Suction Side Leak

[jake69chevy]

What’s the best way to find a suction side leak? I have a fiberglass pool and the sump well has 3 feet of water in it. I am losing water with the pump on. With the pool cleaner vacuum plugged into the skimmer suction side lots of big air bubbles come out of the return jets. The vacuum and hose also ‘chugga- chuggas’ and the vacuum hose jumps like it has air in it.

 

[Lake Placid]

I am losing water with the pump on.

This is indicative of a pressure side leak. Shutdown the system for 24 hours and see if you lose water to confirm. If you don’t lose water with the main circulating pump off, your leak is likely on the pressure side.

With the pool cleaner vacuum plugged into the skimmer suction side lots of big air bubbles come out of the return jets. The vacuum and hose also ‘chugga- chuggas’ and the vacuum hose jumps like it has air in it.

Pics of the pad, and equipment setup would help. As would more details of your equipment - variable speed pump, single speed? This could indicate a suction side leak, but other factors with your vacuum could make it appear as you have a suction side leak. How does the system act when the cleaner is not installed? Same symptoms? Different?

 

[jake69chevy]

Yes, I’m losing about a 1/4 an inch -1/2 inch of water. It’s a fiberglass pool as stated and I have a sump well that has water in it. It’s my understanding that something well should be completely dry. It’s getting water from the pool.

 

[Lake Placid]

Yes, I’m losing about a 1/4 an inch -1/2 inch of water.

Perform the bucket test with the pump off. See if you lose water.