A few days ago I noted a suction-side leak on my Hayward Ecostar variable speed pump. I replaced and lubed all gaskets in the two Jandy valves leading to the pump (one small gasket was broken). I also checked, lubed and tightened the two drain plug gaskets in the pump. I also removed the basket lid o-ring, cleaned and lubed it. The pump isn't that old and the gasket looked pristine. Turned the pump on and it primed quickly and showed no obvious entrainment of air. So, I thought I fixed the problem. However, this morning I inspected the pump and it was full of air. I turned it on, and it primed quickly, again with no evidence of sucking air. My question is: is it normal for the pump to fill with air after it has not been running for several hours? I'm thinking that when the pump is off, air could be coming back from the pressure side, but I don't know. The only gasket I didn't service was the union gasket where the PVC attaches to the pump.
Length of time a pump should stay full?
- Thread starter SteelBlue
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,449
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
What RPM are you running your pump?
At low RPMs it is normal for the basket to accumulate an air bubble.
At low RPMs it is normal for the basket to accumulate an air bubble.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,789
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
If your pump pot is draining that much when turned off, that would be my concern as well. Maybe check your filter pressure gauge closely for any signs of air leak, hissing, or water spurting-out when the system is turned off & on. Any breach of air into the system can cause the pump pot to empty out.
I'm running it on high rpm. There is no problem when the pump is running. It's after I turn it off, the basket fills with air over a few hours.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 52,449
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Then you have an air leak in your system and it is not staying pressurized.
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A follow up. Had a pool guy come out. He inspected my pump (a Hayward Ecostar) and pointed out that there was a small water seepage from the case of the motor where the two halves of the castings meet. Said that was probably my issue, so I let his company replace the pump with a new Pentair — big bucks. The issue of the basket filling with air over 30 minutes persisted. I brought him back out. He stuck his ear next to one of the Jandy valves I had put new o-rings in and heard a slight hiss. He put in another set of new gaskets. Problem fixed. So for $2000, I fixed a $1 problem.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,351
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Blue,
From the positive point of view, you now have the "Gold Standard" of pool pumps...
But your post reminded me.. I changed the o-rings in my Jandy Return valve a few months ago and saw yesterday that it has a very slow drip. I suspect it is because I bought a cheap set of O-Rings...
Jim R.
From the positive point of view, you now have the "Gold Standard" of pool pumps...
But your post reminded me.. I changed the o-rings in my Jandy Return valve a few months ago and saw yesterday that it has a very slow drip. I suspect it is because I bought a cheap set of O-Rings...
Jim R.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,842
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Well, you don't know that the pump wasn't also leaking. In fact, let's say it was. Yes, that's the story and we're sticking to it!!
- Nov 12, 2017
- 11,842
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Couple extra thoughts...
1.
Did you check if any entity in your area is offering rebates for installing a VS pump?
2.
I see you have a multiple pump setup. Did you retain the old pump? Or can you get it back? If it wasn't actually leaking, or could be easily repaired, you'll have a replacement ready to go when one of your other pumps goes out.
Either of those might help take the sting out of that repair bill...
1.
Did you check if any entity in your area is offering rebates for installing a VS pump?
2.
I see you have a multiple pump setup. Did you retain the old pump? Or can you get it back? If it wasn't actually leaking, or could be easily repaired, you'll have a replacement ready to go when one of your other pumps goes out.
Either of those might help take the sting out of that repair bill...
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IMissNimoy
Gold Supporter
Was that a direct pump replacement or did your plumbing require alteration? I'm considering gradually switching to all Pentair equipment so inquiring minds want to know.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,789
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
It's amazing how disruptive a tiny O-ring worth a couple bucks can be to a system. O-rings, pressure gauges, etc are all easy target for breaking the seal in a pool's plumbing system. But I agree with above, if the pump was leaking, it was probably just a matter of time. Hopefully you're in the clear now for a good long time.
Ouch...that's an expensive install. At least you got the Cadillac of pumps and problem solved
Yes, the Hayward Ecostar was leaking, so perhaps it was indeed a matter of time. The new Pentair is more quiet, so that's an improvement.
To answer the question as to whether the new Pentair pump was simply a drop in, no. The height of the intake is higher on the Pentair, and the unions are different, so there was some alteration of plumbing to address this.