Churning water in pump basket

[The Sarge]

So my water in the pump basket it churning and I've noticed air coming out the jets. After a month of trouble shooting I called a pool company. They came out and said everything is fine, I had good flow and bubbles coming out the jets was normal. I told them I was getting about 12 psi and now I'm at 7psi and he kinda dismissed me like I didn't know what I was talking about. So of course my pool is crazy green now despite keeping my chemicals going.

I dont remember the water churning before and there was definitely no air bubbles coming out the jets. I checked the O ring and lubbed it. Still churning. I noticed the joint between the pump and drain/skimmer line has a black rubber joint held on by clamps. I removed it and put it back on. I gained about 2 psi after that but everything is the same. I don't know what else to do, as it seems that my filter isn't cleaning out the algae due to lower pressure. I've been SLAMing the pool for 3 days and it looks the same. I would have thought my psi would have gone up to backwash after 3 days but its indicating the same pressure. So is the churning normal? And is the loss in pressure why my filtration system is not cleaning anything. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Sarge - It sounds like you have 2 problems going on.

1. Something is sucking air and causing bubbles. Since you mentioned your skimmer is acting up, does it have enough water in it, or could there be a leak there?

2. Algae - SLAM is the right answer. Can you post your full test results, including CYA level, and tell us how you got the numbers (hopefully your own test kit).

 

[The Sarge]

My water level is fine its half way between the skimmer opening. I opened the pump lid and checked the O ring, lubed it and put back on. I think it's that black rubber joint seen in the picture, not sure. I havent opened up the small shut of valve on the skimmer line yet.

CYA is at 40 but my chlorine level keeps showing zero. The pool calculator called for 7 bottles of chlorine at 10% so I added 8 to be safe and have been monitoring it. But every time I check it shows 0. I have a cheaper test kit may have to buy a more expensive one. Idk. I've been adding chlorine daily. My sweeper is running constantly with the pump and I've been brushing at least 3 to 4 times a day. Water doesnt look any different.

In the past I would just use a bottle of algaecide and 2 or 3 bottles and chlorine, and let the pump run 24hrs and it would be cleared up in a day but that's not working this time.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Try wrapping the flex coupling with plastic wrap real tight. See if that solves the suction side leak. If so, you need to re-plumb your suction side to eliminate that flex coupling.
You need to follow the SLAM Process. To do that, you need a proper test kit, see Test Kits Compared. I suggest the TF-100 A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.
While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Fill in your details in your signature, including pool size. If I added 8 gallons of 10% bleach, I would raise my FC by 62. You must have a really really big pool, or something in your calculation is off.

Even if you have a pool big enough to host the Olympics, 8 gallons of 10% bleach should register something. Could you liquid chlorine be old or perhaps your test kit reagents?

 

[The Sarge]

I tried adding in signature earlier and it just gave me an error. Pool is 26k gallons, chlorine, I just bought it, and the test kit is about a year old

 

[The Sarge]

Update: I put plastic wrap around the rubber coupling and it stayed the same. I opened up the pump lid readjusted and secured no change. If anything I think the bubbles coming out the jets are worse. When I open the pressure release valve above the filter it fills back up in less than a second. Water level is fine. Should I just buy a new pump lid O ring and see if that helps?

My main concern is the air in the line and getting full pressure. The only reason I started the SLAM process is because the pool company "expert" told me everything was fine, just clogged skimmer baskets. Which I am not an idiot and know that is not the issue. So if I have to start the SLAM process again I will, I just want this other issue fixed.

 

[Katodude]

You might want to read this.

Suction Side Air Leaks

If you see air bubbles coming out of the return lines in your pool, you likely have a leak. Some signs that a suction side plumbing leak has occurred include: Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

Also take a hose with a light flow of water and start pouring it on the pump lid and other parts of the suction side of the system. If the churning stops when the water is flowing over a section that is most likely where your leak is. That’s how I found that one of my valves had a small leak, replaced the guts of the valve and all is great now.

 

[wireform]

One more something not mentioned yet is the pump has one or two small drain plugs for winterizing which lets the water out from 2 separate areas within the pump. One is up front portion to drain out pump basket area and one slightly back from there. I've seen them messed up many times and they stop sealing. Check it out.

 

[JamesW]

The whole front end looks sketchy. I would replumb it all.

Get down close to the suction and have someone turn the pump off.

When the pump turns off, you will get a brief pressure leak on any suction leaks.

 

[Dr.Jekyll]

Update: I put plastic wrap around the rubber coupling and it stayed the same. I opened up the pump lid readjusted and secured no change. If anything I think the bubbles coming out the jets are worse. When I open the pressure release valve above the filter it fills back up in less than a second. Water level is fine. Should I just buy a new pump lid O ring and see if that helps?

My main concern is the air in the line and getting full pressure. The only reason I started the SLAM process is because the pool company "expert" told me everything was fine, just clogged skimmer baskets. Which I am not an idiot and know that is not the issue. So if I have to start the SLAM process again I will, I just want this other issue fixed.

I found the best thing for detecting suction side air leaks around plumbing is shaving cream. Spray some around fittings and then wait for a tiny hole to appear.

 

[jimmythegreek]

That whole suction side is mo good. Whoever put the fernco in there wasnt doing you any favors. Adjust the pump angle and hard pipe it in