Air bubbles in two spa returns

[hensler74]

It’s me again. New day new problem. Got the new pump installed and it is working great. Before the old pump went out I had noticed air bubbles in 1-2 of my 4 spa returns, then the pump went out. I read some other threads here and some pointed to the SWG creates bubbles in returns when it is working properly. Today I noticed the bubbles again while doing my daily testing. The SWG was on in this recording and set to 30%. I then turned off the SWG and the bubbles didn’t stop and stayed the same as they are in this video.
There is one nickel size bubble that can be seen in the pump lid. New pump so not sure if that is normal or not.

Does this indicate a problem somewhere? Maybe the O Rings on the valves at the plumbing?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated on what I do to figure out the issue.

 

[ajw22]

Are the bubbles affecting any functions of the pool or equipment?

VS pumps often form a bubble in the pump basket when run at low speed and clear when run at high speed. Run the pump at a high speed for a few minutes daily to clear the air bubble.

You can go searching for a suction side air leak but if the bubbles are not affecting anything I would ignore it.

 

[hensler74]

Are the bubbles affecting any functions of the pool or equipment?

VS pumps often form a bubble in the pump basket when run at low speed and clear when run at high speed. Run the pump at a high speed for a few minutes daily to clear the air bubble.

You can go searching for a suction side air leak but if the bubbles are not affecting anything I would ignore it.

From what I can tell they are not affecting anything. Since I have been without a pump since Sunday I have been keeping the chlorine up with liquid chlorine. I took a reading for an OCLT just now so I can make sure my recent SLAM has not been affected.
Will start trying to dial in the SWG to get my FC levels to maintain from here. Guess time will tell if the bubbles are affecting anything other than my OCD

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I had noticed air bubbles in 1-2 of my 4 spa returns

Is your spa set to spillover? Are you seeing bubbles only in the spa?

Bubbles in spa jets are normal and created by an air vent in the system. When you ramp up pump speed, you get more bubbles. Do you have an air vent at the equipment pad for the spa jets?

 

[hensler74]

Is your spa set to spillover? Are you seeing bubbles only in the spa?

Yes the spa does spillover and yes the air bubbles are only in the spa. These are also the two closest returns to the equipment.

Bubbles in spa jets are normal and created by an air vent in the system. When you ramp up pump speed, you get more bubbles. Do you have an air vent at the equipment pad for the spa jets?

What would this air vent at the equipment pad look like for the spa jets. I don’t think there is one but don’t know what it would look like either to confirm or deny.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

It would just be a pipe with some type of an opening or possibly an elbow facing down, that would allow air into the system. I checked photos in your media folder and didn't see anything. There has to be some type of an inlet, or an air blower, to allow air into the system. This is what creates the bubbles in the spa. If you have a way of turning off the spillover, you can check the pool returns to make sure there's no error entering the system through the pool returns.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

This is what my air vent looks like. It just has a pie cut on the other side of the cap.

 

[hensler74]

It would just be a pipe with some type of an opening or possibly an elbow facing down, that would allow air into the system. I checked photos in your media folder and didn't see anything. There has to be some type of an inlet, or an air blower, to allow air into the system. This is what creates the bubbles in the spa. If you have a way of turning off the spillover, you can check the pool returns to make sure there's no error entering the system through the pool returns. Not sure but on the spa itself there are two knobs that can be unscrewed or screwed in and when I have the spa on we can adjust the jets and how much the blow. Could those be it or are those standard as well.

I will look for a pipe tomorrow to see. I don’t recall seeing one either.
The only way to turn off the spillover currently is to turn on spa mode. Other than that the spillover runs the whole time the pump is on.
I have been able to halfway setup spillover mode on my automation but do not understand how to recalibrate the JVA to the right setting.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I wouldn't worry about it. It sounds like the nickel size bubble you're seeing in your pump basket is normal.

Curious, what kind of pump did you get? Does it work with your automation?

 

[hensler74]

I wouldn't worry about it. It sounds like the nickel size bubble you're seeing in your pump basket is normal. Don't worry about it. Curious, what kind of pump did you get? Does it work with your automation?

Pentair Whisperflo VST. It partially works with the automation, as in it turns off and on at the scheduled time via my automation and the freeze protection in the automation still works. If I want to adjust the speed I have to do that at the pump directly.

 

[hensler74]

This is what my air vent looks like. It just has a pie cut on the other side of the cap.

View attachment 601370

I went out and took these pictures. There is no air vent for sure. The spa does have these two things (not sure the technical term of them) that screw and unscrew and when the spa is on they can be used to adjust the pressure of the spa just while on. Currently screwed all the way in as I am sure one of my grandchildren have been playing with them.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

@1poolman1 may be able to identify those devices.

 

[ajw22]

Read here for how to enable SPILLWAY mode on your Aqualink…

Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Pentair Whisperflo VST. It partially works with the automation, as in it turns off and on at the scheduled time via my automation and the freeze protection in the automation still works. If I want to adjust the speed I have to do that at the pump directly.

Do a little more research on how your pump is connected. I did a little reading and I believe your automation system should be able to control some Pentair pumps via RS485 connection. Not sure who can help, but @ajw22 or @HermanTX might be able to provide some hints.

 

[ajw22]

I went out and took these pictures. There is no air vent for sure. The spa does have these two things (not sure the technical term of them) that screw and unscrew and when the spa is on they can be used to adjust the pressure of the spa just while on. Currently screwed all the way in as I am sure one of my grandchildren have been playing with them.

Those screws are air control valves that control the amount of air added to the spa jets by it.

 

[ajw22]

Do a little more research on how your pump is connected. I did a little reading and I believe your automation system should be able to control some Pentair pumps via RS485 connection. Not sure who can help, but @ajw22 or @HermanTX might be able to provide some hints.

All he can do is connect the RS-485 line and tell the Aqualink it is an IntelliFlo pump and see if it works. Aqualink only controls an IntelliFlo VS pump.

 

[hensler74]

Do a little more research on how your pump is connected. I did a little reading and I believe your automation system should be able to control some Pentair pumps via RS485 connection. Not sure who can help, but @ajw22 or @HermanTX might be able to provide some hints.

That is what I was just researching myself and think it might be possible as well.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

All he can do is connect the RS-485 line and tell the Aqualink it is an IntelliFlo pump and see if it works. Aqualink only controls an IntelliFlo VS pump.

Thanks Allen!

 

[hensler74]

Read here for how to enable SPILLWAY mode on your Aqualink…

Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I have read this and this is the only part I have been able to successfully do. In one of my other threads about this someone told me that one of my actuators is only turning 90 degrees when it should be turn 180. They included a link on how to change this and for some reason it just is not making since to me. I need to try to find a video so I can watch someone do it and maybe that would help me. For some reason just reading the manual on it is not helping me.

 

[hensler74]

All he can do is connect the RS-485 line and tell the Aqualink it is an IntelliFlo pump and see if it works. Aqualink only controls an IntelliFlo VS pump.

All the stuff I have found is really using the RS-485 line like you said for the intelliflo. That cable is not too expensive so it might be worth a shot.