When filling a spa for the first time, or upon refilling the spa after draining it, the main circulation pump that brings water in through the filter and skimmer and routes it through the heater and to the jets, may not prime properly. The valve may not be fully clicked into the position and the inside of the valve is leaking to another port. You can close the valve now. Dreaming about Swimming Pools – What does it mean? The vacuum hose may have a split or leak at the end where it is exposed to the air and is drawing air into the pump. A pool skimmer is a plastic box fitting with a rectangular opening built into the side wall of the pool. Check the pressure gauge. Cartridge filter tanks have a screw on lid that allows easy access to the filter cartridge for removal and cleaning. Once the hot tub is full, and before you turn on the power, “bleed” the pump to further reduce the risk of air: Turn the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) off manually. Hi. Follow these stepsTurn off the power supply of your sand filter. Using the above pool pump troubleshooting tips above you should be able to remove all the air from your swimming pool pump. That one was easy because the spa is located close to the level of the pump, and there’s not a lot of air trapped in there. The pump basket lid is a clear plastic screw on lid that allows easy access to the pump basket. Now the reading on the filter pressure gauge should be back in the normal operating range. Check the pressure gauge again. I could remove the actuator and turn it manually, by removing these 4 screws, but I’ll just flip the little switch here, for just a second, and then back to center. Once the pump is switched on the trapped air will be compressed at the top of the tank. Spray soapy water over the suspected leak when the pump is running to check if soap suds are drawn into the valve. Generally characterized by noisy operation, and excessive vibration, air inside a pump can have some seriously undesired results. Drain King will also help you locate air leaks, when you pressurize the suction pipes, up to the impeller. I have to have goggles and mask on to open it. Any void on the pressure side will leak water when the pump is on, while a void on the suction side will suck air into the system. And now it releases very strong chemical smells when I open it. If you have any questions or would like to know more information, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If the hose has a leak it’s time to replace it. My water is oxygen injected before passing throug Be ready for a hiss of compressed air. Had the impeller(?) 2. Our team of pool & spa experts have only one goal. You should find the pressure reading to be btw 1-10 PSI... Keep the filter on and check on top of the … See you next time! I filled the pump up and did the usual "crack the fittings open" to bleed the air out thing, while keeping the pump fluid properly filled. The system loses efficiency and operates with reduced performance resulting in less than clean pool water. Plow lifts and lowers perfectly, and angles left perfect....but when angling right, the pump runs for a second or two before the blade moves. Just replaced pump, filter, and sand. Also, does the pump have any air leaks, around the pump lid, or the pipe coming into the pump? Without water the pump will over-heat and burn out. There may be a tiny split or tear in the gasket which would need to be replaced. The gauge reading should be back in the normal pressure range for your type of filter. Here it comes, it’s managing it, but if it starts to bog down too much here, then I will close the valve again, but it’s slowly introducing the air. Some of those pumps sound like they’re not catching prime, however. Run the filter and open the air relief valve on top of the filter. When air is in the filtration system it becomes trapped and compressed at the top of the filter tank. Tighten pump lid very firmly, and open the nearest skimmer valve. Changed the o-ring and pressure gauge. These programs are designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees to fund the operation of the site. Always ensure the lid is screwed on properly and is air tight. Next, if your filter has a bleeder valve (usually at the top of the filter) open this while the filter and pump are running until water spits out of the valve and then … Air locks often occur when air enters the central heating system and gets trapped in the pump. So frustrated. Are you putting chlorine tablets in the skimmer? BLEEDING THE AIR OUT OF THE LINES: After starting the … Water may dribble out (it will not squirt out ) and you may get air first. My water is oxygen injected before passing through a filter and softener, and so there's a lot of air in the pool water right now. When you are opening the pool for the summer season you need to remove air in the system to prime the pump. Here are the most common reasons for air becoming trapped in the pool filter. Please read our article on How to Prepare Your Pool for Winter. (Place multiport valve on closed, or put a plug in the front of the pump, or “dead-head” the return side valves (turn the valve backwards to block flow). A pump valve or multiport valve with a worn gasket seal may allow air into the system. What I'm noticing is that the pump is filling up with air - within 5 minutes of running I can tell the difference in sound, stop the pump and open the air release valve and air hisses out for 10-15 seconds. This air bleed socket kit is designed to use with Pentair Clean & Clear, Predator and Warrior pool and spa filters. Unfasten the pool pump strainer box cover. Unable to get pump to prime. Oops! If there is water dripping from a join then that indicates there is a leak. These leaks are difficult to detect as air is sucked inwards rather than pushed outwards. When the reading is high it indicates there is air trapped in the system. And then, after the pump is started up on one skimmer, you have to “bleed-in” the other lines very slowly, pulling in the air, bubble by bubble. The trapped air will then reduce the rate at which water flows through the pump. Is the threaded fitting or union in front of the pump sealed with thread sealant, and tight? A filter tank leak will not cause air to trap in the filter but water will leak from the filter tank. When vacuuming the pool you may have inadvertently introduced an air pocket when connecting the vacuum hose to the skimmer box plate or pipe. A leak may be caused if the lid is not screwed up tight or the lid seal gasket is worn. there will be an arrow cast into the side of the pump at the pipes end. Reattached piping. If pump does not catch in 30-90 seconds, repeat steps 2-5. When priming issues are really hard, I like to use a Drain King, attached to a garden hose, in the skimmer, to help prime the pump. To help you more easily care for your pool and spa. Central heating pump humming noises are most commonly caused by an airlock – when air builds up in the pump and causes a blockage. Hot Tub Air Lock Pump Hot Tub Airlock - Pump Won't Work. Learn how to bleed air from your pool filter by running the pump and opening the pressure relief valve located at the top of the tank. Inspect and Replace Parts. Spray soapy water over the valve when the pump is running to check if soap suds are drawn into the valve. When the pump is operating the weir flap is drawn open and pool water flows into the skimmer box. Note: Never let the skimmer box run dry as this will damage your pump motor. Found blockage in skimmer to pump line. Many pool pumps nowadays are self-priming, meaning that they can automatically generate water flow after turning on, even if there are significant amounts of air in the system. Ensure the skimmer flap is clean and free of debris to operate correctly. Gauge stays at zero. To do this, cut end off air bleed valve with a sharp hacksaw. There is a tiny leak in the join and the pump pressure sucks in air through the leaking joiner. For this, you have to open the two knobs present diagonally to each other. Restore power to the pump and turn on the pump system. After a long winter of water evacuated pipes, it can take some finesse to bleed the air out of the pipes and system, and get the pump to “catch prime”, or operate at full pressure and water volume. The pool water level determines how effectively the skimmer box cleans the surface of the pool. Oops, that’s a little too much, so I’m closing the skimmer valve again – but now it’s popped up again, so now I’m slowly opening the skimmer valve, just by millimeters, I’m just turning this valve by millimeters – to slowly introduce the air that is trapped in the skimmer pipe. Clean the pump strainer basket properly to remove all the collected debris. As the percentage of gas by volume increases, the performance of the pump decreases. This can be done each day for the first few days or periodically checked. Whether it’s your first pool or you have owned a pool for years we hope that you find everything on our site that you need to know to maintain and enjoy your pool, spa or hot tub. Find the valve on top of the pool filter. Connect PVC drain tube to air bleed valve after activation. You may notice excessive readings that suggest an issue with your system.