Hi guys.....first time poster, and pool owner for that matter. I have been a lurker since we began construction, in the hopes of being able to maintain my pool myself. Lots of good info on this forum and learned a lot about chemistry and more.
Anyway, our contractor finished our pool up about a month ago. We have been enjoying it A LOT since. One thing I noticed as I have been taking care of my new baby (chemistry is under control and doing great!) is that my pump bowl never gets full. Water level seems to stay about 3/4 to 1 inch below the lid. I also have air bubbles that purge out of a few of the returns every 20 seconds or so. From my research on these pages, it appears I have some sort of suction leak.
The normal pool filter circuit is set up for the following (9am - 7pm):
Suction - about 90% skimmer and 10% main drain
Returns - 4 pool returns, 1 sun shelf bubbler, 2 spa returns. Pool returns valve is 1/4 open, sun shelf bubbler valve is cracked, and spa valve is completely open. In normal pool filter mode, the spa return water enters pool through spill over.
The spa circuit switches the suction and returns to only 'circulate' the spa (spa has separate/different returns than when in pool mode). Spa has two main drains (no skimmer obviously) and 6 returns.
Anyway, I checked the usual/common culprits.....skimmer flapper stuck, vortexing in strainer, low pool water level, loose lid/damaged lid seal, drain seal, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary....everything is brand new. But since I have a sun shelf bubbler and spa spill over, I thought maybe the water might be getting overly aerated due to churning, so I shut off the sun shelf bubbler and the 2 spa returns, operating the pool filter circuit with only the four pool returns. Ran for about 3-4 hours and nothing changed.....still low water in bowl and return air burping.
Next. Because I have three suction lines (skimmer, main drain, cleaner) going to the main header and into the pump, I isolated each line using the valves to see if the bowl situation changed at all. Nothing changed with isolation, nor in spa mode (another separate return) which means to me that the leak would either have to be in the valves or somewhere between them and the pump bowl.
Next. Tried the running water technique. No luck...up under the bowl lid, all connections, valves.....nothing changes. Still low water in bowl.
Next. Yes, saw the youtube video of the guy using incense (smoke). Tried it but no luck. Feel silly for even mentioning but......seemed like a decent idea.
Next. Saran Wrap all pvc joints and valves. Again, no luck.
Next. Replaced the lid seal just in case, along with a liberal application of magic lube. No luck.
So here I am, wondering what I should try next....shaving cream or silicone? I have the contractor coming out next week (he has been very good to work with) but it has become my mission to figure it out before he gets here.
Any thoughts?
Anyway, our contractor finished our pool up about a month ago. We have been enjoying it A LOT since. One thing I noticed as I have been taking care of my new baby (chemistry is under control and doing great!) is that my pump bowl never gets full. Water level seems to stay about 3/4 to 1 inch below the lid. I also have air bubbles that purge out of a few of the returns every 20 seconds or so. From my research on these pages, it appears I have some sort of suction leak.
The normal pool filter circuit is set up for the following (9am - 7pm):
Suction - about 90% skimmer and 10% main drain
Returns - 4 pool returns, 1 sun shelf bubbler, 2 spa returns. Pool returns valve is 1/4 open, sun shelf bubbler valve is cracked, and spa valve is completely open. In normal pool filter mode, the spa return water enters pool through spill over.
The spa circuit switches the suction and returns to only 'circulate' the spa (spa has separate/different returns than when in pool mode). Spa has two main drains (no skimmer obviously) and 6 returns.
Anyway, I checked the usual/common culprits.....skimmer flapper stuck, vortexing in strainer, low pool water level, loose lid/damaged lid seal, drain seal, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary....everything is brand new. But since I have a sun shelf bubbler and spa spill over, I thought maybe the water might be getting overly aerated due to churning, so I shut off the sun shelf bubbler and the 2 spa returns, operating the pool filter circuit with only the four pool returns. Ran for about 3-4 hours and nothing changed.....still low water in bowl and return air burping.
Next. Because I have three suction lines (skimmer, main drain, cleaner) going to the main header and into the pump, I isolated each line using the valves to see if the bowl situation changed at all. Nothing changed with isolation, nor in spa mode (another separate return) which means to me that the leak would either have to be in the valves or somewhere between them and the pump bowl.
Next. Tried the running water technique. No luck...up under the bowl lid, all connections, valves.....nothing changes. Still low water in bowl.
Next. Yes, saw the youtube video of the guy using incense (smoke). Tried it but no luck. Feel silly for even mentioning but......seemed like a decent idea.
Next. Saran Wrap all pvc joints and valves. Again, no luck.
Next. Replaced the lid seal just in case, along with a liberal application of magic lube. No luck.
So here I am, wondering what I should try next....shaving cream or silicone? I have the contractor coming out next week (he has been very good to work with) but it has become my mission to figure it out before he gets here.
Any thoughts?
