Installed a new variable speed pump. Is this much air normal?

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All VS pumps have that bubble or a similar one that accumulates with time from running slower speeds. Usually running high RPM for a few minutes clears it out. It’s kinda odd that it doesn’t. I left my bubble but most people set a full bore run once or twice a day.

Keep an eye on it and if it stays the same and doesn’t start emptying the basket, I wouldn’t worry about it.
 
PN,

Normal???? What does that mean.. ???

Normal really depends on the size of the pump, the pump speed, the Type of and size of the filter, there is no normal...

At 1,200 RPM, where I run about 90% of the timer, my filter pressures is less than 2 lbs... At 3,000 RPM, my filter pressure is about 16 PSI.

As long as the bubbles under the pump lid don't continue to get bigger and bigger, it should not be a issue. I am just surprised that you have those bubbles with the pump running at 3,000 RPM.. I would suspect an air leak.

What suction inputs do you have into your pump? If you have the standard Main Drain, Skimmer 1 and Skimmer 2, I would shut off the inputs, one at a time and see if it makes any difference. I'd start with shutting off the main drain. Obviously, you can't shut them all off at the same time.. :mrgreen:

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jimrahbe said:
PN,

Normal???? What does that mean.. ???

Normal really depends on the size of the pump, the pump speed, the Type of and size of the filter, there is no normal...

At 1,200 RPM, where I run about 90% of the timer, my filter pressures is less than 2 lbs... At 3,000 RPM, my filter pressure is about 16 PSI.

As long as the bubbles under the pump lid don't continue to get bigger and bigger, it should not be a issue. I am just surprised that you have those bubbles with the pump running at 3,000 RPM.. I would suspect an air leak.

What suction inputs do you have into your pump? If you have the standard Main Drain, Skimmer 1 and Skimmer 2, I would shut off the inputs, one at a time and see if it makes any difference. I'd start with shutting off the main drain. Obviously, you can't shut them all off at the same time.. :mrgreen:

Thanks,

Jim R.
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I guess I should clarify. I wasn't at my house so couldn't tell you what the actual pressure was. By 'normal' I meant about the same PSI that it was at with my 2hp single speed pump.

The pool guy says it's not much air at all and it's totally a non-issue. So it sounds like it's fine now but I need to keep an eye on it.
 
if it has that much air at 3000 rpm it is not fine.. try lubing the lid O ring and see if it is just the lid... hopefully it is.. at 3000 rpm there should be no air in the lid... after running on low speed for 6 hours that much air can be normal but once you raise the RPM it should go away... :)
 
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cowboycasey said:
if it has that much air at 3000 rpm it is not fine.. try lubing the lid O ring and see if it is just the lid... hopefully it is.. at 3000 rpm there should be no air in the lid... after running on low speed for 6 hours that much air can be normal but once you raise the RPM it should go away... :)
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I'll check but don't think it's the lid. I can see the air bubbles coming in from below. Seems like the air is coming in from the the suction side.

I contacted him again today and he said that as pool gets older you get pockets of air from small leaks here and there. That explanation doesn't satisfy me because I had no such air pockets before we replaced the pump.

I'm wondering if the pipe connections are snug enough -- is that even possible without a water leak? There is no leak at the equipment.
 

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P.

Maybe, but I doubt it... With the pump running, use a garden hose and slowly run water over the gap and see if the bubbles go away at 3000 RPM.

If you can get your camera in there, show me a pic where the union meets the pump face...

The good news is your installer used pump unions, like he should have.. :thumleft:

What happens in the spa mode at 3000 RPM??? Do you still have the bubbles?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Water here will not help as this is an ever so slight air leak and won't show like when there's small bubbles. Get some silicone sealer and get the gap sealed. In a day you'll know if it made a difference
 
wireform said:
Water here will not help as this is an ever so slight air leak and won't show like when there's small bubbles. Get some silicone sealer and get the gap sealed. In a day you'll know if it made a difference
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I just did the 'dish soap' test. I lathered on soap bubbles up and down the pvc, but didn't see any movement. I think I'll still try a silicone sealer. I guess it won't hurt.
 
Jimrahbe said:
P.

Maybe, but I doubt it... With the pump running, use a garden hose and slowly run water over the gap and see if the bubbles go away at 3000 RPM.

If you can get your camera in there, show me a pic where the union meets the pump face...

The good news is your installer used pump unions, like he should have.. :thumleft:

What happens in the spa mode at 3000 RPM??? Do you still have the bubbles?

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Here are pics of the connectors. Yep, still getting the same amount of bubbles in spa mode. I even bumped it up to 3450 rpm. That did not help at all.

PXL_20210909_222231531.jpgPXL_20210909_222235408.jpg

I don't know if it means much but the company is a Jandy authorized repair shop and dealer.
 
Suction side leak doesn’t push air out to make soapy water very noticeable. What always works is the water hose trick of running pump and moving water stream around until the bubbles suddenly stop.

 

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