New Pool Build, Bubbles from returns

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J

Jbgirl79

Well-known member
Oct 3, 2019
78
Long Island ny
Pool Size
22000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Autopilot Digital Nano+ PPC2
I recently just have my build completed and electric connected, yesterday, PB came and dropped the bags of salt in and started running the pump, filter, SWG and I checked it out last night and lots of little bubbles coming from the returns, and the water coming out did not seem like it was that strong. I checked the pressure gauge on the filter and was reading 15 PSI, much lower than the area they set for acceptable water pressure. SWG was reading 1% and saying to add 137 lbs of salt. I am very new to all of this and have been doing much reading on this site over the past few months but am at a loss to what could be causing this. I called PB and haven't heard back yet. They also set the system to run 24 hrs due to low temps in my area and they are planning on closing pool tomorrow. My mason wants to pour his concrete slab next week but I want to make sure the plumbing is ok before a concrete slab is poured. Thank you for your help
 
JBg,

You have a very common misconception of what filter pressure means... Higher filter pressure is bad, not good.. Think of of it this way... the filter gauge reading is the amount of effort it takes to force water through your filter. If you had no filter material, the gauge would read almost zero, because the pump could easily push the water through and back to the pool..

A filter pressure of 15 lbs, when using a single speed pump and pushing water through a heater, sounds about right to me... As the filter gets dirty, this pressure will increase.. When it increases by about 25 to 30% it is time to clean the filter.. In your location, I suspect you will only have to clean it when the pool is closed...

Most SWCG's do not operate when cold, but I don't know about the Auto Pilot.. When a SWCG runs it will create very small bubbles that will often appear at the one or more of the return lines. These bubbles will only be there when the cell is generating chlorine.. To test, you shut the SWCG off and see if the bubbles go away..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Thanks Jim I will give that a shot when I get home. I am just concerned about the pressure as well, when I put my hand in front of one of the returns by the steps, freezing cold, the pressure coming out was minimal.
 
Are all the returns on at once ? Splitting the 1.75hp pump 7 ways will certainly decrease the pressure at the eyeballs. You may need smaller eyeballs in the returns to increase the force that the water comes out. Think of it like using your thumb on the end of a garden hose. The flow stays the same but the pressure of the spray increases greatly.
 
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Newdude said:
Are all the returns on at once ? Splitting the 1.75hp pump 7 ways will certainly decrease the pressure at the eyeballs. You may need smaller eyeballs in the returns to increase the force that the water comes out. Think of it like using your thumb on the end of a garden hose. The flow stays the same but the pressure of the spray increases greatly.
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Yes all of the returns are running very low and spitting out the air bubbles it seems like the pump might have air in it, unfortunately I was not home when pb started all the equipment
 
Jbgirl79 said:
How do I tell what rpms it is running at?
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There should be a display screen on the pump itself that shows the current status, including RPMs. It may have a protective cover that you have to flip up to read the screen. If you have automation, you may also be able to check on that screen.

While you are at the equipment pad, see if there is a large air bubble on the top of the basket that may indicate a leak on the suction side.

Lastly, is your water level correct? Make sure the skimmer's are not sucking air in due to low water level.
 

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Jimrahbe said:
JBg,

If it is a single speed pump, then it does not matter, as they all run at full speed all the time..

Jim R.
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Water level is half to 3/4 up on skimmers. I’m just wondering if it has to do more with the swg or if pump is undersized, I actually upgraded my pump to a stronger one than they were initially offering due to the large number of returns. I guess it will have to be a question for my pb. Hopefully I will be hearing back from him soon so I can pass on the info he gives
 
Jimrahbe said:
JBg,

Turn the SWCG off and see of the bubbles go away.. SWCG bubbles are very small.

Jim R.
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I will definitely try that tomorrow when it’s day light. My big concern now is that the returns seem to have hardly any water coming out of them, the bubbles coming out aren’t really being pushed out into the pool the just are coming out and floating right up just seems like very little water pressure, water level hasn’t gone down so not worried about leak just don’t know why it seems to be so weak
 
JBg,

With a single speed pump you should have plenty of water being pushed out into the pool..

It could be a plumbing issue, or a valve not open all the way, or as simple as having too large of eyeballs installed..

I would ask your pool builder about it for sure...

Tomorrow, please post a couple of pics of your equipment pad and maybe we can spot something obvious.

If your pool builder fixes the problem, please let us know what he did..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
JBg,

With a single speed pump you should have plenty of water being pushed out into the pool..

It could be a plumbing issue, or a valve not open all the way, or as simple as having too large of eyeballs installed..

I would ask your pool builder about it for sure...

Tomorrow, please post a couple of pics of your equipment pad and maybe we can spot something obvious.

If your pool builder fixes the problem, please let us know what he did..

Thanks,

Jim R.
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I will most definitely do all of those things thanks for the help
 
Address all of your concerns and get the PB’s acknowledgment of issues in writing. The business may very well change over the winter. I went back in the spring to a new manager who knew nothing of my isssue. Heck the PB could lose the business in an unrelated divorce and you'll be dealing with the spouse in the spring. If you have their written word to fix the problems it will help. Even if only to help jog their memory.
 
Newdude said:
Address all of your concerns and get the PB’s acknowledgment of issues in writing. The business may very well change over the winter. I went back in the spring to a new manager who knew nothing of my isssue. Heck the PB could lose the business in an unrelated divorce and you'll be dealing with the spouse in the spring. If you have their written word to fix the problems it will help. Even if only to help jog their memory.
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Great advice I will make sure I ask to have a meeting with them and get it all in writing to have fresh for the spring
 
So silly fix to problem, when they started the pool they did t install the return eyeballs so that is why there is little to no water pressure coming out of return lines, that and they stated having all 7 returns open at the same time is going to reduce the amount of water flowing out which I did figure. I appreciate all the responses and help thank you so much tfp community
 
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