Waxahachie, TX Owner Build - A race to beat the baby!

[JoyfulNoise]

Sorry Jamie, I caught a cold and I have been sleeping it off all day. Based on your information it looks like there's a leak somewhere. I'd get the plumber out. I know it means postponing gunite BUT a delay in your build now to be sure there isn't a leak is well worth it. Once you go on gunite, there's no going back.

There is a possibility that some air is trapped in the system and that it is finding its way out. You should definitely do as a the plumber says but I disagree with his assertion that you have to hit 0psi. So what I would do is cycle the pressure a little using the air relief valve and then get the system to 30psi. Then inspect everything you can find.

Sorry, it's a bummer call the gunite crew and let them know. See what their schedule is like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk,16k gal SWG pool (All Pentair), QuadDE100 Filter, Taylor K-2006

 

[bdavis466]

I agree with Matt. Air in the line could certainly cause a fluctuation and the bubblers without the appropriate caps should be ruled out as they are very suspect. Your pressure gauge isn't exactly a surgically calibrated device either.

This is exactly why I do not recommend installing the pool equipment at the time of rough plumbing. If there is a leak, it is very hard to isolate since you have so much to check and not all of it can be taken out of the loop to trouble shoot. That amount of pressure could easily be coming from your filter air relief valve and be completely undetectable.

Honestly, I really doubt you have a leak, or at least not with your underground plumbing. Close off the bubblers and try again at 30 PSI. I doubt you'll have an issue.

One of the other builds I'm folowing - Orange County - was the first time I've seen an issue with a glued joint in the plumbing. Every issue I've ever seen was at the equipment pad (similar to what you experienced) or from an underground line that was struck, dug up, etc.

 

[bdavis466]

Did you purge the air from the system when you pressurized it?

 

[WASP]

If you're looking for an air leak, mix up some soapy water (snoop) and brush it around the air relief valve. Leaking air will produce bubbles.

 

[bdavis466]

Good point. I'd turn that pad and the bubblers into a full on foam party

 

[JamieP]

Thank you to you all. I went out and released the pressure on the filter, twice to be sure. Air and then water came out both times. In the past, when I added water to the line, I would open the spigot on my pump where the hose is attached, then go turn on the water at the house. Might this have introduced air into the line, since the water didn't enter the sustem right away?

This time, I kept the spigot closed, turned on the water at the house, then opened the spigot. The psi is now at 30. I heard a clicking sound coming from near the gauge. I'm not sure what that is, or if it has stopped.

I'll go out and soap things up. The bubblers are not part of the pressurized system anymore since I closed their valve. I'll soap their valve, but is there something else I'm supposed to do with them?

 

[JamieP]

Clicking at the valve remains, and foam bubbles are definitely forming at the air release outlet.

Once before I heard clicking, but it eventually went away. Thoughts?

- - - Updated - - -

If you're looking for an air leak, mix up some soapy water (snoop) and brush it around the air relief valve. Leaking air will produce bubbles.

You're a genius, WASP! An air leak might not be the whole of my problems (I hope it is!) but it certainly could be a contributor.

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry Jamie, I caught a cold and I have been sleeping it off all day.

You're awesome, Matt, to come to my rescue despite the cold. Thank you! I hope it passes quickly.

 

[bdavis466]

Keep the air relief valve open while you are filling until a steady stream of water comes out of it. You'll never get all the air out of the system, but you will get most of it.

Sounds like you have a lot of air in there.

 

[kimkats]

Matt, Brian, WASP to the rescue!

Kim

 

[JamieP]

Keep the air relief valve open while you are filling until a steady stream of water comes out of it. You'll never get all the air out of the system, but you will get most of it.

Sounds like you have a lot of air in there.

Oh, is that how I'm supposed to do it?! Yes, there is a lot of air. Let me go fix that.

 

[bdavis466]

You're just trying to get invited to the foam party Kim!

 

[JamieP]

I just did what Brian instructed. The psi is at 30, there is no clicking, or perhaps very very faint, but foam is coming out of the air release outlet. So it seems there must be a small air leak there?

 

[bdavis466]

Yes. Is any water coming out?

 

[JamieP]

Yes. Is any water coming out?

Not that I can tell. Way at the beginning of my plumbing woes I had obvious dripping from that hole, but I don't see that now. Only bubbles growing out of the hole.

Is this enough to account for the slow psi loss over the day (2 psi over 6 hours)?

 

[kimkats]

You're just trying to get invited to the foam party Kim!

YEPPERS! Rootbeer floats make a LOT of foam! YUMMMMMMMMM

Kim

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Try cycling the valve to release air and water pressure a few times. It's going to take time for all the air in the system to rise to the highest point. Normally pressure testing takes a little bit of baby sitting to get it right.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk,16k gal SWG pool (All Pentair), QuadDE100 Filter, Taylor K-2006

 

[JamieP]

Try cycling the valve to release air and water pressure a few times. It's going to take time for all the air in the system to rise to the highest point. Normally pressure testing takes a little bit of baby sitting to get it right.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk,16k gal SWG pool (All Pentair), QuadDE100 Filter, Taylor K-2006

How do I know when I'm done? No more foam?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

When you open the air release and no more air comes out. You may need to pressurize and then wait a period of time. Then release air and repressurize. It's a process.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk,16k gal SWG pool (All Pentair), QuadDE100 Filter, Taylor K-2006

 

[JamieP]

When you open the air release and no more air comes out. You may need to pressurize and then wait a period of time. Then release air and repressurize. It's a process.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk,16k gal SWG pool (All Pentair), QuadDE100 Filter, Taylor K-2006

I think I may have reached that point, although I'll go out in a little while to cycle again to be sure. I don't think there was any air when I opened it up this last time I was out there, and I did it a couple more times without any air and only water coming out.

At one point I saw bubbles, then drips, but those are both gone now and all is quiet. I'll go out and repeat in a bit, but I'm hoping this clears me up.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I think I may have reached that point, although I'll go out in a little while to cycle again to be sure. I don't think there was any air when I opened it up this last time I was out there, and I did it a couple more times without any air and only water coming out.

At one point I saw bubbles, then drips, but those are both gone now and all is quiet. I'll go out and repeat in a bit, but I'm hoping this clears me up.

I'm crossing my virtual fingers for you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk,16k gal SWG pool (All Pentair), QuadDE100 Filter, Taylor K-2006