Air Bubbles from all pool jets

[Jurate1]

Hello everyone. I know this question has been asked multiple times. I have tried all the usual fixes. When I turn the skimmer valve "on" I am getting air bubbles from all the pool jets. When I turn the skimmer off they go away. I have checked all the valves with the soapy water spray to the best of my ability and do not see any leaks. I cleaned the pump basket and replace lid making sure it is tight. The water level is about 1/2 way up the skimmer opening.
THere is a vortex in the skimmer basket. I did put the hose in the pool this morning and will try to see if raising water level helps but I thought 1/2 was a good level... The Weir door appears to be opening properly. I did have my Pentair filter replaced/upgraded to the 200 model but that was a few weeks ago and everything was working fine till recently. I do have a call into a pool technician to come out next week to check but I hate to spend $150 dollars if it is an easy fix.... Anything I could be missing? Thanks in advance. Gina

 

[mknauss]

Can you post a picture of your piping and valves on the suction side?

 

[Jurate1]

Yes here you go... The only thing I have not done is open up the new Pentair 200 because that is always difficult.
But it is brand new and has a new filter so I did not think that was the cause.

 

[mknauss]

Your suction side picture shows the one three way valve shutting off the spa suction I assume. Then the other three way valve is open to both lines, assuming one is skimmer and one is main drain? At this setting you are getting a vortex in your skimmer?

 

[Jurate1]

Yes I have one valve for the spa suction which is off.
The other valve is the skimmer. I have been told to keep that valve at about 3 pm or 4 pm so that the skimmer is partially open but I have enough suction for my robotic vacumn to work also. If I have the skimmer wide open then my vacumn does not have enough suction to work..

 

[mknauss]

OK -- so the right side of the suction valves shown, one is to the skimmer, and the other line is to a suction side cleaner (not a robot).

If you shut off the suction side cleaner port, you then get bubbles? Or are you getting bubbles when the valve is as shown in your picture?

 

[Jurate1]

I do not believe it is a dedicated line for the suction vacumn. That end of the valve/pipe is not labled. I believe it controls water flow/suction to all the pool jets. When I have the Skimmer valve "off" I get no bubbles after about 5 min. But when I open it even slightly I then get bubbles from all the pool jets. The wider I open the more air.

 

[mknauss]

I believe it controls water flow/suction to all the pool jets.

That is not possible on the suction side.

 

[Jurate1]

I'm not sure then. I only have the following 4 valves
1 Spa Suction off unless I am cleaning spa
1 Spa Returns open slightly for circulation
1 Water Feature usually off.
1 Skimmer

1 Hayward vacuum connected to a port on the side of the pool.

I guess I will try to minimize use of the Skimmer till I can have a tech come out unless MK you have any other thoughts? I appreciate
your help. It is an old pump. Maybe a bad o-ring that I just don't see leaking...

 

[mknauss]

Air in your returns you focus on the Suction side of the pump. That is the picture on the right above.

Are you getting air out of your returns with the valving set as shown?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Have you tried disconnecting the cleaner suction hose?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Disregard...it looks like the valve controls suction between the vacuum port and the skimmer.

 

[Jurate1]

Yes thanks getting bubbles with displayed valve settings. I did not disconnect the vacumn but I did check the hoses and did not see any apparent leaks. Pool tech cannot come out till next Wed. Is it safe to run pump as is for another 5 days? Otherwise pool looks good..

 

[mknauss]

Rotate the valve so you close off the suction cleaner. See what happens.

 

[Jurate1]

Bubbles... get worse..

 

[borjis]

It might be your fill level.
The height my skimmer was installed, having water at the half point/ fill line it always vortexes and draws air. It has to be just a bit more than that to not vortex. Might be the case.
I'd add another inch of water to see what it does then.

 

[mknauss]

I agree with borjis, raise the water level a little. Do you have an auto fill?

 

[Jurate1]

Yes thanks everyone. I will try that in morning. The auto fill is keeping it at about 1/2 way right now.

 

[mknauss]

Has that been consistent? Something had to change.

 

[Jurate1]

It just started about a weeks ago. The only thing that has been different is that we have had alot of debris in the pool. The Mesquite tree's along the street are blooming and dropping pods and debris constantly. We are cleaning several times a day but I guess it is possible that there is a clog in the skimmer line. Or a bad O ring somewhere...