Ahhh... the infamous Air Leakage mystery (pic included)

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anre5180

Active member
Oct 1, 2020
27
Miami, FL
hello pool family

Since installation (2y ago) all have been working fine and when running variable speed pump at max and clearing air out of the cartridge filter top valve the pump basket reservoir has no air bubbles. Beautiful

over the last few days i started to notice air bubbles coming out of my pool return lines. Upon troubleshooting further seems it only happens on the pool suction line (MainDrain). Is still present If I manually close skimmer
That 3 way valve spins to close MD and allow for my SKIMMER and side wall VAC line to operate. Keep in mind when in vacuum mode and running at max I have NO AIR BUBBLEs whatsoever... I am perplexed where could the air intake be... I have no water loss (other than the standard South Florida heat/sun/wind loss rate.

it does not happen either on SPA Mode...

If this was a natural gas line and or air-line there are products to check leakage. But I don't know where to start to point-point the root cause and of course try to provide remediation.

your insight and input is very much welcome and greatly appreciated

20240311_083240_1.jpg
 
anre5180 said:
hello pool family

Since installation (2y ago) all have been working fine and when running variable speed pump at max and clearing air out of the cartridge filter top valve the pump basket reservoir has no air bubbles. Beautiful

over the last few days i started to notice air bubbles coming out of my pool return lines. Upon troubleshooting further seems it only happens on the pool suction line (MainDrain). Is still present If I manually close skimmer
That 3 way valve spins to close MD and allow for my SKIMMER and side wall VAC line to operate. Keep in mind when in vacuum mode and running at max I have NO AIR BUBBLEs whatsoever... I am perplexed where could the air intake be... I have no water loss (other than the standard South Florida heat/sun/wind loss rate.

it does not happen either on SPA Mode...

If this was a natural gas line and or air-line there are products to check leakage. But I don't know where to start to point-point the root cause and of course try to provide remediation.

your insight and input is very much welcome and greatly appreciated

View attachment 557655
Click to expand...
I would think that the leak is in the valve,Look around the screws which would mean the valve cover o ring.You might check it by shutting off the pump and listen for an air leak or l or look for any water dripping.
 
oldprophet said:
I would think that the leak is in the valve,Look around the screws which would mean the valve cover o ring.You might check it by shutting off the pump and listen for an air leak or l or look for any water dripping.
Click to expand...
As soon as I am back to the house I will try that. With the pump off and sticking my ear close would I be able to hear an air leaking into the pipe? are there any tools (stethoscope type like) that can be used for this ?

if the leak were to be in the valve itself.... wouldn't I also experience the symptom when the valve is turned into the VAC and SKIM line (closing the MD) ? ... in this position I don't get air bubbles...
 
When you say "air bubbles", what exactly are you seeing?
 
anre5180 said:
hello pool family

Since installation (2y ago) all have been working fine and when running variable speed pump at max and clearing air out of the cartridge filter top valve the pump basket reservoir has no air bubbles. Beautiful

over the last few days i started to notice air bubbles coming out of my pool return lines. Upon troubleshooting further seems it only happens on the pool suction line (MainDrain). Is still present If I manually close skimmer
That 3 way valve spins to close MD and allow for my SKIMMER and side wall VAC line to operate. Keep in mind when in vacuum mode and running at max I have NO AIR BUBBLEs whatsoever... I am perplexed where could the air intake be... I have no water loss (other than the standard South Florida heat/sun/wind loss rate.

it does not happen either on SPA Mode...

If this was a natural gas line and or air-line there are products to check leakage. But I don't know where to start to point-point the root cause and of course try to provide remediation.

your insight and input is very much welcome and greatly appreciated

View attachment 557655
Click to expand...
Vinyl electrical tape wrapped tightly around each joint, one at a time, may help find the leak and will be a temporary fix. I would start with the port on the right of the valve (in the picture) as there are water deposits on that side of the valve indicating pool water has sat there and evaporated at one time.
 
1poolman1 said:
Vinyl electrical tape wrapped tightly around each joint, one at a time, may help find the leak and will be a temporary fix. I would start with the port on the right of the valve (in the picture) as there are water deposits on that side of the valve indicating pool water has sat there and evaporated at one time.
Click to expand...
that is a good trick ... to at least isolate the possible joint where it could be coming from... someone else mentioned about a possible leakage at the valve itself but I would think if that is the case I would see the air bubbles regardless of the selector position on the 3-way valve.... yet is very noticeable only when VAC line is close and its only operating in SKIM+MD
 
Plot Twist:

I did the tape and problem persisted...nevertheless I put the system in Service mode and pumped stopped and got the phone very close to the valve to take a video and a sound caught my attention

see link

Access via Synology

Click here to open the link
quickconnect.to

are those JVA Valves from Jandy serviceable?... any experience on the community if this is a common occurrence with a simple fix with one of these parts from here?:


or is this a new JVA replacement solution?
 
anre5180 said:
Plot Twist:

I did the tape and problem persisted...nevertheless I put the system in Service mode and pumped stopped and got the phone very close to the valve to take a video and a sound caught my attention

see link

Access via Synology

Click here to open the link
quickconnect.to

are those JVA Valves from Jandy serviceable?... any experience on the community if this is a common occurrence with a simple fix with one of these parts from here?:


or is this a new JVA replacement solution?
Click to expand...
JVA is the actuator, a motor that sits atop the valve. The O rings in the valve are replaceable. Unless there is a crack in the valve body or lid, that's where air could enter. O rings that are available for any brand of modern 3-way valve, like the Jandy, will fit.
 
1poolman1 said:
JVA is the actuator, a motor that sits atop the valve. The O rings in the valve are replaceable. Unless there is a crack in the valve body or lid, that's where air could enter. O rings that are available for any brand of modern 3-way valve, like the Jandy, will fit.
Click to expand...
that's a great place to start. will replace those and report after.... reading your answer it does make sense that the electrical actuator that sits atop wouldn't have any influence... likely symptom would be similar even if equipped with a mechanical handle. i did inspect as much as i could visually see and seems there is no crack in the body of the valve... finger cross is a simpler solution of gaskets and O-rings because an entire valve replacement would be quite the project given how tight all the connections were made
 

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