OK, I've installed a new Pentair IntelliFlo VS pump & a new Pentair Quad DE filter along with new piping on the pad.
The pump primes just fine in around 15-20 sec. and I can see water rushing in from the suction line. After it primes there's a small quarter sized bubble in the top of the lid, but as the pump runs for a few hours, I assume air is getting in from somewhere. After 2-3 hours the pump basket is only 1/2 full of water & the water is only trickling in from the suction line. My old inefficient single speed pump never lost prime/suction, so I don't think anything could be wrong with the underground pipes. I replaced about 18" of pipe in from of the pump before it turns underground. I used RectorSeal Tru-Blu pipe thread sealant on the male thread going into the pump. I made sure it's very tight. 1 & 1/2 turns after hand tight. The water level at the skimmer is high, due to heavy rain. The skimmer basket isn't clogged, however, I noted the little rotating tab on the underside of the skimmer float valve is missing. Maybe it got sucked into the suction line. The pump basket isn't clogged. I can rotate the impeller with a screwdriver. We do have some pine needles, so I guess it's posable that some got into the impeller, but the pump has only run for maybe a total of 12-16 hours as I'm trying to work out this issue. I've lobbed the O-ring for the pump basket lid & made sure it's very tight. The pump drain plug is tight. Here's an image of the suction side of the pump. What am I missing? Where else could the air be coming from?
The pump primes just fine in around 15-20 sec. and I can see water rushing in from the suction line. After it primes there's a small quarter sized bubble in the top of the lid, but as the pump runs for a few hours, I assume air is getting in from somewhere. After 2-3 hours the pump basket is only 1/2 full of water & the water is only trickling in from the suction line. My old inefficient single speed pump never lost prime/suction, so I don't think anything could be wrong with the underground pipes. I replaced about 18" of pipe in from of the pump before it turns underground. I used RectorSeal Tru-Blu pipe thread sealant on the male thread going into the pump. I made sure it's very tight. 1 & 1/2 turns after hand tight. The water level at the skimmer is high, due to heavy rain. The skimmer basket isn't clogged, however, I noted the little rotating tab on the underside of the skimmer float valve is missing. Maybe it got sucked into the suction line. The pump basket isn't clogged. I can rotate the impeller with a screwdriver. We do have some pine needles, so I guess it's posable that some got into the impeller, but the pump has only run for maybe a total of 12-16 hours as I'm trying to work out this issue. I've lobbed the O-ring for the pump basket lid & made sure it's very tight. The pump drain plug is tight. Here's an image of the suction side of the pump. What am I missing? Where else could the air be coming from?
