Air bubbles in return jets, have tried all I can think of.

[mitcherneaf]

Hey guys, I've read through the forums and tried everything possible to fix air bubbles in all three return jets.

28k gallon in ground pool
New this year Hayward Superpump
Sand filter with new multiport valve last year.
Older gas heater
Chlorinator

This is what I've done so far. The male threaded end that goes into the pump is new. Put a new union after the Y from the returns. I've shut off each return individually to see if bubbles stop, no go. There are no air bubbles under the pump lid while its running. If I shut the pump off it will not hold a seal. If I close the shut off valve right after the sand filter it will hold seal. Air bubbles are there in recirculate or filter on the sand pump. I've lubed every gasket I can find. I opened the pool Sunday and ran the pool 24 hours a day since then. Water levels are high (lots of rain). 13 bags of shock, balanced ph and alkalinity and pool is still cloudy greenish. When I backwash I've noticed that the water in the sight glass is dirty, but not super green or as dirty as expected.

That was a little bit everywhere but I've tried everything I can think of with no improvement. I'm behind this year because the old pump was broken on startup this year and the wife and kids are anxious for the pool to be ready.

Thanks
Mitch

 

[Bama Rambler]

Air can only get in the system when it's running on the suction side of the pump.
Have you tried running water over the pump casing and inlet piping to see if the bubbles lessened or stopped while it's running. You have to flood the area to make a difference.

Since you replaced the pump, I'd start looking near the inlet of the pump.
Also Superpumps are known for leaking around the strainer basket lid seals. Make sure it's clean and well lubed and that the o-ring is seated in the groove properly.

If any joint undergound was disturbed when replacing the pump it can cause a leak.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mitch,

Please show us a pic or two of your equipment pad...

If this were my pool, I would be working on the problem of the pump draining back into the pool when off..

If I understand you correctly... if you turn the pump off, with the multiport in the Filter mode, the water in the pump basket will drain back into the pool.. But if you shut off a valve on the output of the filter, the pump then holds its prime..

I would run the Multiport valve in different modes, one at a time, and shut the pump off in each mode and see if the pump still drains back into the pool or not. I have no idea what is happening, but I find it odd that a valve on the output of the filter will prevent the pump from draining back into the pool..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Bevly]

I noticed bubbles after vacuuming and accidentally sucking air during vacuuming and after disconnecting vac hose...just got sloppy...and it was just at the farthest jet from where I had connected the vac hose. Next time I backwashed and rinsed ...the bubbles stopped. Could it be so simple for you???

 

[mitcherneaf]

I changed the chlorinator O-ring this morning and there are currently no bubbles coming out of the jets. I think I may have changed all those pipes and fittings for no reason. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I had attempted many of the things suggested here with no success, that is why I was so confused. Thanks again

 

[Ra7y]

I had exactly the same symptoms that you have. Turned out that the plastic drain plug on the pump strainer was cracked. This little crack let air in below the strainer basket and then it went through the pump and on into the filter and pool. I couldn't see the stream of bubbles in the pump strainer. When I tried to remove the plastic plug it broke in two. I used an EZ Out to remove the threaded part stuck in the pump strainer and installed a new plug. Voila! No bubbles, no leaking down of the filter. I hope your new O-ring solves your problem but now you have one more detail to check...