I have had bubbles in the return lines for a few days. They are coming out of the pool and spa return lines fairly consistently except when the system is in high RPM cleaning mode when they seem to disappear.
I was convinced I had a suction side air leak and have tried several methods for finding them above ground with no success. After adjusting some return valves, the bubbles completely disappear if the spa spillover is working and I isolate all return water to the pool through the two bubblers (so spa return and bubbler return combo yields no bubbles). If I open the valve for the pool returns even slightly, the bubbles return. They are first seen in the equipment pad plumbing through the window on the two check valves (one before the heater which has an internal bypass and the second on the spa return line I marked in the photo).
I have a valve actuator to the spa. Does that valve need to be adjusted in order for the pool returns to function without bubbles? I’m guessing this is a matter of balancing the head loss. Am I way off track? If so, I need to learn how to adjust the valve connected to the actuator.
Edited to say I’m a knucklehead...of course the bubbles stopped coming out of the return lines. I shut them. ?? What I meant to say is that I no longer see the bubbles through the window in the check valve. Sorry...my brain hurts and I need to walk away from the pool for a bit. There is also no longer a churning sound through the pipes at the equipment pad when I set the return valves to closed. I’ve got no clue what is going on. Maybe I do have a suction side leak?
There is just a tiny bit of air in the pump basket...nothing out of the ordinary there.
I was convinced I had a suction side air leak and have tried several methods for finding them above ground with no success. After adjusting some return valves, the bubbles completely disappear if the spa spillover is working and I isolate all return water to the pool through the two bubblers (so spa return and bubbler return combo yields no bubbles). If I open the valve for the pool returns even slightly, the bubbles return. They are first seen in the equipment pad plumbing through the window on the two check valves (one before the heater which has an internal bypass and the second on the spa return line I marked in the photo).
I have a valve actuator to the spa. Does that valve need to be adjusted in order for the pool returns to function without bubbles? I’m guessing this is a matter of balancing the head loss. Am I way off track? If so, I need to learn how to adjust the valve connected to the actuator.
Edited to say I’m a knucklehead...of course the bubbles stopped coming out of the return lines. I shut them. ?? What I meant to say is that I no longer see the bubbles through the window in the check valve. Sorry...my brain hurts and I need to walk away from the pool for a bit. There is also no longer a churning sound through the pipes at the equipment pad when I set the return valves to closed. I’ve got no clue what is going on. Maybe I do have a suction side leak?
There is just a tiny bit of air in the pump basket...nothing out of the ordinary there.
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