Pump Basket not full of Water

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sharp7823

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2020
51
Central California
Hello,
I noticed this weekend that the water in my Pentair Variable Speed Intelliflo pump basket was only about half full. I changed the filters, cleaned the basket and lubed the O-rings for the basket and filter and filled the basket with water.
I checked the basket about 15 minutes after turning everything back on and the water was about an inch or two low so I turned everything off. This was about 6pm last night. This morning the water level was the same as when I turned the pump off the night before.
I assume that I have a leak somewhere? Any suggestions on how to locate the leak or what to check?
Thank you,
Sean
 
Do you have a clear salt cell? If so, do you see air entrainment? Or build up air in your filter? I had this issue. I knew I had a suction side leak. I changed the gasket on the suction lid and o-ring in the suction pipe connection and still did not improve. Then, I changed the lid and it came with a new gasket. Solved my problem.

To find the leak, you can try using incense smoke around the suction basket and valves. You can try flowing water over them as well. Mine was found via water flowing over the lid.
 
The SWG is not clear, but yesterday it seemed like the water noise running through it sounded a little differently than usual. I may been imagining it since I was paying more attention than I normally would.
I'm not sure what the suction lid is - is it the large clear lid to access the basket?
I will try running water over it as well. I saw that mentioned in another thread.
 
The suction lid is the large clear lid where you access the basket. Do you have a high point bleed on your filter where you can vent excess air? Should be one near the pressure gauge. Vent it off and see if the air buildup returns a half-hour later. If so, you definitely have a suction-side leak.
 
This may sound crazy, but I have noticed I can these issues if the pool level is lower than normal. Just throwing that out there...
 
Thanks for the replies. Pool level is good; we have an automatic filler and I opened the vent on top of the filter yesterday after work and nothing changed.
I'm thinking about ordering a lid kit (clear lid, clamp and o-ring) and something called a "GOKit" which looks like a bunch of o-rings and gaskets.
Would that be worth a try or not?
 
If you are not accumulating air in the filter, I don't think you have a suction side leak. May just be a weak pump. Do you see air bubbles coming out of the return jets into the pool? The pump sounds good and quiet? Have you ever taken the pump apart? The pump is variable speed? Any chance it is not running fast enough?
 
I've not seen a system where the filter does not contain the high point of the system. Air will accumulate in the high point if there is a suction side leak. It may accumulate in an intermediate high point for a while, but eventually enough air will force itself to the filter high point. And eventually, force itself to the return jets. Please give an example as the OP can test it.
 

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Turned the pump on this morning and a lot of bubbles came out of both return jets. After it ran for about a minute, only one return had some bubbles slowly coming out. See pictures.
 

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Does your pump start in prime mode (a higher RPM)?

Does the pump basket ever fill to the top at higher RPMs after start up?

Try ramping up the pump speed and open up the air bleeder on the top of the filter. Clear all air from the system, close the bleeder, and check for bubbles and water level in the pump basket.

sharp7823 said:
Turned the pump on this morning and a lot of bubbles came out of both return jets. After it ran for about a minute, only one return had some bubbles slowly coming out. See pictures.
Click to expand...

This sounds like a pressure side leak. A leak on the pressure would allow air to enter the system while the pump is off. At start up, you would see lots of bubbles as air clears from the plumbing. Eventually, air is cleared and bubbles stop. Pentair air bleeder valves are notorious for leaking. If you have a pressure side leak, you would likely hear air being sucked into the plumbing system when the pump is off, as water drains back into the pool. Listen carefully, especially around the bleeder on the filter.
 
The fact you're missing the top inch or two is a problem. Air bubbles under the lid mean a tiny air leak but many ignore it cuz everything else works fine. Two inches is a problem as the pump can't prime to fill the basket. It's either a slightly larger air leak on the suction side of the pump or as mentioned before the pump isn't putting out what it supposed to. If you have a amp probe you can check if the amperage on the pump is to the spec with the motor label. Try priming the pump with the highest rpm leaving the air vent on the filter open till water exits in a continuous stream.
 
Well, I turned the pump and put my ear up to the air release valve on the filter and did not hear anything. Checked for bubble out of the return and there were none. Maybe I didn't let it run long enough for the bubbles to clear out yesterday. I also ramped up the rpm and that didn't help.
When I open up the air release valve on the filter after it's been running a while a "poof" of air comes out before the water starts flowing. Is that normal?
I'm thinking of replacing the air release valve, the large "o" ring between the top and bottom of the filter tank and the lid assembly for the pump. Thoughts?
 
sharp7823 said:
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Before you do anything difficult, check the simplest thing. A stuck or slightly sticking Weir door will allow the skimmer to be drained until the water weight overcomes the degree it was stuck. You go over to check and the skimmer is full again and looks ok.

Get all up in there and make sure the door(s) is freely flapping away.
 
I would not worry about the air release valve, nor the o-rings at the filter. If these were a problem you would see water leaking out. If you continually get the air "poof" from the air release valve, I would replace the suction lid. You can always try replacing the o-ring / gasket in the existing lid as well. It's cheaper than replacing the lid, but it didn't work out for me. I now have a spare $20 gasket.
 
Here are some pictures of the equipment and the skimmer. A couple were too large to post, so hopefully this enough, but I can get more if needed.
There are two pictures of the lid: First, Right after start up and letting air through the air release valve on top of filter and Second, 10-15 minutes later running pump at 1800 rpm.
The flow seems good through skimmer.
 

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