Suction Side Air Leaks

What it is – One of the most common mechanical pool issues, a suction side leak can be difficult to find. The effect is just like using a straw with a hole in it. A suction side air leak shows itself most commonly by bubbles and splashing and frothing in the pump basket This indicates your pump is not getting the water it needs to function smoothly but, instead, air is getting into the system and starving or semi-starving the pump. The pump basket can have absolutely no water whatsoever (that’s when it “loses prime”) or it can have a mixture of water and air frothing around, or it can be a stream of tiny bubbles…..often easy to overlook. In any case, it is still an air leak and should be fixed.