To keep the water in your swimming pool both clean and safe, your pool pump has to be functioning properly. It is, however, very common for too much air to enter the swimming pool pump and when this happens, the pump’s functionality usually gets compromised.
To restore the pump into its normal operating condition, you need to know how to get the air out of the pool pump. In addition to helping you get the air out of the pool pump, this article will show you how to find air leaks in the pool pump.
A Step by Step Guide on How to Get Air Out of Pool Pump
If you have noticed a significant amount of air in your inground or above ground pool pump, you should follow the steps below to learn how to get the air out of the pool pump:
1. Turn Off Power
The first thing you will need to do is turn off the power to your swimming pool pump and pool heater. If you have installed a pool cleaning pump, be sure to turn off power to the pump too.
2. Open the Air Release Valve
Rotate the air relief valve – which is located on top of the pool filter canister – anticlockwise. This should open the valve. After opening the air release valve, be sure to close the skimmer valves while leaving the main drain valve open.
3. Open the Swimming Pool Pump Strainer Box Cover
The pool pump strainer box is usually secured by 2 knurled knobs. Once you open it, verify that water is present in the pump basket. If there is no water in the pump basket, use your garden hose to fill the strainer with water.
4. Check for Cracks on the Pump Cover Gasket
After checking for the cracks, simply lubricate the gasket using petroleum jelly and then reinstall the cover. Be sure to hand-tighten all the cover knobs. After doing this, go ahead and turn the filter multiport valve to the filter setting.
5. Restore Pump Power
In step one, we had advised you to turn off the pump power. After step 4, you will need to turn the power back on. Next, open the pool skimmer valve gradually. As you do this, you should be able to see bubbles discharging from the pool return as the air gets forced out of the line and into the swimming pool water.
6. Observe the Air Relief Valve
Observe the air relief valve present on top of the filter canister. You should hear the sound of air as it escapes while the system fills with water. When the pool water starts spurting out of the relief valve, turn it clockwise – this will close it. After closing the air relief valve, you can go ahead and turn on your pool heater and pool cleaning pump.
How To Find Air Leak In Pool Pump
Now that you are familiar with how to get the air out of the pool pump, we will go ahead and show you how to find air leaks in the pool pump. After all, air leaks are the reason air ends up in your pool pump. To determine the sources of air leaks, you will need to do the following:
Check the Water Level
If the water level is too low, the pool skimmers may start gulping air in together with the water. In general, the water level should lie between ½ and ¾ up your skimmer opening – this will eliminate the possibility of taking any air from the pool.
If you determine that the water level goes down quickly, there is a possibility that your pool may have a water leak. Locating and fixing the pool leak can help eliminate the water level issues.
Look for Compromises in the Pump Lid
This can be anything from an overstretched O-ring to a split or cracked lid. These issues could be causing air to enter the pump. If the O-ring or pump lid is compromised, replacing it can help you eliminate the air leaks.
Check for Movements on the Plumbing
When learning how to find an air leak in the pool pump, most beginners tend to ignore the plumbing. This is never a good idea considering that even a small movement to the fitting at the pool pump can bring in tons of air.
If you inspect your plumbing and determine that there is some movement, the best thing to do is to tighten or replace the fitting. If you are not confident that you can fix the fitting, you can consider working with a professional pool service provider.
Check Glued Joints
When checking the plumbing, do not ignore glued joints like valve ports, elbows, and tees. The epoxy sealing these joints can become brittle and can easily wash out over time. This can easily create progressively worse air leaks. If you determine that the glued joints are the culprits, re-piping and gluing may be an ideal solution.
Inspect the Skimmer for Cracks
If your swimming pool is old, there is a possibility that the reason you have air leaks is the skimmer having some cracks. Cracks on the skimmer can be detected using pool leak detection dye. The dye is usually loaded in small syringes and then slowly squirted into the skimmer while the pool pump is turned off. If the skimmer has some cracks in it, you should be able to see the dye leave the skimmer wall through the cracks.
If your skimmer has some minor cracks, you can fix these using a high-quality epoxy that works underwater. If the skimmer has significant damage, you may need to buy a new pool skimmer to replace the old one.
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Check for Cracked Lines Between the Pump and Skimmer
In some instances, though very rarely, cracked lines could be the reason you have air leaks. The pressurization test is generally used by professionals to determine whether the swimming pool has cracked lines. To conduct this test, you may need to work with professional pool service providers.
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Having air in the pool pump can easily make the entire pool plumbing less effective. By following the steps outlined above, understanding how to get the air out of the pool pump should be extremely easy for you. Once you remove the air from the pump, you must determine how the air got in your system in the first place. Above, we have also shown you how to find an air leak in the pool pump.