After my pump has been off for a few hours, I get a lot of bursts from my returns, like if the return pipes were full of air. I don't have a suction side leak, I only see bubbles for the first 30 seconds or so that the pump is running and then I get zero bubbles from my returns, and I don't see a water leak around the equipment. Can somebody explain what's going on?
bubbles only on startup
- Thread starter jrguzmanr
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Possibly air in the filter from a suction side air leak or possibly a leak someone else on the system that allows water to drain out of the filter. Possibly at the multiport.
Solar panels will also cause a lot air to come out of the returns when they turn on.
Solar panels will also cause a lot air to come out of the returns when they turn on.
Sminor
0
Yeah that's not too unusual. Any very small leak will allow water to drain a bit back to the pool and it will be replaced by air that is blown out when you fire up the pump. Do you have check valves? I don't have any and I have a small leak on my filter discharge so I get bubbles in the returns for the first 30 seconds as well. Doesn't hurt anything and just reminds me I need to fix the leak at some point!
James W: I don't think I have a suction side air leak as I see no bubbles in my drain basket and I don't lose prime no matter how long my pump is off (2 days has been the max, as I was away)
Sminor: I'm not sure if I have a check valve...what is that? I thought that if I had a leak on my return side, I would see water leak when the pump was on, am I wrong in that assumption?
thanks for your responses.
Sminor: I'm not sure if I have a check valve...what is that? I thought that if I had a leak on my return side, I would see water leak when the pump was on, am I wrong in that assumption?
thanks for your responses.
Sminor
0
A check valve simply allows water to flow in only one direction. If you have any, they will kind of look like a coupler but with no handle or threads. They usually have an arrow on them that point in the direction of water flow... As James mentioned, maybe there is a leak on the multiport. I don't have a sand filter so not sure if it would leak water with pump running or not...
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Yes i do have a check valve and I have a DE filter.
Are there any consequences for leaving the leak unattended as long as I'm not losing any water?
Are there any consequences for leaving the leak unattended as long as I'm not losing any water?
If you have a check valve between the pump and filter, then there should not be a problem. However, if you don't, then DE can sometimes migrate from the filter through the pump and out the skimmers and main drain. I would suspect a leak at the multiport gasket. The gasket isn't too hard to replace.
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