It appears that your browser has JavaScript disabled:
To provide the best experience on our website, we require your browser to have JavaScript enabled.
Here are the instructions for how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.
Once you've enabled Javascript, please refresh this page.

Or give us a call at 407-834-2200, and we would be happy to take your order by phone.

How to Identify and Correct Air Leaks

WRITTEN BY: patrick

3.48 out of 5 stars on 112 ratings
(Click on a star to add your rating)

If you are seeing a significant number of bubbles coming out of your return lines into the pool, you probably have an air leak in your filtration system. Possible sources of this problem are low pool water levels, leaks around the strainer lid, leaks in the unions or leaks in the pump seals. For optimum pool pump operation, the source of the leak must be identified and corrected.

Step by Step

Top

Step 1

Your swimming pool filtration system has two sections: the suction side (from the pool to the pump) and the discharge side (from the pump to the pool). Check the strainer pot of your pump. If you see a significant number of air bubbles moving through the strainer pot, you know that the air leak is somewhere on the suction side of the system plumbing before or at the pump.

Click Here to View Replacement Pool Pump Parts

Step 2

The ideal water level should be at least halfway up the skimmer intake. If the water level drops below that level, the skimmer can start to gulp air with the ebb and flow of circulating water.

This simple problem has a simple fix: add water. Drop in a hose, and get that water level up. Keep an eye on it in the future to prevent a reoccurrence. A simple add-on feature is water levelers, that make sure your water is always at optimal levels.

Step 3

Before we begin the actual inspection of the plumbing elements. Switch off the master breaker to your pool pump.

Release water pressure in the system using the air relief valve on your filter. The air relief is generally only found on Cartridge and De filters. Sand filters do not have this feature, so expect some splashing when accessing plumbing elements like the pump strainer lid, and unions.

Step 4

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

Step 5

Your pump housing’s drain plugs are often overlooked when diagnosing an air leak, but these little gasket-sealed ports cause havoc if the seal is broken. Use any of the air leak techniques mentioned above or do an eye inspection for a pinched or defective gasket.

Click Here to View Replacement Pump Parts

Step 6

If your pump strainer gasket wasn’t the issue, move forward to the pump union. Most pumps have a union on their intake, this allows for easy maintenance and removal. These unions have a single gasket that seals the cuff and screw on adapter. Most commonly these o-rings become pinched. Go through the checks of the o-ring mentioned in the previous step

Step 7

PVC plumbing glued joints like tees, elbows, and valve ports are another common culprit. The epoxy sealing these joints can become brittle and washout overtime. This can create a progressively worse and worse air leak leading to complete pump priming failure.

The smoke, soapy water, or shaving cream method is the standard way of finding these leaks. Repair can be as simple as adding a caulk patch. Or if you want to ensure a permanent fix, re-piping and gluing will be necessary.

Step 8

If your air leak problem only occurs when you attach your vacuum hose, then the issue maybe pinhole-sized leaks in one or multiple hose sections. To find and replace these hose section:

Disconnect all hose sections
Use tape or plugs to seal the end of each section
Submerge the hose section, while looking for any stray air bubbles coming from the body of the hose
Complete this for each hose section, replace the sections with holes

Click Here to View Replacement Vac Hoses

Step 9

If you still have a significant number of air bubbles coming out of your return lines into your swimming pool, you may have a bigger problem like leaks in your underground lines. Call a pool maintenance professional to help you isolate your problem.

Comments

Top

Add a Comment

(601 to 604 of 604)

InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 12/11/2010

It sounds like it is probably your pool pump bearings. Unfortunately, we do not have a step by step guide to help show you how to replace these. We will try to get a proper guide here in the future.
Reply

Anonymous Posted: 12/10/2010

SOME TIMES WHEN MY PUMP FIRST KICKS ON IT HAS A SQUEALING NOISE FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 SECONDS THEN STOPS AND MAYBE A FEW MORE SHORT TIMES. HELP ARE THERE BEARINGS TO BE REPLACED IF SO HOW CAN I DO IT?
Reply

InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 11/19/2010

Without looking at the pool pump my guess would be that you have a worn out gasket. We suggest that you check you pool pump gaskets to see if they are properly placed or worn out. If they are worn out you will need to purchase a new gasket or tune up kit / go-kit.
Reply

Anonymous Posted: 11/18/2010

I have a Hayward II Super pump and have a leak under the discharge part. Not where the actual pump is and not under the piece that goes into the pool. It started as a small leak but has grown worse. My pool was installed in 2006, so the pump isn't old. Any suggestions?
Reply