there is air when the skimmer diverter valve is opened.
7) As the valves were open, I tried pouring a steady state of water from a hose over the diverter valve, pipe connections to see if it would diminish the amount of air being sucked in but to no avail.
8) I performed (to the best of my ability) a bucket leak check for 24 hrs to see if there was a leak somewhere in the pool, but in the 24 hrs no real major drop difference was seen.
I'm not sure what else to do. Could there be an underground leak on the skimmer suction side? Could the housing of the diverter be cracked or warped? From the diverter there is about 1-2 inches of pipe above ground before it goes underground. I spoke to a pool company (who briefly stopped by and will be coming by next Monday) and they said that if I had a crack underground that I would lose prime even if it was a small crack.
Will try to add photos to show the environment.
Thanks for taking the time to read and problem solve.
So recently I've noticed small bubbles in my return jets. It appeared to have been getting worse over a few months. Background of the pool is that it was resurfaced (diamondbrite) about 1 year ago and a better skimmer was installed. Also current pump (which came with the house when purchased 4-5 yrs ago) appears to be a Pentair Sta-rite Dura-glad housing with a Century 0.75 HP motor). When I went to my reading here and the internet I realized that since there were bubbles in my pool pump lid and no obvious leaks noted that I had a suction side leak. Things that I have checked and done.
1) Pool level is midway up skimmer opening and no debris blocking flow of water flow into the skimmer
2) Completely replaced O-ring of lid (lubed with Hayward silicone pool lube)
3) Checked and replaced 2 drain plugs with O-rings (lubed as well) . Since one didn't have an O-ring on it. But this didn't change the issue.
4) Lubed and checked the union O-ring (the one prior to the 90 degree entering the pump) and it seemed ok.
5) Noticed that when the Main drain valve (Pentair 1.5-2 in 2 way diverter valve) was completely open and the Skimmer was shut off that the bubbles essentially went away... (barely any noticeable). The minute I opened the skimmer side a burst of bubbles would rush in. Not enough to loose prime but would slowly start to fill the top of the lid making it more turbulent.
6) I purchased a completely new Pentair diverter and just replaced the internal components (lubing the 3 o-rings) and placing it on the old housing. I did notice that one of the old small O-rings was warped and brittle and broke off. With the new components it swivels much better but still there is air when the skimmer diverter valve is opened.
7) As the valves were open, I tried pouring a steady state of water from a hose over the diverter valve, pipe connections to see if it would diminish the amount of air being sucked in but to no avail.
8) I performed (to the best of my ability) a bucket leak check for 24 hrs to see if there was a leak somewhere in the pool, but in the 24 hrs no real major drop difference was seen.
I'm not sure what else to do. Could there be an underground leak on the skimmer suction side? Could the housing of the diverter be cracked or warped? From the diverter there is about 1-2 inches of pipe above ground before it goes underground. I spoke to a pool company (who briefly stopped by and will be coming by next Monday) and they said that if I had a crack underground that I would lose prime even if it was a small crack.
Will try to add photos to show the environment.
Thanks for taking the time to read and problem solve.