Air Leak Somewhere in System

[bdtimms]

We just purchased a home with an in ground pool. The pump cannot be shut off without losing prime. Also, lots of air bubbles are visible at inlet jets. Skimmer seems to be working ok and pool doesn't look like it's losing any water from a leak. Watching the skimmer sight glass it looks like the system is gulping air from some place. The skimmer will be full one minute and then the water level in the basket will go down with lots of bubbles noticeable and then eventually fill back up with water. It keeps repeating this process.

Running the pump constantly cannot be good on the motor, and I don't even want to think about the utility bill this first month in our home. Any help would really be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Charlie_R]

Welcome to TFP!

Could it be your water level is too low? It should be about half way up the skimmer opening. Can you take a few pictures of your set-up? Include the equipment pad, with all it's valves etc, please.

 

[gtemkin]

Weir door on the skimmer stuck. Should swing freely. You should look closely into the skimmer opening from the pool side and make sure there aren't any items partially blocking the entry.

 

[bdtimms]

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for the quick reply. The water level is good - half way up on the skimmer. Attached are some pics of the pool set-up. Thanks for any suggestions you can provide.

- - - Updated - - -

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response. There isn't a door on the skimmer, but water level is good with lots of suction going through the skimmer to the filter.

 

[duraleigh]

Welcome to the forum.

Watching the skimmer sight glass

I don't understand....what is the "skimmer sight glass"?

 

[bdtimms]

Should have said pump skimmer basket lid. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[duraleigh]

It sounds like you have a suction side air leak. There is an article in Pool School about them that may help you.

 

[gtemkin]

bdtimms,

If you've ever picked up water in a straw by putting your finger on top of the straw, you've simulated how your pool equipment keeps water in all the pipes and equipment, so your pump doesn't have to prime from dry every time it starts. Your system has to be air tight to work properly. You probably have an AIR leak at your filter or multiport valve or one of many pipe connections which causes the system to completely drain out when the pump is off.

I've found a good way to narrow down where that type of leak is by shutting the pump off when it's dead quiet (no kids playing, no music - just dead silence) and listening for a slight air whooshing or gurgling sound. If you have any Intermatic style timers nearby you should kill the breaker that powers those, so their timer motor doesn't create any noise too. It often helps to have a small rubber hose (auto vacuum hose works well) with one end held to your ear and the other end slowly moving close to every joint or seam you can find. Kind of a poor mans stethescope. When you hear a wooshing sound, you've found your leak.

In addition, you probably have a suction side leak too.

Do you have a spiraling whirlpool when you look in the skimmer (not the pump basket, but the skimmer on the side of the pool)? Vortex's like that are bad so I'd watch the pool skimmer for a while, don't just take a quick glance.

Good luck