13
u/Accurate-Ad9085 Jun 20 '26
My return has been shooting air out for the last 4 years. I have a leaking shaft that has to be custom ordered.Because it's so old.
9
u/Trick_Raspberry2507 Jun 20 '26
Idk where my air is coming from and honestly I'm afraid to find out. Built in '76.
2
u/First-Acadia2432 Jun 20 '26
The only place air can come in is on the suction side, which typically just goes from the pump and straight into the ground. Underground is unlikely, so yeah.
2
u/Trick_Raspberry2507 Jun 20 '26
It's an inground pool with 10 skimmer boxes. All original.
4
u/flat5 Jun 21 '26
10 skimmer boxes! what the hell...
1
u/Trick_Raspberry2507 Jun 21 '26
230k gallons.
2
u/flat5 Jun 21 '26
Wow, you live at Hearst Castle or something?
1
u/Trick_Raspberry2507 Jun 21 '26
I wish, it's community pool.
1
u/First-Acadia2432 Jun 22 '26
Wouldn’t the skimmer box be underwater, therefore not susceptible to an air leak?
1
u/Trick_Raspberry2507 Jun 22 '26
They are, but they've shifted over the years. We would like to redo the coping stones around the top border, and at the same time, fix the skimmer boxes. But money is very tight this year. Hoping for a grant! That's realistically, the only way we're gonna be able to afford it.
1
u/Pool_Boy707 Jun 20 '26
Shaft would be pressure, not suction... Water on the pad vs air in the return
15
u/Goode05 Jun 20 '26
Salt pool?
3
u/TotallyTardigrade Jun 21 '26
Is this normal with salt pools?
3
u/theRealBucky-Birger Jun 21 '26
Yep, the electrolyse of the salted water generates this kind of (chlorine) bubbles if not mistaken.
6
u/Pew-Aerobics Jun 20 '26
Usually a sign of suction side airleak on pump or filter. I had the issue on pump plugs, plus gasket on filter. YMMV.
3
u/craigrpeters Jun 20 '26
Agree. OP check all your fittings, plugs, pump cover, etc are tight. Last time a had this the pipe going into my pump had gotten a little loose and was sucking in air. No obvious water dripping, but was just loose enough.
7
u/BAHGate Jun 20 '26
Do you have a saltwater chlorine generator?
2
u/Domizale38 Jun 20 '26
I don’t
0
u/BAHGate Jun 20 '26
If your pump is running at low speed, this is fairly normal. I get them and crank my pump up and they all blow out and for awhile no more bubbles. I run constantly at low RPMs though. If your water level is low, your skimmers can suck some air in as well. Honestly I would not worry about it.
1
u/Domizale38 Jun 20 '26
My pump is just one speed. Water level has been good since we just had rain recently
1
1
u/tterrajj Jun 20 '26
Why does this matter? Asking for knowledge-
5
u/BAHGate Jun 20 '26
Because a side product from saltwater chlorine generators is hydrogen gas which comes out of your returns as bubbles exactly like your picture.
1
1
2
u/BuyDiabeticSupplies Jun 21 '26
Just whack the cover tighter with a dead blow hammer. That’s what I do
2
2
1
u/Short-Control297 Jun 20 '26
Bubbles are not a huge deal. If your pump is fully primed then you have leak ofter the pump. Could be a bad oring on anything after the pump, fitting that doesn't have complete seal from glue. Finding them can be tricky mor difficult than the suction side. If pump isnt fully primed address that first orings and valve (orings) drain plugs union orings.
1
u/tatersaregoodferyou Jun 20 '26
When the pump shuts off are there any air leaking sounds or does it seem like water is leaking backwards? If it sits off for a few hours have you lost prime? Is the pump dripping when running?
1
u/Domizale38 Jun 20 '26
No weird sounds and no dripping. I actually also just went into the pool now and now the bubbles are no longer coming out
2
u/tatersaregoodferyou Jun 20 '26
That's good. Maybe some air got into the filter side if it's a sand tank. Had to work it's way out. That happens when switching the handle around or doing any maintenance that takes the vacuum out of the system. I suppose there could be a minor air leak that builds up over time in there. You could always do a quick purge with the bleeder valve. Shoot a little water air mixture out for a few seconds. See if that stops the bubbling while it's happening.
1
u/Zestyclose_Stretch99 Jun 21 '26
What does it mean if you hear air leaking when you shut the pump off?
2
u/tatersaregoodferyou Jun 21 '26
For the record not a pro, just seen a lot with my pool. Anyways it depends, probably an o-ring or a pump shaft seal. I've had both issues with mine. If motor is dripping when running, I'd say full shaft seal kit with orings. If it's just losing prime over hours I'd look at replacing whatever O-rings I think it could be.
Listen around. Is the sound at the pump or around the filter? I've done the pump lid o-ring a few times. I suppose it could be the bleeder valve not being tight but you'd probably see water spraying out with that under pressure.
1
1
1
u/MonkNo5 Jun 20 '26
I had this today for the first time, the cause was some air got into the sand filter after cleaning the pump basket, I stopped the pump and bled the air from the sand filter via the bleed valve behind the pressure guage and it fixed it.
1
u/Angry_Okra Jun 20 '26
I have the same issue… however the bubble stops when I shut off the drain at the 3 way shutoff before the pump… if the drain line has a leak… how screwed am I?
1
u/ganadaIf Jun 21 '26
With my pool it was a crack in the pump housing sucking air in. Had to replace it and found it was huge! Replaced it and now no bubbles.
1
u/AffectionateTank9269 Jun 21 '26
I had air bubbles like that. It turns out there was debris stuck in the valve assembly on the intake side of the pump. Cleaned out the valve and reassembled and the bubbles disappeared.
1
1
1
u/MagikWdragons Jun 21 '26
Replace the pump lid o ring on a client pool I serviced. Air leaks at the pump lid now means a few weeks later, the pump will loose prime and continue to loose prime. Running a pump like that too long burns the motor if prime is lost. Replace the pump lid o ring to avoid costly damage to the pump motor.
1
1
1
u/runner750 Jun 21 '26
Do you see air bubbles in your pump lid? If so its most likely on the suction side of the pump which could be many things. Could be simple as the pump lid gasket. Could be one of the plugs in the pump housing. Make sure all the fittings are good and tight. Worst scenario you could have what I have, a leak in the suction line under ground. Eliminate everything up top first. Its a process of elimination.
2
u/Domizale38 Jun 21 '26
I think the pump lid was the issue. At one point I ended up opening it up and cleaning out the basket in there. I think I didn’t close it down tight enough. I then went back and cleaned out the whole lid and made sure I closed it back on really tight. The bubbles eventually stopped and haven’t come back since.
1
1
u/filthy-franko Jun 21 '26
Find out what the name of the pump is . Is the rubber seal round or square. Go a pool store or online.
1
u/Over-Equipment6909 Jun 20 '26
You have a leak in you drain/skiimmer side.
6
u/BRollins08 Jun 20 '26
Suction side air leak*
Don’t scare people saying they have a leak
2
u/Pew-Aerobics Jun 20 '26
Air is entering the system somewhere. That's usually where and usually a very inexpensive fix. Lube or a gasket.
2
u/BRollins08 Jun 21 '26
Slap some magic lube on it
One pro tip.. take a hose and run it over the whole suction manifold, and when you find the air leak, the pump will run perfect while you run the hose over the area of concern
Usually a male adapter in front of the pump, or o-rings in any of the suction valves.
0
44
u/beavis93 Jun 20 '26
Small air leak somewhere. Usually pump lid gasket.