I replaced my pool pump and I replumbed the last couple of feet of underground suction-side plumbing before the pump, since the new pump didn't fit between the house and the existing plumbing. I dont think it's the underground plumbing, as I filled the hole with water so all new fittings were submerged and the problem remained.
It primes okay at 3100 RPM, but there are lots of small bubbles that swirl around even after priming (and continue after cutting power, so it's likely not cavitation in the basket). The higher flow seems to keep them from collecting in the lid, but they do collect on the basket itself.
The problem is that I can't keep the lid free of air at 1850 RPM (and below) after it runs for a few hours -- and not just a little bit of air, but an inch or 2 in depth of air.
It's got a vacuum line, main drain, and skimmer line. I've played with the valves for each but they seem to all cause the slow-growing bubble problem.
I've cleaned and lubed up the o-ring on the pump inlet union, the pump lid o-ring, and both pump drain plugs.
I've run water over all obvious places of air ingress (valves, elbows, reducers, unions, plugs, lid, etc) and the bubbles don't subside.
I've also tried the incense smoke trick, the shaving cream trick, the soap bubbles trick, and the turn-it-off-and-watch-for-small-leaks-of-water-at-various-locations trick. But none of these have given me direct evidence of the problem(s).
I'm thinking its the pump lid letting air in, as there is some undulation on the edge of the lid... but I can't seem to make it go away. Here's a video of what I'm talking about (running at 1850 RPM):
(the rattling sound is coming from the DE filter's multi-port valve, not the pump)
What else could I try? Any ideas?
It primes okay at 3100 RPM, but there are lots of small bubbles that swirl around even after priming (and continue after cutting power, so it's likely not cavitation in the basket). The higher flow seems to keep them from collecting in the lid, but they do collect on the basket itself.
The problem is that I can't keep the lid free of air at 1850 RPM (and below) after it runs for a few hours -- and not just a little bit of air, but an inch or 2 in depth of air.
It's got a vacuum line, main drain, and skimmer line. I've played with the valves for each but they seem to all cause the slow-growing bubble problem.
I've cleaned and lubed up the o-ring on the pump inlet union, the pump lid o-ring, and both pump drain plugs.
I've run water over all obvious places of air ingress (valves, elbows, reducers, unions, plugs, lid, etc) and the bubbles don't subside.
I've also tried the incense smoke trick, the shaving cream trick, the soap bubbles trick, and the turn-it-off-and-watch-for-small-leaks-of-water-at-various-locations trick. But none of these have given me direct evidence of the problem(s).
I'm thinking its the pump lid letting air in, as there is some undulation on the edge of the lid... but I can't seem to make it go away. Here's a video of what I'm talking about (running at 1850 RPM):
What else could I try? Any ideas?
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