Suction side leak

[tcat]

I've replaced my pump bowl cover o'ring, cleaned and greased it several times...but still get a small bubble rolling to the top of the cover about every 10 seconds. My cover is old and a little cloudy, so I'm not sure where the bubble is coming from, but it may be from the suction line into the pump. I closed the skimmer and drain valves, and still get the bubble (with pump off). No water leaks with pump running. I'm stumped, what to try?

 

[Qwaxalot]

Re: Auction side leak

Check the pump drain plug o-rings, replace them if there is any doubt.

 

[tcat]

That seal looks good. If that was leaking I would see bubbles from the drain with the cover off. I'm going to cut me a piece of .25" polycarbonate as a temp cover so I can see what's happening. I really think is coming from the suction side pipe.

 

[duraleigh]

Re: Auction side leak

It's almost never the pipe. How long does that leak take with the pump off before you lose prime?

 

[tcat]

Goes down about .25" per hour, so maybe 6-8 hours. Stops below the bottom edge of the output pipe opening. I see the bubble come from the front side of the basket (above pipe output -I think), I can loosen lid and rotate it, and bubble will still come from front. There are no scratches on the bowl top surface. Could it be a pump seal? Maybe the bubble is working its way around from back to front? I would think I would see a water leak if that was the case since that's pressure side.

With the pump off, I hear a faint "pop", "pop" "pop" (about every 2 or 3 seconds), then one last "pop" and a small bubble appear. This goes on continuously. I loosen the lid, rotate it, tighten it... same results.

Wouldn't be anything underground would it? I would think I'd see mud.

It's almost never the pipe. How long does that leak take with the pump off before you lose prime?