Main Drain Suction Leak???

[woodsage]

When I close the valve to the skimmer and only use the main drain, the pump basket does not fill up and I'm getting quite a bit or air in the filter; I can purge the filter and come back 30 minutes later and air is in the filter. I do not have a separate valve for the main drain and skimmer; it's controlled with a Jandy 3-way valve.

If I open the skimmer valve completely and partially close the main drain, the pump basket fills and very little air is in the filter.

I've tightened the skimmer lid, pump ports but no change.

The suction plumbing is 1.5"; is the pump not getting enough water with only the main drain open?

 

[duraleigh]

is the pump not getting enough water with only the main drain open?

very likely

 

[woodsage]

So the air in the filter is coming from the air in the pump basket?

 

[duraleigh]

Absolutely.

 

[Bama Rambler]

You most likely have an air leak under higher suction than normal and when you close the skimmer the suction goes up and it leaks in air. Basket o-ring, drain plugs, etc. Should be checked and the o-ring lubed.

 

[woodsage]

What about lubing the o-rings for the 3-way valves; they are never-lubes, but I was wondering about the cover o-rings and shaft o-rings. I did lube/tighten the basket lid and drain plugs.

 

[Bama Rambler]

They may need rebuilding.

 

[woodsage]

Should I buy a bunch of O-ring kits or just try lubing them first? Are there any telltale signs that the O-rings are failing other than the obvious? None of the valves are leaking water on the pads.

 

[Bama Rambler]

You can take a water hose and run water over them and see if the bubbles go away while it's running. If they do rebuild that one.

 

[woodsage]

Did that - the skimmer lid, fittings and no change. Should I take the valve actuators off and then spray water on the valves?

 

[Bama Rambler]

Yep, but spray isn't exactly the term I'd use. More like flowing over as much of the valve as I could get .