I have been working to repair a suction side leak coming from the pool mode/spa mode valve area of our system. When I would shut off the pump, I would see a bit of water squirt out from the valve (like spitting), so I just changed the O-rings on that valve today. After letting it run for several hours, I was still seeing air coming through the returns, so I shut off the pump again to see if any more water squirted out of that valve. The valve was fine, but I noticed a “spit” that came from what appears to be a small puncture in the black tape that is wrapped around the joint where the PVC pipe comes into that valve from the pump. I have attached a photo that shows the tape wrapped around the joint (the puncture is about 1/8” and is hard to show in a photo). To repair this, do I need to remove all of the old tape and rewrap with all new tape?
Suction side leak - puncture in sealing tape
- Thread starter PoolFrog
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,035
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Looks to be a black Teflon tape perhaps. The only way I know of to properly fix that issue is to separate everything and re-wrap it. But as a test, before you do that, since it's on the suction side, try spreading a bit of pool lube or silicone on that joint area where you suspect the gap might be to see if it prevents air from getting sucked in. If you still see air in the system after that, the air leak might be from somewhere else. Just figured that might be a worthwhile test before tearing things apart.
I put a dab of Magic Lube on the puncture and it did reduce the amount of air getting in. When I shut off the pump, I saw a “spit” of water cut through the lube. It’s very close to where the valve joins with the PVC, so I’m not sure if the valve fitting is cracked or if it’s just a problem with the tape.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,035
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Since you saw the water spit outward, if you're not ready to operate on that plumbing, I would clean off the lube and apply a nice bead of silicone. That should dry well and might even pull "in" to the gap slightly and hold you over for a while.
Yeah, I don’t do plumbing. I’ve always had a pool guy do that and I would rather not have to do that right now if I can help it. I thought Magic Lube was silicone, is it not? What should I look for?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,035
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Yeah, that's pool lube. Go ahead and clean it off really well now that you've confirmed the leaky spot. Swing by Walmart or someplace similar and grab one of their tubes of GE outdoor silicone caulking. They have it in clear and white. You can place a nice bead along that joint area and it should cure well.
Electrical tape is NOT a permanent repair. Remove the tape, find the leak, seal it with some silicone sealant while the pump is running. It will be pulled into the leak and last for a long time that way. If it is at the fitting and pump inlet, just put a layer of silicone all the way around the fitting and against the pump, again while the pump is running. You may see an area pull in, add more. You have to add more before the silicone is cured and will get it on your hands. That is not a problem.