I have noticed my pool level dropping. We hadn’t had rain in a few days and have been swimming, so I added water. I noticed this morning, after having added water last night and a thunderstorm, that the level had dropped again. I know this could be a myriad of things. But after reading some posts, I think I may have narrowed it down. Is it possible my valve assembly is seeping water? I have a Hayward SP716 assembly. I have not been careful lately about spinning the lever in one consistant direction, and I can report that the rotation has felt different lately. I also have noticed that the basket on the pump is not staying filled. Could this be a symptom of the leaking valve siphoning water when the pump shuts off? With the pump running I do not see water moving in the sight glass. I also have not checked my drain line to see if there is water trickling there. Before I buy parts or have to think of worse case scenarios, I wanted to get some professional input first. Thanks for your help.
Jon
Thank you for contacting Inyo. Water could be leaking from the drain line if the spider gasket is bad. This would happen when the pump is running. The replacement spider gasket for your SP716 valve is part number 4701-10.
If the pump strainer is not staying full of water while the pump is running, you may have a suction side air leak. Listed below are a few sources for air leaks.
Pump lid O-rings are a habitual offender of air leaks. The O-ring can expand or deteriorate over time and allow air to enter the pump. You can try applying a silicone or Teflon lubricant to see if it helps, but often times it needs to be replaced.
Plumbing fittings will also draw air. A popular technician trick is to use burning incense. While the pump is running, wave the burning incense near suspected areas. The smoke will be drawn in, if there is a leak. Check the fitting on the pump intake, the couplings and elbows. Cut out and replace any fittings that have an air leak.
Valves can be inspected like the plumbing fittings. Diverter valves will usually have internal O-rings. These O-rings can easily be replaced to fix an air leak. Simple ball valves are not usually repairable and need to be replaced, if there is a leak.
Drain plugs are found on most pumps. These plugs are usually used to drain the pump when a pool is winterized. They should be tightened firmly into the pump. Inspect the drain plug and drain plug O-ring. Replace them if they look decrepit.