Suction side leak question

[impooler4]

Hi all.
In ground pool owner for about 20 years... I now have a suction side leak (lots of bubbles coming in the filter basket from the return lines). I've tried all of the basic troubleshooting (smoke, shaving cream, lubing the o-rings on connections, new gasket for filter lid, etc...). What's strange is that when it's off I keep perfect prime (basket stays full of water). Also, I can start running it with zero bubbles but after about 1 min of running then a rush of bubbles start and it remains being pulled into the pump.
If there were leaks in the piping right before the filter, wouldn't it start air bubbles right away? Is this something with the underground return pipes (I hope not)?

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Suction side leaks can be frustrating. Let's start by seeing some pics of your equipment pad. We like to see all the valves, lines, and components which helps with our analysis.

 

[impooler4]

Welcome to TFP! Suction side leaks can be frustrating. Let's start by seeing some pics of your equipment pad. We like to see all the valves, lines, and components which helps with our analysis.

Here’s going into the hayward 1hp..

 

[Texas Splash]

Let me ask this...... these bubbles you see in the pump basket under the clear lid, does the water level fall significantly, or are you just troubled by the occurrence of tiny bubbles that enter the pot? Does the pump ever lose prime?

 

[impooler4]

Let me ask this...... these bubbles you see in the pump basket under the clear lid, does the water level fall significantly, or are you just troubled by the occurrence of tiny bubbles that enter the pot? Does the pump ever lose prime?

I guess it’s the amount of bubbles. Like this is not normal for this pump. I noticed this starting last summer and I really want to take care of it as I open it this year. It will run perfectly for about a minute and then the rush of air starts.

 

[Texas Splash]

Based on your description, all is fine at first followed by air, I'm thinking of a couple things. Either your skimmer weir door is getting stuck, or it is the suction line itself. Once the pump is off, it may fill with water and become full. If may slowly leak water out but you may not notice it. Then you turn on the pump and it pulls from a full suction line for the first minute, but then it starts pulling air in again through a crack. That is just one thought since you seem to have ruled out everything on the pad.

 

[impooler4]

So do you think if it was any of the connections near the pad, (in the picture ) that the air would appear as soon as I turn it on? The reason I’m asking is because I’m thinking of just replacing those connections before I go digging up a lot of concrete! Thanks again! Oh and I don’t have a weir door on the skimmer.

 

[Texas Splash]

do you think if it was any of the connections near the pad, (in the picture ) that the air would appear as soon as I turn it on?

I do. But as you said, eliminate anything above ground first. Even then, if it's just bubbles and some air you can live with it. I recently went through the same thing.

 

[Texas Splash]

I even went this far. I was really OCD about air.

Suction Leak - Do You Have One? Try a Big Straw!

DISCLAIMER: Safety First! Our pool is still CLOSED. The water is too cold so there are no swimmers, no risk to life or limb due to exposed suction pipe in the water. This was my own personal test conducted in a fenced/controlled environment for less than a 24 hr period. This was a...

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