I just got a new filter (xtremepower 24" top mount valve). The "air relief" tube has a fitting at the top end with slots in it, evidently to let air out. Oddly enough there is no opening at the bottom where it is attached to the laterals. Is this normal, and if so, how does it work?? My old filter (Hayward 200 side mount valve) just had a screw off fitting at the top to manually let air off.
Filter air relief tube
- Thread starter mojojo
- Start date
Some top-mount valve sand filters have an air relief valve (Pentair TA-XXD series) some don't (Hayward S-XXT series, Jandy ).
+1. Here's mine which is a little different but same principle. The carts sit just below the air cap strainer thingie and it self clears right back into the pool return. When I open the air bleeder valve it only lets the air out that's above the strainer. The carts are fully submerged at all times.
Newdude, that picture is similar to my old Hayward, however on this new xtremepower the tube goes down to the bottom of the filter and attaches to a "nub" of plastic that has no opening in it. I don't understand how air can move through a sealed tube. Should there be a hole in the bottom end of the tube?
So you can remove the tube and see no hole in the nub ?
Maybe your model uses the other models parts and the tube is not supposed to be there.
Thanks, poolman, that is what I was thinking. It looks like it just did not get drilled out all the way through.
Right. When I take the tube off of the nub there is a hole there but it doesn't go all the way through. Maybe it just got gummed up in the plastic-molding process. I am pretty sure now, with help from all here, that I need to drill this out. It is just a small hole, maybe the size of a 14 gauge wire, but otherwise no air would get though!So you can remove the tube and see no hole in the nub ?
Maybe your model uses the other models parts and the tube is not supposed to be there.
Hold tight for @1poolman1 before you drill. I'm more sold it's there for the other model and not yours.
You can see in pic 4 the nub that the tube is attached to near where the laterals go. There is a hole there when you pull the tube off but it does not go all the way through. I should have added pics earlier, but I think with the helpful comments I have received,I have decided to drill this out. Thanks all!
Attachments
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,807
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Are you sure it doesn't make a turn inside the nub or below it?
Have you tried blowing in the tube to see if air comes out somewhere?
The water flowing out of the filter flows over the air hole, creating a venturi effect to pull the air out of the top of the filter housing.
Have you tried blowing in the tube to see if air comes out somewhere?
The water flowing out of the filter flows over the air hole, creating a venturi effect to pull the air out of the top of the filter housing.
As Proavia mentioned, try to blow through the tube. If you can't it is blocked. If you go ahead and drill it, likely won't be an issue and you will be happier, its your filter. If it causes an issue, open the filter and put a plug in the tube.
That filter looks very similar to a Hayward S-244T, which does not have an air-relief in it. Neither do Jandy SFTM or Pentair TA series sand filters. Sand filters with top-mounted valve are very good about getting rid of air, though some manufacturers, like Pentair do install a tube in their Triton series.
The biggest reason for an air relief is so that one is not injured on opening a tank to clean the filter. If there is enough air in the tank under pressure, the lid will blow off and seriously injure someone. Even those in the business who know better have made that mistake.
You almost never need to open a sand filter, and even then, by the time you get to the point of removing the valve any pressure would be gone as the plumbing has to be removed/opened first. Some air will always get into any filter the moment you open the pump to clean the basket. If you are having excess/continuous air you need to find and remove the source.
No air blows through this tube. One way or another I don't feel like drilling the hole out will hurt, but it might help. I appreciate everyone who replied and thank all for the support!