Why does my pool pump keep getting air?

Air bubbles in your pool mean that air is being sucked into the line on the suction side of the pump. The pool water level is too low. The strainer pot lid isn’t on tight or its O-ring is loose/absent/compromised. The union between the valves and the pump isn’t tight or its O-ring is loose/absent/compromised.

Where does the plumbing go in a pool skimmer?

This gives the pool builder some flexibility in how to connect the plumbing pipes underneath the skimmer. They can run a pipe from the main drain into the front hole of the skimmer, and then the back hole is the suction pipe that goes to the pool pump.This reduces costs, compared to running a separate main drain pipe, all the way back to the pump.

Why do I need an equalizer line for my pool skimmer?

The purpose of an equalizer line arrangement was to allow the skimmer to keep operating if the pool water level drops below the opening to the skimmer. A spring loaded valve was usually screwed into the front hole of the skimmer, on the pool side.

What happens if water level is too low in a skimmer?

Water level is too low, skimmer is sucking air. Solution: Raise the water level to mid-skimmer, or high enough so that a water vortex is not drawing in air to the pipe. Skimmer weir is stuck, or objects are stuck in skimmer throat. Solution: Skimmer weirs can start to stick if the skimmer walls bow inward.

How do you winterize an inground pool skimmer?

To winterize this common skimmer plumbing style, connect an air hose and your Cyclone blower into the open skimmer pipe (usually the rear hole). Blow air from the skimmer to the pump. If you have more than one skimmer, turn the valves at the pump in such a way to direct air back to the second skimmer.

How does a skimmer hook up to a pool pump?

In this way, the two skimmer pipes connect underground with a Tee fitting, and then one pipe runs back to the pump. Because the main drain is not tied into the skimmer in this set-up, pool systems using this configuration usually also have a separate valve to control a separate main drain line that runs from the pool to the pump.

What causes a suction side air leak on a skimmer?

I have a suction side air leak when I open the valve for the skimmer. The skimmer also is where I attach my vacuum and that is really when I notice the pump basket really empty out.

What to do if your Skimmer line is leaking?

Support TFP with a donation. try rigging a way to pressure test (low pressure) the skimmer line section. and keep the dug out filled with water just to see if any air bubbles are noted, although you seem to have ruled that out already. good luck. Click to expand…

Why is my pool skimmer line not priming?

What happens in most cases is that the debris will clog the line and cause an air pocket to form. This will then prevent the pump from priming in that clogged mode since the pump cannot pull the pool water through the pipes.