Lots of air and the pool lines seem to lose water when it’s off. But the level doesn’t drop.

[MD6219]

hi. I have recently noticed a couple of things about my pool.

1. When the pool starts there is a significant amount of air pushed through the jets. It sounds like the pool is burping for a couple minutes.

2. I see small air bubbles coming from the Jets

3. There is a large air bubble at the top of the pool pump when it runs. When the pump is off the basket drains.

4. I only seem to lose water when the pump is on. It seems like it’s because the lines have drained and they are filling back up when I turn the pool back on, but that’s a guess and I’m not sure.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

 

[MD6219]

Hi,

I can’t quite figure out what’s going on with my pool. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. I have noticed:

I’m losing water. But it doesn’t show up unless the pool has been off for a while.

1. If the pool has been off for 12-15 hours, when I start the pump it has a lot of air. The pool “burps” at all the jets for a couple of minutes and after that I see bubbles from the jets.

2. The pump drains when it is off. No water in the pot.

3. When I turn the pump on there is a big air bubble on top.

4. I did a bucket test with the pool off for 24 hours and didn’t have water loss. But when I turned it on I saw a noticeable difference. I think the lines had drained. And the water was just refilling those lines. I didn’t actually think that was possible for the pool level to hold but the lines to drain. Maybe it is.

5. If I keep the pool running continuously I don’t see water loss either. It’s just when it’s off, and sits.

Any ideas?

 

[Texas Splash]

So one of two things appear to be happening:
1 - You have a break in the suction line somewhere. That would explain how there could be water loss when the pump is off (seeping out) and why you are seeing lots of air in the pump pot. It could also explain the displacement of water in the lines at the equipment pad once the pump is off.
2 - You simply have an above ground air leak (3-way valve, air relief valve, Pump Pot clear lid, fitting, etc) which is again also allowing air "in" and thereby allowing water to equalize across the plumbing and drain the pump pot. But I would not expect there to be enough plumbing lines for it to replicate a leak by changing the pool's overall water level.

Either way, it's a tedious investigative effort. Start with the easy stuff above ground level first. All fittings, and especially that clear lid at the pump. Make sure the O-ring is well lubed. You might get lucky and dismiss an actual plumbing leak.

 

[MD6219]

So one of two things appear to be happening:
1 - You have a break in the suction line somewhere. That would explain how there could be water loss when the pump is off (seeping out) and why you are seeing lots of air in the pump pot. It could also explain the displacement of water in the lines at the equipment pad once the pump is off.
2 - You simply have an above ground air leak (3-way valve, air relief valve, Pump Pot clear lid, fitting, etc) which is again also allowing air "in" and thereby allowing water to equalize across the plumbing and drain the pump pot. But I would not expect there to be enough plumbing lines for it to replicate a leak by changing the pool's overall water level.

Either way, it's a tedious investigative effort. Start with the easy stuff above ground level first. All fittings, and especially that clear lid at the pump. Make sure the O-ring is well lubed. You might get lucky and dismiss an actual plumbing leak.

Thank you. Do you recommend any companies to check the plumbing leak?

 

[Texas Splash]

Thank you. Do you recommend any companies to check the plumbing leak?

If you rule-out everything you can from a DIY perspective and truly believe there is a plumbing issue, then it's just a matter of calling around. I just went through this fiasco down here in the SA area. While my leak was a pressure side issue, you can see my experience below. But call around and do some homework in advance so they don't try to take advantage of you.

Leak Detection (Pressure Side), Results, and Frankenplug

After 9 years it finally happened – the dreaded leak. Here is my story. In the San Antonio area we have black clay soil that is horrible for structural support of any kind and often causes problems for home foundations, fencing, asphalt, pools, etc. When we observed excessive water loss, I...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[MD6219]

If you rule-out everything you can from a DIY perspective and truly believe there is a plumbing issue, then it's just a matter of calling around. I just went through this fiasco down here in the SA area. While my leak was a pressure side issue, you can see my experience below. But call around and do some homework in advance so they don't try to take advantage of you.

Leak Detection (Pressure Side), Results, and Frankenplug

After 9 years it finally happened – the dreaded leak. Here is my story. In the San Antonio area we have black clay soil that is horrible for structural support of any kind and often causes problems for home foundations, fencing, asphalt, pools, etc. When we observed excessive water loss, I...

www.troublefreepool.com

Thank you… yeah it’s maddening. You have to self teach yourself everything you never wanted to know about your pool! And half the people that you call ( and pay) are clueless. Anyway, I’m venting now but thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experience!

 

[ferretbone]

So your not loosing water. Like Texas said I think you have a vaccum leak. Your loosing vaccum pressure and sucking air into your system while the pump is off. At the equipment.

Run your pool pump awhile, let it clear out the air in the system.
Then turn it off, and quickly turn it back on again watching the pump lid first, then repeat that while watching your, pump lid again, then your valves, then your filters backwash valve if you have one, then your filters air relief valve.
Your looking for something on your equipment to spit water when you turn it off. If your pool is sucking as much air as you seem to indicate, you will see water squirting out at the pad. somewhere.
If not, turn the pump off and listen for a hissing, sucking, bubbling sound. Find where that's coming from and that is your leak.

I can tell you now it's going to be your
pump lid
a valve
the backwash valve,
your filter air relief
or one of the pipes that threads into the pump.
This should only take you about a minute to find.

 

[Jimrahbe]

This should only take you about a minute to find.

@ferretbone,

Anything that you can find in one minute, will take me half a day...

Jim R.