Air in filter

[beachbabeBrandy]

Hello friends!
My pool is two months old, and I’m suddenly getting a ton of air in my filter when my pump runs on high. My water level is correct and I do not seem to be losing any water. My skimmer does not have a door, so it is not getting stuck. I have opened both the filter and the pump and inspected the o-rings and cleaned them and greased them with silicone. When I stop my pump, water drips from around the collar of my filter, but I can’t for the life of me figure out where air is getting in to allow that to happen. Air does not seem to accumulate in my filter at around 2200 rpm, but when my pump runs at 3450 rpm, a ton of air builds up in my filter. The window in my pump stays completely full of water at 2200 RPMs. I see a lot of little bubbles at 3450 rpm, but they’re immediately gone when I stop my pump. Help!

 

[Texas Splash]

Can you post a couple pics of your pool and equipment pad? Might help give us some ideas.

 

[Dirk]

Everything after the pump is considered the "pressure side." Everything before it is the "suction side." Air on the pressure side (like in the filter), pretty much has to be coming from the suction side, because if there is a leak on the pressure side, you'd see water dripping or spurting. The air bubbles in the pump also indicate a possible suction-side leak. Sometimes it's as simple as a dirty or ill-fitting pump o-ring. Don't forget to check for a drain plug on your pump. They have an o-ring and can suck air. May be a faulty PVC glue joint that only reveals itself when the pump is drawing hard. You can try and track down an air leak on the above ground components of your suction side like this:

If you have a suction leak underground, that's a problem. But for a two-month old pool, that should be the builder's problem, not yours. Have you called him yet? Your pool should have come with some sort of warranty, which should also cover the plumbing.

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

Equipment is on the side of the house

 

[Texas Splash]

My water level is correct

It almost appears a bit low in the pic. Is that the current water level in the pic you posted? The water level should be a good halfway to 3/4 up the skimmer opening. When your pump is on high, it's pulling a lot of water and perhaps is gulping some air at the skimmer at those higher rpms.

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

Water is about 3/4 up and I have about six inches of water down to my skimmer basket. However, before this issue occurred, when my pump was on high, the suction was so strong you could barely take out the skimmer basket. Now, there is almost no suction! What could cause that?!?!

 

[Texas Splash]

What could cause that?!?!

That would sound more like a partial blockage in that suction line. Seems odd since you have a cover, but perhaps something got under there at some point. Do you have a main drain? If so, do you notice any difference in water flow if pulling water only from the drain?

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

No main drain.

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

I have called the builder but he wants me to go through Pentair first since he thinks it’s a filter problem. Called Pentair, took them days to get back to me, they sent it to someone local to schedule an appointment and they haven’t even called me to schedule yet. I keep bleeding air and I’m trying to find help elsewhere because I’m afraid my filter is going to blow up. Should I just turn everything off?

 

[Texas Splash]

Reviewing your initial post about air in the system, that's typically a sign of a suction leak. Air getting IN the line from the skimmer to the pump. You've already cleaned/lubed the clear lid O-ring. What about the pump drain plug(s)? Check to make sure. While a skimmer weir door is badly needed in all pools to help encourage proper water flow into the skimmer, if you are sure the skimmer is full of water when on that high rpm with no signs of "gulping", then the water doesn't seem to be the issue. A potential blockage seemed possible since water could get past a small item like an acorn or something in the line, but struggle when pulling water on the high rpm. Fairly common at spring opening.

Something you could try: Turn off the pump and remove the clear lid. Then stick a garden hose into the INLET hole in the pump (where water enters). Wrap a rag around the hose in that hole area to help keep pressure on it as a seal, then turn the garden hose on high. You would be pushing water "backwards" from the pump towards the pool skimmer to see if anything is stuck and gets released.

 

[Dirk]

I have called the builder but he wants me to go through Pentair first since he thinks it’s a filter problem. Called Pentair, took them days to get back to me, they sent it to someone local to schedule an appointment and they haven’t even called me to schedule yet. I keep bleeding air and I’m trying to find help elsewhere because I’m afraid my filter is going to blow up. Should I just turn everything off?

For what it's worth, that's unacceptable (or would be, to me). It's a 2-month old pool and something is wrong with it. Your builder shouldn't be pawning that off just because he's too busy or too lazy. He should come to your pool, within a day or two max, and troubleshoot the problem on site. Then if he determines some other vendor needs to get involved, so be it. At which point he makes the arrangements for that to happen, not you.

You don't have to go all legal on him (yet) but I would recommend you send him an email requesting warranty service and capture his reply stating to let someone else deal with it. Otherwise, with just a phone call between you and no paper trail, if something does fail catastrophically, he could claim "Well, you should have contacted me. So, not my fault that your xxxx blew up," and it's his word against yours. Keep him on the hook, and have a little back-up proof that you tried to let him handle it, and he didn't. Also keep in mind that if you do have a warranty and you take repairs into your own hands, that could invalidate the warranty and you'd lose any rights to make him make things right! Crazy, right? I know, but that's the way the law works, and pool repairs can get into four- and five-figures real fast.

Do you have a written contract? Does it stipulate a warranty and its terms? I'm sure you know best how to deal with your pool builder, so don't mind me. Just playin' devil's advocate.

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

Thanks all....still no resolution, but Pentair finally found someone that can come see me next week. Pool Builder is sending a leak detection service. I'll keep you all updated on this mystery!

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

Hey all! So, air leak in the skimmer line. Thankfully, it was close to the pad so no concrete work necessary. I’m still getting some tiny air bubbles (pin head size) floating around in my pump when it is on high. Maybe a dozen or so. Is that normal? I’ve had the pool for such a short time I don’t remember what normal was! Please let me know!

 

[Texas Splash]

I’ve had the pool for such a short time I don’t remember what normal was!

Normal? What's normal? Tiny bubbles are expected and should be fine. Glad you found the leak.

 

[Dirk]

Hey all! So, air leak in the skimmer line. Thankfully, it was close to the pad so no concrete work necessary. I’m still getting some tiny air bubbles (pin head size) floating around in my pump when it is on high. Maybe a dozen or so. Is that normal? I’ve had the pool for such a short time I don’t remember what normal was! Please let me know!

Oh, man, that is good news! Whew! According to that video I posted, you're not supposed to see any air under the pump lid. But my pump lid has a grid of ridges that strengthen it, which makes little square pockets, and those pockets always trap a few large bubbles. So I never really know if they start there and never clear, or if they are being "replenished" regularly by little bubbles coming in. I just ignore them!