I have been beating my head for weeks on this one. I would appreciate a second brain on this.
I have no air in my system when My pump is running on either the main, vacuum or skimmer line (6 yo pentair single speed 1hp). Air starts when I plug my vacuum into the vacuum line. It also gets air from the skimmer line when I hook it up to there. Pressure in all 3 lines is 7psi when only on the respective line. When I plug in the vacuum in drops to about 5psi on both vacuum and skimmer line. On the Vacuum line water will begin to surge and I cannot run the vacuum. On the skimmer line it will vacuum but, lots of bubbles. My trouble shooting went as follows.
Thought initially a blockage in the vacuum line so I
- blew the line with a bladder
- ran a rope and rag through the line
- reworked the plumbing and have it able to pump backwards through the vacuum line.
-have not found a blockage in the vacuum line, I have also back flowed the skimmer line and nothing.
Started to think air leak on the suction side
- remove vacuum hose and used only the angled hose to wall adapter from the zodiac mx6 and problem occurs, so its not the vacuum or the vacuum hoses just seems to happen when restriction occurs or more load on the system.
- removed / replaced / lubed all seals
- checked for cracks in the pump lid.
- replaced and re-seated pump fitting seals.
- checked pump plugs
- checked all fittings above ground with shaving cream
- poured water over everything
- taped a plastic bag around all fittings up to the pump including the jandy valve and filled it with water. still no change.
- opened the pump and impeller was clean
- not seeing anything with a dye test
- trying a bucket test for the next 48hrs now.
I'm finding it hard to believe it is an above ground air leak. To have a similar issue occur in both the vacuum and skimmer line I'm thinking an underground leak is probably not it either.
When I simulate a restriction on only the main valve with the jandy, it does not seem to phase the pump!
Would you guys think the pump itself (being that its old) could cause this kind of issue?
The symptoms happened literally over night.
Thanks for any help / suggestions!!
I have no air in my system when My pump is running on either the main, vacuum or skimmer line (6 yo pentair single speed 1hp). Air starts when I plug my vacuum into the vacuum line. It also gets air from the skimmer line when I hook it up to there. Pressure in all 3 lines is 7psi when only on the respective line. When I plug in the vacuum in drops to about 5psi on both vacuum and skimmer line. On the Vacuum line water will begin to surge and I cannot run the vacuum. On the skimmer line it will vacuum but, lots of bubbles. My trouble shooting went as follows.
Thought initially a blockage in the vacuum line so I
- blew the line with a bladder
- ran a rope and rag through the line
- reworked the plumbing and have it able to pump backwards through the vacuum line.
-have not found a blockage in the vacuum line, I have also back flowed the skimmer line and nothing.
Started to think air leak on the suction side
- remove vacuum hose and used only the angled hose to wall adapter from the zodiac mx6 and problem occurs, so its not the vacuum or the vacuum hoses just seems to happen when restriction occurs or more load on the system.
- removed / replaced / lubed all seals
- checked for cracks in the pump lid.
- replaced and re-seated pump fitting seals.
- checked pump plugs
- checked all fittings above ground with shaving cream
- poured water over everything
- taped a plastic bag around all fittings up to the pump including the jandy valve and filled it with water. still no change.
- opened the pump and impeller was clean
- not seeing anything with a dye test
- trying a bucket test for the next 48hrs now.
I'm finding it hard to believe it is an above ground air leak. To have a similar issue occur in both the vacuum and skimmer line I'm thinking an underground leak is probably not it either.
When I simulate a restriction on only the main valve with the jandy, it does not seem to phase the pump!
Would you guys think the pump itself (being that its old) could cause this kind of issue?
The symptoms happened literally over night.
Thanks for any help / suggestions!!