Non-stop flow of air bubbles from return

[BApool]

Hey all,
I posted here a year or two ago about an issue with air bubbles from my returns. I never was able to find the source and just decided to live with it but enough is enough.

I have a continuous stream of air bubbles from my return. They are there when running the filter and when on recirc.

I have a really simple set up. Two infeeds (skimmer and a 1.5in port), one return. 1hp Hayward super pump, Hayward de3620 filter, t-15 swg cell. 18x36 rectangle.

I have checked everything I can think of. New ring on the pump basket (with lube). New drain plugs. Water level is at the third screw on the skimmer. There isn't a single air bubble visible in the pump basket, not one. Opening the relief valve on the filter releases a steady stream of water, no air, not even little spurts of air. I ran the system with and without the swg running and that made no difference.

What's left that I haven't checked? Everything on the suction side (that I know of) has been checked twice and in some cases, replaced with new parts.

 

[mknauss]

That looks a whole lot like bubbles from a SWCG. Be absolutely sure the cell is off. And let it run for 30 minutes or so that way.

 

[Jimrahbe]

BA,

Sure looks like SWCG bubbles to me...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[BApool]

Thank you for the quick responses! My pump was off from noon until 5pm. I just started it up with the swg cell unplugged from the control box. No change in the amount of bubbles.

Anything else that this could possibly be attributed to?

Thanks again for you help!

 

[mknauss]

Hmmm --- you do not have an ozone thing do you?

 

[BApool]

Nothing fancy other than the swg.

 

[duraleigh]

Re check that swg.

If the pump strainer basket is perfectly clear, that means there are no leaks on the suction side of the system and the suction side is the ONLY part of the system that can let air in.

So the bubbles must be coming internally on the pressure side and I can think of NO OTHER source except the SWG.......there's just nothing there to create that gas. Last resort, Marty might be onto something with the ozone but I am not sure if they produce gas like that......maybe.

 

[mknauss]

It is just too perfect of a stream. A leak normally sends waves of bubbles. Your pump basket you say has no air in it.

I am at a loss.

 

[BApool]

Ok so the bubbles are definitely there with the swg turned off / unplugged. If I have to I could possibly rig a straight pipe up to the unions just to totally eliminate the swg possibility.

There are definitely no bubbles at all in the pump basket. I'm used to seeing a few dance around at the top but there is honestly not a single visible bubble in there.

Possibly interesting new discovery. When I turned the pump on earlier I saw a little bit of water pop up through the rocks, I dug around with my hand and found a piece of clear tubing (maybe 1/4 in diameter). Looks like some water came out of there at start up but then stopped, it definitely could be pulling air. I'll have to dig down a little bit when the sun comes up but is it possible this is coming from a return and creating a venturi somehow? If it were on the suction side I would think I would be losing prime and/or seeing bubbles.

 

[mknauss]

Odd. Sounds like you will need to investigate. Good luck.

 

[proavia]

Are you the original owner of the pool?

That clear tube possibly leads to a venturi type fitting that will pull air into the return lines. Those are usually used for ozonators. When the pump turns on, you can get a little bit of water out of the line until the return flow sucks any sitting water out of the line. Instead of digging first, try plugging that clear line and see if the bubbles stop after a few minutes.

 

[duraleigh]

• #5

Hmmm --- you do not have an ozone thing do you?