Not another, bubbles in my return question.

I replaced my pressure gauge last year.  Two weeks ago the PSI bottomed out, but suction from skimmer is strong, pump primes, and jets are just as strong as they have been.  Thinking it’s a faulty guage again.  No problem.  I vacuumed the other day, felt that I lost a little suction, no biggie.  Backwashed, cleaned out the strainer next to the pump, found a bunch of hair in my impeller, cleaned it out, presto, pressure back to normal range for my pool.  Three days later, PSI bottomed out again.  Found more junk in the impeller, pump primed, took longer than normal, but primed, and now I notice bubbles from one of my returns.  Not much, just a tad.  After two or three days the bubbles disappear.  Pump stays primed, jets stay normal, suction from skimmer and drain are normal, PSI rides between 1-3. Still low.  I just found a small leak at one of the couplings for the SWG.  Not even a consistent drip, just enough to keep the bottom side of the pipe moist, doesn’t even drip down to the concrete.  Would that be enough of a leak to cause the air bubbles in the return?  The leak is also on the side that glues into the PVC pipe and not the threaded part of the coupling.  Is there a “patch” DIY fix that can postpone the shutdown cut, and reset the join that I can try to get me through the summer?  Thank you for your thoughts, folks.

The salt cell is on the return side of the system. This would not cause bubbles to enter the system while the pump is running. It could allow the system to lose prime after the pump shuts off. This would allow the system to draw in air and you’d see them for a bit when the pump starts.

If the bubbles persist when the pump is running, you may have an air leak somewhere on the suction side. We have a few guides that can help you identify an air leak.

http://www.inyopools.com/HowToPage/how_to_identify_and_correct_air_leaks.aspx

http://www.inyopools.com/HowToPage/how_to_correct_low_pressure_in_your_pool_system.aspx

I still need to do the “smoke test” but I’m leaning closer to calling in the professionals.  If I leave all of it alone, in about 48 hours I have very little air coming through the returns.  It slowly diminishes. I have noticed that my vaccum is a little weaker now.  Still no pressure at the gauge.  I also notice the clear viewing jar slowly lowes the amount of water in it and if I backwash it will fill up again, but I will have more air in the jets for a few hours.  I’ll give them smoke test a shot soon.  Thank you for your response and the links to troubleshoot the air.

You’re welcome. Please come back and give us an update once you find the cause of your air bubbles.

InyoRob, one more question as I prep for a weekend of leak finding.  I do not have any air bubbles in my strainer lid, can I rule potential sections/are as to test for leaks?

I would still recommend checking around the pump lid and anywhere else on the suction side of the system.