Pool Pump Strainer Lid O-ring; The pump strainer lid is sealed by a single gasket; which once it loses pliability can provide a direct route to foul your prime. Normal signs of wear are cracking in the rubber, warping or stretching, and the obvious, missing bits
Check the rubber gasket for cracks pinching the gasket into a smaller loop. Cracks will look like striations across the length of the gasket.
Warped or stretched gaskets are evident when the o-ring sits in the groove o-ring, spilling over. The warping of an o-ring can lead to it being pinched creating a gap through which air can enter the plumbing.
If necessary, replace with new gasket, after cleaning the o-ring’s groove of gunk and leftover lube. Apply a new coat of lube, as well.
Click Here to View Replacement Pump Parts
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/19/2014
John - I haven't seen anything like this. Sounds like some seal is failing under higher pressure, but then I can't explain why it wouldn't fail when you put 40 lbs pressure into the system. Could it be vibration? Is the pump moving around during operation? Is there a crack in the pump housing or around any of the suction fittings? You may have to have a local pool professional come in to look at this.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/19/2014
macpet - It is common to see air bubbles coming out of the return jets when the pump is first turned on. As the pump primes, it has to purge any air in the system that collected in the pipes while the pump was off.Reply
macpet Posted: 8/19/2014
Hi I had my pump and filer replaced in May and everything was working fine. I have now just notices when the systme starts air bubles at the return jets (both of them). Do not notice bubbles any other time. No air in any of the areas in the pump/filter system that I can see. Any suggestions? thank youReply
John Posted: 8/18/2014
I have a Pak Fab pump. When you turn it on it will start without additional priming and fill up the strainer basket with only a small air bubble on top. It will run like this for several minutes and then as if someone opens a value it will get big burst of air in the basket and quickly lose prime. I have replaced all seals and orings. I have put pressure on the system using a drain cleaner attachment in the skimmer and I can get almost 40 lbs pressure on the system with no leaks in the pump. Any suggestions?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/11/2014
Air leak - First check that there are no cracks in the strainer lid or strainer bucket around the lid. Then apply a soapy solution around all the suction side connections to see if any bubbles get sucked into a leak.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 8/11/2014
air leak. change new pool pump strainer lid. still air leak form one air jet. DE filter pressure below 10. pool water level is adequate. what is next step?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/4/2014
Elliott - It may be that by shutting down water to your pump to only one line [skimmer] you are not supplying sufficient water to the pump. You may need to open the main drain part way to provide enough water to the pump to function properly.Reply
Elliott Posted: 8/3/2014
Hi, we are experiencing air into our pump when vacuuming the pool and putting the valve on skimmer only. Water level is ok, new hose also. I have put new sealant around the skimmer line that comes into the valve before the pump. When vacuuming, if we leave the valve selector to both the skimmer and main drain, there is no issue. Any ideas on what else to check or how to diagnose the leak? Thanks!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/14/2014
Michael - The first part of your comment sounds like you have a suction leak in the connections from the pool to the front end of the pump [covered in this guide]. The second part of your comment sounds like a blown spider casket in your multiport valve. See our guide on "How to Replace a Spider Gasket on a Multiport Valve".Reply
Michael Posted: 7/13/2014
Hello I have been having problems with my pump. The pump is about 3/4 full of water and there are some bubbles in the pump while running and also some bubbles coming out of the return jet. When the pump is turned off and the lid is off bubbles come from the hole on the motor side. Also when I go to backwash, water always comes out of the first filter. What is the most likely problem?Reply
Randy Posted: 6/29/2014
You are right. My tank is cracked - thanksReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/28/2014
Randy - Check for cracks in the tank flange or the multiport flange, where the two units are clamped together. Then re-clamp the valve onto the filter tank, but as you are tightening the clamp, hit it gently with a rubber hammer all around the clamp, so it sets properly.Reply
Randy Posted: 6/27/2014
I have a hayward vari-floxl multi valve that is leaking around the o-ring between the sand filter and the valve. I replace the o-ring but it still leaked . I put silacone around the o-ring and it still leaks. Why is it still leaking?Plesse send reply to my e-mail address.
Thanks
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/11/2014
Mike - It sounds like you have two problems; one on the suction side and one on the discharge side. Sounds like you have a suction leak. Try covering all the connections on the suction side of your pump with a soapy solution to see if any bubbles are sucked into a leak. For the main drain, shut down all suction lines to your pump except the main drain. Then use your reverse vacuum to blow out the main drain. You should see large amounts of air exiting the main drain when the main drain is clear.Reply
Mike Pettis Posted: 6/10/2014
I have a inground pool. Hayward sand filter pro series s244t. Pump loses prime after turning off and won't turn back on until I fill the basket up with water several times. Massive amount of bubbles coming out of return jet closest to the pump, zero bubbles coming out of jet furthest from the pump. Hardly any suction from skimmer furthest from the pump (which is closest to the main drain). I close the skimmers with the valve and I struggle to keep prime on my pump. Is there a way to clear the main drain? I hooked my reverse vaacum to the valve and a huge amount of water blew out of the furthest skimmer (which barely sucks water) but can't tell if it did anything to the main drain (can't tell if water is going out of it freely). ? Can you help me?Mike
Reply
Nick Posted: 6/10/2014
I found out that there was gunk at the pump impeller, pine needles, seeds, etc that made it past the basket. I had huge air bubbles from one return, no flow from the other, hardly any flow through skimmer, and hardly any water in the pump basket visible through the glass disc.I removed the basket and reached into the port to the impeller. Lots of needles and gunk kinda stuck to the edge. Hard to get out with my fingers, needle nose pliers might be best, I had misplaced mine. I tried shop vac. If need be again, I might try the blower function from the impeller outlet after removing the hose going to the filter.
What worked this time was reached in from the basket port to the pump impeller with a screwdriver and scraping the sides. I removed 2-3 clumps of gunk. Now the returns are strong, still some small bubbles that I will bleed at the filter or replace the basket o-ring, but great flow everywhere, and major splashage in the basket.
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/9/2014
Melissa - If you have opened and closed your filter without cleaning the cartridge and your pressure is still high when you start up again, you probably have a cartridge problem. It may look clean but there may be chemical residue in the folds of the cartridge that isn't rinsing out. Try soaking the cartridge in a TSP solution overnight or replace the cartridge.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/9/2014
Scott - If your pump is losing prime or you see a lot of air in your pump's strainer basket, you may have an air leak. Try putting a soapy solution on all the connections between the pump and the pool to see if any soap bubbles are sucked into a leak. If your pump is not losing prime, you may have back pressure building up in the filter. Many filters have a breather tube going up the center of the filter. Make sure that is not clogged.Reply
Melissa Posted: 6/9/2014
My pool filter pressure goes from 10 to 30 after I vacuum the pool. We keep cleaning it out, and that lowers the pressure, but honestly, the cartridges weren't dirty. I suspect an air leak as I have seen air bubbles in the filter basket, but can't find it. I thought opening the air relief valve on top of the filter and repricing the system would lower the pressure, but oddly enough, it didn't. Any ideas?Reply
Scott "what am I missing?" Posted: 6/8/2014
Pump is losing pressure. Here what we have done.Relocated filter. I ran all new PVC plumbing with all brand new unions and o-rings.
Brand new multi-port.
Pump would start and we would have great pressure, but it would slow to a dribble in about 1/2 hour.
Could not get a pool tech out so they talked me through on the phone. I need a new pump.
Replaced pump and worked great for about an hour then lost pressure again. Friend told us perhaps too much sand in hayward s-filter so I removed about 30-40lbs of the 200 I put in.
Same result. I have tried everything and replaced everything. What am I missing.
Could it be air leak in the new plumbing?
Reply
teresa Posted: 6/5/2014
Thank u so very much for your how to page, it was perfect. Simple so every one can under stand. Imean every one...since I am a wife of a truck driver I try to do as many of the repairs as I can so my hubby doesent have a million things to do whe he come home for 1 day.. Thank u again so much..Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/2/2014
Russell - Sounds like your filter is clogged. If you didn't change your sand after the algae problem, I would do that now.Reply
Chris Posted: 6/2/2014
Thanks for the advice Inyopools. I corrected the problem, my pool tech was convinced it was an under ground pipe air leak. I knew it was not. It started after they replaced my pump with a new pump. It actually was my Stingl SR-500 safty vacume switch sucking in air from inside the box.. i noticed when stopping the pump with the off switch from thr Stingl box, I was hearing air realeasing from the box. It was the air hose that goes from the pump to the Stingl box...Reply
Russell Posted: 6/1/2014
We have an 18ft above ground pool. the return pressure gradually decreases and only improves after a backwash. I have to do this every other day. Pump and motor were new last summer, sand filter is 6 years old. I cannot see any air bubbles in the return water or in the pump basket. Any suggestions would be appreciated. this problem began 2 years ago and about the same time we had a mustard algae problem.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/31/2014
Chris - You have a suction leak somewhere between your pump and pool. Try putting a soapy water solution on all the connections between the pump and pool and check if you can see any bubbles getting sucked into a leak.Reply
Chris Posted: 5/28/2014
Just got a new hayward 1 1/2 HP pump replaced on my in ground pool, the old hayward was leaking water at the seal,& and pump was real loud. Pool was filtering fine and no air bubbles were present in filter pump skimmer or pool. Now with new pump i have air bubbles in all return jets and in pump skimmer, And with system closed down i lose prime. System operates with a Stingl vac presure monitor? I have closed main drains and bubbles still present in pump window, I have closed skimmer and bubbles still present in returns and pump window as well.Reply
wp Posted: 5/26/2014
We were having significant air bubbles in pump basket and return lines. Replaced all gaskets and pump seal. Found the problem to be one drain plug in the pump basket had some minor debris. Once cleaned, problem solved!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 5/23/2014
tom - If you only get air bubbles when your main drain line is open, it sounds like your problem is in your main drain line. You may have to call a professional to have that pipe looked at.Reply
tom Posted: 5/22/2014
I have air bubbles on the intake side at my pump. when i close the main drain valve, the bubbles stop. shutting off the skimmers, one at a time, doesn't change the problem. i have the pool filled to the max and i'm not loosing any water. the height difference is only 4". i completely covered the patio over where the lines run, with soapy water, no results.. I have used smoke to see any intake on exposed pipe. no results.... any more ideas?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 4/25/2014
pat - You probably lost prime on your pump and damaged your pump motor running it dry overnight. I would take the motor into a local motor shop to check it out, but you are probably going to need a new motor.Reply
pat Posted: 4/24/2014
ive left my baracuda out of the water overnight while still conected to the pump and now the pump has stopped working... what do i do???Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 4/16/2014
newbies - If your filter does not have an air relief valve, try opening the filter drain slightly at the bottom of the filter.Reply
newbies Posted: 4/15/2014
Assuming I found the air leak, how do I release the air pressure accumulated in my sand filter? Right now my system reads 20 psi when is off … how do I make that reading going down? filter backwash?? i appreciate the helpReply
nibornm1 Posted: 3/2/2014
Great info and steps to follow. Thank you. In my case, I was seeing most bubbles emanating from one inlet and less in the other two. My motor and pump were just a little more noisy than usual. On disassembling the pump I found 2 small (less than 1 inch long) pieces had broken off the 14 year old filter basket and jammed in the vanes of the pump impeller. I will probably put up a photo on Youtube, user name there is nibornm1Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 2/12/2014
Julius Yehilomo - It sounds like your pump is not large enough to overcome the 6.5m head of water. Also be aware that there are two kinds of pumps. The ones designed for above ground pools rely on gravity to feed the water into the pump and must be installed below the level of the pool water. You need a suction pump designed for in-ground pools.Reply
Julius Yehilomo Posted: 2/11/2014
sea water pump suction is above 6.5m from deck. It was primp 3 times but still can't suck the water from suction side.Please need your assistance.
Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 2/10/2014
Air in pump - Unless you have a check valve before the pump (most systems don't) the water in you system will partially drain back into the pool from the pump and filter. It is normal for the water level in the pump strainer to drop. That's why a pump has to be re-primed each time it starts up.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 2/10/2014
matt - I don't know why shutting off the main drain line would create air in your lines unless shutting one of three lines down puts more suction pressure on the other two lines and pulls more air through a small leak. Try shutting off just the skimmer and see it that generates air also. By shutting off each line one at a time you may be able to isolate your leak to one line.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 2/9/2014
colin - Do you have a diverter valve between the skimmer and the pump? If you shut that off and the bubbles stop, you can potentially isolate your problem to the skimmer or the length of pipe between the skimmer and the diverter valve. Also check around the diverter valve for possible leaks.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 2/8/2014
I have an issue that sounds different to what most people seem to describing. When my pump is running I have no air in the system at all ( no bubbles in return jets or in the strainer basket...) But when the pump shuts down, after about 4hrs there is a lot of air visible though the clear top of the strainer basket. Where can this air be coming from if it is not entering the system while the system is running? As soon as the pump shuts down I am sure I can hear the water level dropping in the DE filter...Reply