What causes this?

Jump to latest Follow Reply
B

Beth0277

Active member
Apr 22, 2025
40
Morgantown, WV
New pool owner - noticed two new things this evening. First picture is pump - had water swishing around. I’ve never seen water in there before. We then found a pool toy had been pulled into the skimmer and when we took it out, it stopped. Was that causing it? We also used a skimmer sock for the first time. Could that have caused it?

Second picture is (I don’t know what those are called in the pool)? It is blowing bubbles on and off.

Sorry to seem so clueless! Thanks for any help!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9170.jpeg
    IMG_9170.jpeg
    362.4 KB · Views: 17
  • IMG_9173.jpeg
    IMG_9173.jpeg
    310 KB · Views: 16
PoolStored said:
Lack of water flow allowed the pump to pull water. Air in returns come from air in the pump, which can come from a couple places.

Here is a section on troubleshooting:

Pump Basics - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
I tried to read that link and wasn’t sure what could be causing it. Could it have been the toy in the skimmer, also? It’s still doing it despite the toy being removed.
 
PoolStored said:
Yes.

Could be any of them, just go through them in order...
Click to expand...
1.

I don’t think it’s the o-ring as that was lubricated when they opened the pool.

2. The filter is only a few weeks old, so don’t think it’s a dirty filter, either. We have been suspicious of algae but it looks like algae plus a dirty filter is a cause, not just algae.

3. Can you help me understand what this means:

Air in the pump basket on low speed (with a 2-speed or Variable Speed Pump (VSP)) may be normal

I don’t know what the pump basket is or what speed they are talking about.
 
Beth0277 said:
Air in the pump basket on low speed (with a 2-speed or Variable Speed Pump (VSP)) may be normal

I don’t know what the pump basket is or what speed they are talking about.
Click to expand...
Pump basket is the first picture you posted. If you have a single speed pump, it doesn't apply to you.
If you have a 2 speed pump, or variable speed pump, then it applies.
 
It means that you can vary the RPMs of the pump and is programmable to run different speeds during the day.

Go to the pump, while it is running. You will see one light above 1, 2 or 3. It means it is currently running that program. Remember that number (1,2, or 3) (I'll call it CURRENT).
Press "Stop" wait 5 seconds, then press "start" press the display button until it shows you the RPM. Write that number down.
Press 1, press display until it shows RPMs, write that number down.
Press 2 and 3 and write RPMs down for those programs.
Press the button next to CURRENT, and pump will return to its programming.

Post RPMS for Prime ("start"), 1, 2 and 3.

The section on VSPs applies to you in the article/troubleshooting.
 
PoolStored said:
It means that you can vary the RPMs of the pump and is programmable to run different speeds during the day.

Go to the pump, while it is running. You will see one light above 1, 2 or 3. It means it is currently running that program. Remember that number (1,2, or 3) (I'll call it CURRENT).
Press "Stop" wait 5 seconds, then press "start" press the display button until it shows you the RPM. Write that number down.
Press 1, press display until it shows RPMs, write that number down.
Press 2 and 3 and write RPMs down for those programs.
Press the button next to CURRENT, and pump will return to its programming.

Post RPMS for Prime ("start"), 1, 2 and 3.

The section on VSPs applies to you in the article/troubleshooting.
Click to expand...
Okay, I will try those things tomorrow.

Since it’s only happening on and off, might it be “normal” as the link suggests for a variable pump?

If not, can it be an indication of a huge problem or more just something that needs explored when able? I’ll call a pool tech on Monday but just making sure it’s not urgent.
 
Beth0277 said:
Since it’s only happening on and off, might it be “normal” as the link suggests for a variable pump?
Click to expand...
Yes, but it depends on the RPMs the pump is running. Getting the speeds will help diagnosis.

Beth0277 said:
If not, can it be an indication of a huge problem or more just something that needs explored when able? I’ll call a pool tech on Monday but just making sure it’s not urgent.
Click to expand...
Does the pump lose prime? If pump does not lose prime, then it is not urgent.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Priming a pump is the process of pulling water up from the pool to the pump. Once it is primed, it is moving mostly water.

Losing prime means the pump is no longer pumping water and the pump basket has essentially no water. If it continues to move water, even with some air in the pump basket, over a long interval (like 24 hours), you have not lost prime.
 
PoolStored said:
Priming a pump is the process of pulling water up from the pool to the pump. Once it is primed, it is moving mostly water.

Losing prime means the pump is no longer pumping water and the pump basket has essentially no water. If it continues to move water, even with some air in the pump basket, over a long interval (like 24 hours), you have not lost prime.
Click to expand...
I’m sorry for being so confused. The pump basket is the first pic I sent, right? I’ve never seen water in there before tonight which I thought was an issue from a toy being pulled into the skimmer. So there is supposed to be water in there from the pool?
 
Beth0277 said:
I’m sorry for being so confused. The pump basket is the first pic I sent, right?
Click to expand...
This is your pump basket.
1747536483423.png

Beth0277 said:
I’ve never seen water in there before tonight which I thought was an issue from a toy being pulled into the skimmer. So there is supposed to be water in there from the pool?
Click to expand...
Yes, that is what a pump does...it pump water from skimmer or main drain through filter and other equipment back to the returns in the pool.

Here is a short of pump priming...you can see water starting to come into the pump and the air being expelled through the system.

 
I went out and checked the pump. The light was on the “1” and I think the rpm is 3450? I tried to push 2 and 3 to check those but it would not allow me to push them.

I took a picture of the pump basket. It does not have any water and has never had any in it since we opened it a few weeks ago, other than this evening when water was swishing around when the toy was stuck. So you are saying this should have water in it?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9177.jpeg
    IMG_9177.jpeg
    338.4 KB · Views: 10
Beth0277 said:
It does not have any water and has never had any in it since we opened it a few weeks ago
Click to expand...

Beth0277 said:
So you are saying this should have water in it?
Click to expand...
Lol, that looks like it is full of water. When full it won't look like it has water. Only if it has bubbles will you perceive water.

If your returns have flow (you can feel the water coming out the returns), your pump is full of water, and is moving water, and doesn't have air.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wireform
PoolStored said:
Lol, that looks like it is full of water. When full it won't look like it has water. Only if it has bubbles will you perceive water.

If your returns have flow (you can feel the water coming out the returns), your pump is full of water, and is moving water, and doesn't have air.
Click to expand...
I don’t think there is water because I can see/hear the leaves being blown around.

I do feel air/jets/water? coming out of the returns.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply