getting air with pump on high

[phpbutcher]

Hi All,

I have a 2 speed pump that I put on high to vacuum the pool. This year I'm getting a lot of air introduced when I vacuum and I have to keep letting the air out multiple times during vacuuming. Is there some obvious adjustment I should be making to keep this from happening?

Thanks

 

[jblizzle]

Do you get air on high when you are not vacuuming?

Could be air leaks in the hose or the added suction pulling through the vacuum allows are to be pulled in somewhere where it is not at a lower suction level.

 

[phpbutcher]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Now that you've asked, I don't think I've ever had it on high except to vacuum. I'll try it and report back.

 

[Divin Dave]

if you are getting air without the vacuum attached, check the vortex in the skimmer. If the vortex is large, it will suck in air.
The solution to that is add a little more water so you dont get that large vortex

 

[phpbutcher]

Thanks Dave.

I think that's the case, but I can't get the water level much higher without it completely covering the skimmer. When I put the pump on high, (vacuum or not) and look where the water initially goes into the pump where that little glass topped part is, it just doesn't seem to be able to suck in enough water. I've stopped the pump and opened up the top of that to make sure it's filled with water to start with, but as soon as it goes on high the air takes over and the level in that starts to drop. I made sure the skimmer basket was clean, but I'm not sure what else could be causing the problem.

 

[Smykowski]

I would maybe check for a suction side air leak. You've got a big pump if you only have one skimmer and one return, and that could be drawing huge amounts of air into the system if there's a leak.

 

[phpbutcher]

I do have only one skimmer and one return. I'll see if I can find any leaks that might be letting the air in.

Thanks!

 

[Sminor]

Nine times out of ten when I see bubbles in my pump basket it's because the cover isn't sealed properly. Make sure that rubber seal is lubed up and seated in the grooves perfectly and tighten it down evenly!

 

[phpbutcher]

Thanks Sminor.

You were right about that. I put the silicon on the o-ring in the pump basket and it seemed to help. Unfortunately, the on/off hi/lo switch on my pump broke right after that and it was a proprietary brand sold to me with the pool 11 years ago, so I couldn't get a new switch for it. So... now I'm the owner of a new Hayward DE filter!

Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[jblizzle]

Filters do not have on off and hi low switches, pumps do

 

[phpbutcher]

Quite so. Thanks for clarifying that for me.

 

[jblizzle]

It is a common mis-statement by new owners of above ground pools where the equipment is bought together in a package. Usually something like "my filter will not turn on"