Air in equipment at startup

[Uhhello]

So recently in addition to my skimmer issues (other thread), my equipment will start up and its apparently not priming. Pump will run in prime 'mode' at startup and you can hear that its not getting water like normal. Then eventually all heck will break lost at the returns and massive amounts of air will be coming out of the returns and the pump will eventually prime. I caught it this morning and a solid 10-15 seconds of air was released from the vent when opened. Where do I start to diagnose where the air is coming from. Lid is on tight but I guess the seal could be bad maybe?

 

[ajw22]

You could be getting an air leak from the pump lid and O ring, pump drain plug O rings, suction side diverter, or any of the joints on the suction side.

I like to wrap everything on the suction side with saran wrap and see if the air leak improves. Then unwrap one area at a time until you isolate the problem area.

 

[1poolman1]

So recently in addition to my skimmer issues (other thread), my equipment will start up and its apparently not priming. Pump will run in prime 'mode' at startup and you can hear that its not getting water like normal. Then eventually all heck will break lost at the returns and massive amounts of air will be coming out of the returns and the pump will eventually prime. I caught it this morning and a solid 10-15 seconds of air was released from the vent when opened. Where do I start to diagnose where the air is coming from. Lid is on tight but I guess the seal could be bad maybe?

So, your pump is priming and forcing air that is in the system out. Perfectly normal, nothing to worry about.
Ten - fifteen seconds of air from the filter (which you don't need to release) is virtually nothing.
Eventually, the vast majority of systems will develop small air leaks that only happen when the pump is off and the filter drains. Then, on start-up you get a great water display.
If that Hayward filter is one that has an automatic "external" air relief, it will always allow water to drain back to the pool and air into the tank. Air is expelled from the filter when the pump is running from the air-relief screen internal to the tank so doesn't need to be released manually.
The only time manual air release is absolutely needed is before opening the filter for cleaning. There may be no compressed air in the tank but you have to make sure every time.

 

[Uhhello]

So, your pump is priming and forcing air that is in the system out. Perfectly normal, nothing to worry about.
Ten - fifteen seconds of air from the filter (which you don't need to release) is virtually nothing.
Eventually, the vast majority of systems will develop small air leaks that only happen when the pump is off and the filter drains. Then, on start-up you get a great water display.
If that Hayward filter is one that has an automatic "external" air relief, it will always allow water to drain back to the pool and air into the tank. Air is expelled from the filter when the pump is running from the air-relief screen internal to the tank so doesn't need to be released manually.
The only time manual air release is absolutely needed is before opening the filter for cleaning. There may be no compressed air in the tank but you have to make sure every time.

Okay. Its very random too. Maybe once every 30 days or so.

 

[1poolman1]

Okay. Its very random too. Maybe once every 30 days or so.

Mine does it every night, 2:00AM. Has for decades.

 

[Uhhello]

Mine does it every night, 2:00AM. Has for decades.

My only concern is the pump seems to be not getting water, or enough at least for a good bit. That can't be good for pump I would think.

 

[1poolman1]

My only concern is the pump seems to be not getting water, or enough at least for a good bit. That can't be good for pump I would think.

As long as there is water in the pot to start it is not a problem. The original "Sta-Rite Pump University" classes and instruction manual, all stated that a pool pump should prime "in a reasonable amount of time. Even 10 minutes is not an unreasonable time." The priming cycle of most VSP that is in their programming usually starts at between 3 and 5 minutes.
The water in the pot does two things. As it is evacuated when the impeller starts it leaves the pot quickly, resulting in a "low pressure" area that allows water to flow.
It also acts as a coolant and lubricant for the shaft seal. Very small amounts of water get between the two parts of the seal and it acts as a lubricant.
Starting a pump completely dry will burn the seal in very short order, but that usually is the case only when the pump is new or it has a leak that allows all water to be gone, from both the pot and the tank where the impeller sits.

 

[Uhhello]

As long as there is water in the pot to start it is not a problem. The original "Sta-Rite Pump University" classes and instruction manual, all stated that a pool pump should prime "in a reasonable amount of time. Even 10 minutes is not an unreasonable time." The priming cycle of most VSP that is in their programming usually starts at between 3 and 5 minutes.
The water in the pot does two things. As it is evacuated when the impeller starts it leaves the pot quickly, resulting in a "low pressure" area that allows water to flow.
It also acts as a coolant and lubricant for the shaft seal. Very small amounts of water get between the two parts of the seal and it acts as a lubricant.
Starting a pump completely dry will burn the seal in very short order, but that usually is the case only when the pump is new or it has a leak that allows all water to be gone, from both the pot and the tank where the impeller sits.

Makes sense. There is water at start and there is always water moving during the process it just sounds different so figured I'd ask to make sure. Thanks.