When the pump turns on there is a LOT of air in the system blowing bubbles into the pool for a few seconds and it's loud. It primes ok and runs fine while the pump is on. After the pump turns off I can hear air going into the filter housing. If I open the pump basket lid, the water sits there - it doesn't rush out as it normally does. After the pump had been off a few hours I opened the filter housing and the water was about 6" from the top of the filters. I cleaned the large gasket and used gasket lube on it, and put it back together tightly, so I don't think it could be leaking there, but that didn't help air getting into the filter after the pump is off. I don't see any water leaking anywhere on the filter housing when the pump is on. I also cleaned and lubed the gasket on the pump basket. It seems to me that the air leak is either at the filter gasket or the filter valve on top of the housing but if there was a leak wouldn't I see water leaking out when the pump is running?
Air getting in filter after pump turns off
- Thread starter BB_Sacramento
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 48,404
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
It's possible that could be leaking - if so, would water leak out of there when the pump is on? I don't see any water leaking anywhere. If I suspect that part, would I remove it, clean and lube any gasket? I never remove that part so I'm not sure what it consists of.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 48,404
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Not necessarily. You can have a very tiny air leak coming "IN" with no obvious water spouting outwards.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 48,404
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Depending on your model filter, basically yes, you could try that. If you notice an improvement, then it's probably a sign the air relief (or some part of it) is showing signs of wear or failure.
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I replaced the whole air relief valve assembly on top of the filter housing, not just the orange relief valve. I used lube on the gasket around the bottom of it before installing it. That did not help the air getting into the filter. so that wasn't the issue. I've cleaned and lubed the gasket on the pump basket, and the large gasket on the filter housing, and it's assembled tightly. To explain more - after my pump turns off for the day I can hear air slowly seeping into the filter housing even a couple of hours after it's not running. I had a solar heater installed recently with plumbing and new valves I'm not used to....is it possible air is getting in through those? Also, if air is getting into the filter housing and a lot of air comes out when the pump turns on, if there aren't bubbles constantly when it's running and it primes with no problem, is the air in the filter housing a problem? Or maybe it's ok to just leave alone?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 48,404
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Air is still getting in the there from somewhere. You probably have some 3-way valves before or after the pump. Now you may want to remove the handle toss and check the gaskets. Should be one for the handle lid and one on the actual valve handle stem itself. Some pics of your requirement pad may help.
Not sure about the solar influence, but we can ask @mas985 for some help there.
Not sure about the solar influence, but we can ask @mas985 for some help there.
- May 3, 2007
- 17,143
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I can't tell from that picture, but is there a check valve right after the filter outlet before the solar valve? There should be if you have solar, otherwise air could easily enter the filter.
Post a picture from the other side of the pad towards the filter.
If there is a check valve, it may not be working properly.
Another possibility is the temperature sensor between the pump and filter could be leaking air in but not water out.
Post a picture from the other side of the pad towards the filter.
If there is a check valve, it may not be working properly.
Another possibility is the temperature sensor between the pump and filter could be leaking air in but not water out.
- May 3, 2007
- 17,143
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
So it looks like there is a check valve right after the filter.
Also, sometimes air gets stuck at the bottom of the filter in the cartridge manifold and it will rise after the pump shuts off. But if you keep purging the filter of air, this should eventually stop.
Lastly, do you see any air bubbles in the pump basket lid? Suction side air leaks will generally end up in the filter and sometimes out the returns but this is usually continuous and does not stop.
With solar, this part is perfectly normal. The system is removing all the air that entered the solar panels when the pump shuts off. This is a self-draining mechanism the helps to protect the panels when they are not being used.
Now this part may or may not be normal behavior. 6" of air in the top of the filter is not uncommon after cleaning out the pump basket. The way to remove that air is to use the valve on top of the filter to allow the air to escape while the pump is running.
Also, sometimes air gets stuck at the bottom of the filter in the cartridge manifold and it will rise after the pump shuts off. But if you keep purging the filter of air, this should eventually stop.
Lastly, do you see any air bubbles in the pump basket lid? Suction side air leaks will generally end up in the filter and sometimes out the returns but this is usually continuous and does not stop.