As stated, my Intelliflow I installed in 2016 is having issues fully filling the basket/strainer and has an inordinate amount of air that is coming from somewhere. This seems to have started around the last time we used our attached spa when we had relatives in town. Not sure if that matters, but it was the first time we had used the spa in awhile. Ive already replaced the gaskets for the clear lid, the filter housing, and replaced the filter itself(it was time). Also generously lubed the gaskets with o-ring lube. Also, checked impeller for blockage/free spin, and it seemed fine. Could it just be the pump itself due to age? It seemed to have no issues before using the spa. I can shut everything off, re-start, it will prime within the same amount of time, but I can bleed off a lot of air. Then after closing the filter bleeder, wait 5 minutes, I can open it and it will bleed air for a good 30 seconds-1 minute. I can literally do that all day with no change. I've isolated the suction lines, and that has no impact on the amount of air in the basket, so I don't think it can be coming from one of those pipes. Thanks in advance for any help!
Need help! Pentair Intelliflo VSF issue with filling pump basket and air
- Thread starter wavemedic
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,157
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Welcome to TFP.
What model number pump are we discussing?
Pumps do not wear out like that unless they run for a long time without water, overheat, and warp the volute.
What O-ring lube did you use? Pool Lube - Further Reading ?
Did you lube the O rings in the two pump drain plugs?
Wrap Saran wrap around all the suction pipes and valves, even around the pump. The Saran wrap will get sucked in and stop any air leaks. If the air stops then unwrap one section at a time until you isolate where the leak is.
Happy hunting!
What model number pump are we discussing?
Pumps do not wear out like that unless they run for a long time without water, overheat, and warp the volute.
What O-ring lube did you use? Pool Lube - Further Reading ?
Did you lube the O rings in the two pump drain plugs?
Wrap Saran wrap around all the suction pipes and valves, even around the pump. The Saran wrap will get sucked in and stop any air leaks. If the air stops then unwrap one section at a time until you isolate where the leak is.
Happy hunting!
Check/lube or replace the O rings in the suction valve, especially if the spa has not been used in a long time. The stem and lid O rings in valves do dry out. They can start leaking, either air on the suction side or water pressure side after being disturbed by having the valve operated.
Ok, thanks so far for the replies. I forgot to add this is on an Intelliflow vsf p/n 011056. I did check the drain plugs, and the o rings definitely need replacing(they were brittle), so Ive ordered them. I did lube the heck out of them, and basically covered the area with vaseline, but its still getting tons of air in today. I have the spa side suction isolated(off), so I don't think its coming from there.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,157
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Vasoline should not be used on pool O rings. It breaks them down. it's petrolium based and will "eat, not treat" the rubber material -- only use silicone based lubes - or one that says specifically for pool o-rings.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,960
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Please use a silicone lubricant like Magic Lube II. Don't use a PTFE/Teflon lubricant.
Pool Lube - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
OK, so i did the incense smoke test, and I'm curious as to what I saw. The smoke appears to be pulling in aggressively into the pump itself under where the digital display sits. I'm going to try to attach a video. But, this pump should not be sucking any air in in that spot should it?
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,960
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
If you mean where the red arrow is below, then yes, normal. There is a fan on the back side of the motor, under the cover, to cool the motor.
Ok, so far, I have not used vaseline on the o rings, only to try to fill all the pvc connection points to rule that out. I replaced the skimmer lid, o ring, and both drain plugs and o rings. No change. There's still a large air leak somewhere. If there was a crack in one of the main drains, wouldn't it also let sand into the pump/system? There's no visual evidence of that at all. The spa main drain is always off, so it can't be that. If I change the diverter from skimmer to main drains, no change at all. Ive ordered the seal replacement kit and 3 way valve seals kit as a last option. Is there anything else I'm missing? The weird thing is the basket is filling nearly to the top on prime. But with the filter bleeder open, it bleeds air for a good 30 seconds, then I get water. When I open the bleeder back up, even if only seconds later, I'm already getting a ton of air back out. But the pump isn't losing prime, and the basket stays mostly full, although it does drop some if I lower the speed.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,157
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
right now its at 3000 rpm in the am then 2000rpm until 5 pm. I used to run it at 1500 rpm, but it was getting too low on water in the skimmer at that speed.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,157
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
All sounds normal to me.
You will pick up air running at 2,000 RPM and develop an air bubble in the pump basket. The air bubble should mostly clear at 3,000 RPM.
Air in the filter does not matter if the pump is not losing prime.
Yeah the air definitely does not clear at 3000 either. I can open the filter bleeder every 30 seconds, it will bleed air for about 30 seconds, then water. Wait 30 seconds, repeat the same results. It should not have that much air that I can literally do that all day long while its running? Its never been like that before.
Update: Problem Solved!! I want to thank everyone for their input on diagnosing my air leak issue. I used a hose to slowly run water over every connection on the suction side of the pump. I finally noticed a slight improvement when I ran it over the 3 way valves. Went to my only local option(Pinch-A-Penny)to get the o ring kits, and they were actually cheaper than Amazon. Replaced them all in both valves, and now no more air!!!! Hard to believe they were allowing that much air to get in the system. Thanks again to everybody, this is a great resource!
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,960
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
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