Suction Leak

[Brandon Penland]

Hope everyone is having a great start to the year.

Looking for some guidance here. I am stumped. Living in Texas and we are getting freezing weather, which is not common.

My freeze protection is working but for some reason a few nights ago, I heard some noise through the wall of my house and some knocking coming from the pump. Not sure what caused it, by the time I got there, it had stopped.

Now what I am experiencing, when the pool moves over to spa mode, I hear a slurping noise, sounds like it’s coming from the suction side. It is difficult to find exactly where the noise is coming from, but it seems to be right at this valve in the picture.

I went outside and took some plumbers putty and pushed it around all of the connections to see if I could find the air leak, hoping the slurping noise would stop once I pushed the putty against the air leak.

I tried every possible spot around connections on the spa suction side and nothing worked.

Any ideas where the air leak is coming from? One thought that I had is that the automated valve change over froze that night, blocking the pump. I’m wondering if the air leak is coming from where the rod goes into the valve with the automation.

Just a theory. The suction noise is coming from underground and it just seems like it is in this area.

Let me know if anyone has thoughts. Again, I do not hear the suction noise when it is on the pool side, just the spa.

 

[PoolStored]

I’m wondering if the air leak is coming from where the rod goes into the valve with the automation.

Entirely possible. There are 2 o-rings under the diverter top around the shaft. They may have shrunk, broke or don't have enough lubricant. May be the larger o-ring for the lid to the diverter. Something may have broke (shaft) that is allowing air past the o-rings.

Just a theory. The suction noise is coming from underground and it just seems like it is in this area.

May be that there is a crack in the PVC below ground.

 

[Brandon Penland]

One thing I forgot to mention, the reason I am concerned is because it is definitely affecting the amount of water that is pulling. I’m afraid if it gets any worse, I’m going to be in trouble. The pump is having a hard time keeping up because of the air.

 

[PoolStored]

One thing I forgot to mention, the reason I am concerned is because it is definitely affecting the amount of water that is pulling. I’m afraid if it gets any worse, I’m going to be in trouble. The pump is having a hard time keeping up because of the air.

Yep, makes sense. You need to find and fix to avoid damage.

 

[Brandon Penland]

Sounds good. If I could just get through a few more freezing nights and rain(cross fingers), I will be able to get to it. I’m thinking that taking the valve apart and diverter and replacing rings as the most likely culprit. The sound just seems like it is coming from right there. I know that noise travels strangely sometimes but it seems like it is right there.

The automation is still working, so I don’t think that it broke completely, but I’m it froze temporarily and must’ve done something to one of the O-rings.

 

[PoolStored]

Know you have freezing temps, but if you can point a hose at the shaft between the actuator and the diverter, and the pump fills, that may give you confirmation (may not too).

 

[ajw22]

O-rings shrink and leak in the cold. That is how we lost the Challenger Space Shuttle.

 

[Brandon Penland]

That’s a brilliant idea. I would’ve never thought of that. I will let you know how it goes.