Hayward EcoStar - Air in Filter Basket

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In regards to the testing device leaking I think I've got that covered as well. I've got a bottle of leak test soluion that you apply to any area where you suspect a leak. If even a miniscule amount of air is leaking it will create a bubble at that point. So far I've used it on all the exposed pipe joints, around the expandable plug and where both gauges and schraeder valves screw in. No leaks so far. The only thing I can't test is if the gauges leak internally, but if one circuit loses pressure and the other doesn't I can just swap gauges and test again. If the same circuit still loses pressure I can be pretty sure I have an underground leak.

Gary

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After about 6 hours both gauges are down about 3 1/2 psi, so I've got a slow leak somewhere. I think it may be equalizing the pressure between the two circuits at the pump end through the Jandy valve. I've got it set so the vacuum circuit is closed and the skimmer circuit is open to the inlet pipe, which is currently plugged with the freeze plug. I had it set up last night with the Jandy valve set in the opposite position, blocking off the skimmer circuit. I ended having a small leak where the test pipe screwed into the skimmer because I apparently didn't use enough pipe dope, but even though the pressure in the skimmer line dropped to almost zero overnight, the vacuum line held pressure losing only about 1 psi, so it appears the Jandy valve seals better in one direction than the other. I'm going to set it up with the Jandy valve in the original position (skimmer blocked, vacuum open) and pressurize again at about 7:00 pm and see how it does overnight. I'll post the readings in the morning.

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Btw, this is what I'm using to check for air leaks above ground. I originally bought it to find a gas leak out at the pipe going from the meter to the house and I was able to pinpoint a tiny, tiny pinhole leak that you couldn't see with your eyes. It's pretty good stuff. Seeing as how natural gas is only pressurized to about 5 psi or less coming out of the meter/regulator I figured this would be the right stuff to use to look for leaks at 10 psi.

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When I checked the gauges this morning the vacuum line was down about 2 psi and the skimmer line was down about 5 psi. Even though the vacuum line was higher I'm figuring there might be a little bit of a leak past the valve into the skimmer line (since the valve isn't really designed to be airtight), so it could potentially even be a little bit lower than 5 psi.

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Only problem is, I decided to use the leak check one more time and I found a tiny leak around where the schraeder valve is screwed in to the cap on the skimmer line test tube. It wasn't there when I tested yesterday so I don't know how long it's actually been leaking.

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Oh well, back to square one. I'm going to have to figure out how to seal the threads better. I used a tapered pipe thread tap and I may have run the tap too deep. Worst case I'll have to cut off the cap, drill, tap and glue on a new one.

I'll probably wait till the weekend before I test it again.

Gary
 
I have talked to few of the pool builder here. They all said that air pockets in variable speed pumps at low speeds is normal. Mine goes down to the top of the strainer basket and stays there. I can leave the filter air purge valve open. No air or water comes out. Enough flow in the skimmer and pool returns. So I guess no more hunting for leaks for me. I think !!
 
Gary,
Keep us posted on your progress. I have had an air leak for over a year, have checked everything above ground, and still can't find the problem. It is very annoying. It can be lived with, but I would really like it fixed!!
Any insight you might have would help out others.
 
just a note, since you are testing overnight with air- air pressure is temp sensitive, so if it cools, you could easily lose 1-2 lbs pressure. A standard gas line pressure test is 12 psi (locally) with 1/2 psi drop, but the inspectors will come back if temp different instead of failing the test...
 
Thanks, I hadn't considered the pressure changes from temp variations. I'll keep that in mind.
I was hoping to retest last weekend but wasn't able to get around to it. I'll probably try again this coming weekend or before.

Gary
 
I've reviewed the various posts on the topic and am curious if anyone has a definitive answer to this.

We just installed a new IG plaster pool with an EcoStar pump and on 50% or less power, the basket chamber will slowly fill with air. I have seen the level as low as an inch below the basket rim. It also seems to be quite variable. Sometimes I will have a large bubble within an hour of startup (and full prime) and other times it doesn't get very large at all. My pump is off from 11PM to 6AM and will run full speed at startup, which fills the chamber. I have not yet seen the level drop enough for the pump to lose prime, but I am a bit concerned that it may happen.

My PB insists I do not have a leak, but I am seeing tiny bubbles enter from the inlet pipe. I'm not seeing a lot of bubbles clinging to the basket as would show up from outgassing. If there is no leak, and the system is not outgassing, where does the air come from?

Hayward's reply was that 'this was normal due to the low back pressure on slow speeds' (but did not reply to my question if the pump was safe or they would replace it under warranty if it burned up due to loss of prime).

I like the Pentair's ability to spin up to full speed for a few minutes every few hours, but have not seen that capability on the Hayward (I am controlling it with a PS-8 controller).

These are my $.02 worth.
 
EVERY hayward ecoStar pump i've seen has this problem.at low speeds the pump basket never fills up.its always 1-2" below the lid
same thing happens with the jandy ePUMP.I think its because of the enormous pump basket chamber
 

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I had my Ecostar installed this weekend and I'm having the same issue. It seems to be affecting my salt generator as well. My installer is trying to get the Hayward rep out to take a look.
 
That could be hydrogen in the cell so be careful. Also, that will reduce the amount of chlorine produced since the cell can't produce chlorine without salt water. When I operate on low speed, hydrogen collects in my return pipe and burps out occasionally. It might be a good idea to run at high speed at least part of the cycle to clear it out.
 
I have similar experience but with a slight twist. On high speed I have not air in the basket, but I often have some air trapped at the top of the filter. On low speed I have a couple of bubbles in the strainer and it usually stays like that – it doesn’t get worse, but sometimes they all go away and basket is full with water and it runs like that.

I could run MD only and I don’t get any bubbles at all in the basket. Skimmer only or skimmer+MD produces the bubbles. So it appears that I have a small suction leak on my skimmer side. I also ran some ink tests and it seems to confirm it. What is strange to me is that it doesn’t get worse over the course of pump run – it’s just few bubbles and that’s it. Should it accumulate more and more air? Or does the pump removes it as it goes and only unable to get rid of the few? No air in the returns, just top of the filter.

p.s. i have an old hayward superpump with a replacement two speed motor.
 
Update - FWIW, I just had a pool company come out to look at my salt water system and he also checked out the new ecostar pump. The issue with the salt water system was coincidental. But he seems to think I am missing the large o-ring for the strainer basket cover. I am going to try and locate one and see if that takes care of the air issue. I thought I saw what looked to be the o-ring but maybe I was mistaken.
 
Just installed this pump on Thursday and had the same issue only when water returns through the jets only. When I have both water fall and jets on basket fill up and works with no issues running RPM 1050.
 
Phalcon51, Hi Gary. Bringing back an old thread. I've been experiencing the same issue. Air gap only develops when the pump is running 600~2800 rpms to about the top of the filter basket. It never gets lower than that though. If it's running at 2900 ~ 3400, the filter basket fills all the way with small 1"~ 3" bubble.

Running a Jandy ePump, JEP2.0. It's normally running at 1800 rpm for a 6 hours then pressure side cleaner at 2100 rpm for 1.5 hours, then a spillway run at 1900 rpm (this is to get chlorine into the spa from the SWG).

Just wondering if you (Gary) have found the culprit and resolved your issue.

Thanks, ED
 
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