Think you might have some air in your Scottsdale swimming pool’s pump system? The majority of the time you’ll be able to tell rather fast if you have any air penetrating your pump’s system, and then you can get to work on having it repaired. You see, there are actually quite a few giveaways:
1) The filter pressure isn’t as high as it normally is. In some of the more out there instances, if there is no water there might not be any pressure in the slightest.
2) Yes, bubbles. When you start the equipment you can often see bubbles for as long as a minute or so. If you still see bubbles after that point you have some air coming in.
Try to liken your pool pump to a vacuum. The job here is to make the water go from the swimming pool over to the pool equipment. It is always pumping water, which is where it gets its name.
Now, if you get any air going into that whole system, well this can cause quite a bit of damage on the equipment itself. Particularly, the motor for the whole thing.
After all, pumps are made to pump water, and only water. They aren’t setup to be pumping air all the time.
If you have a pool pump that is running without water in it for a long time it can actually burn up, which can cost a pretty penny to get replaced. Not exactly an excellent scenario by anyone’s standards.
Now, if the pressure for your pool filter isn’t running as high as it should be, or there isn’t any pressure, well then there are a few things to look out for, too.
1) Be sure to look at the water level to the pool. If you don’t have any water going to the skimmer then you don’t have any water going to the pool equipment. Fairly clear, but I see it on a regular basis.
2) Examine the pool for any cracks in the pump lid. Even a tiny break can cause air to go into the system. When there’s a crack, do not attempt to repair it…just replace it. They are comparatively cheap.
3) Examine the pump lid o ring. Any sort of crack or rip can cause air to go into the system. Again, do not attempt to “rig” it to repair the problem.
4) Assess your pool for any wiggle room in the pump nipple area. This is actually the segment of the plumbing that enters the pump. If there is any wiggle room, any at all, this may cause air to go into the system. No good at all.
While this is a job that many people can do themselves, we here at Aquaman Pools understand that it isn’t for everyone. If it isn’t for you, then be sure to call us at any time and we’ll be there to help.
5) Take a look around for any fractures in the skimmer. This could cause air to go into the system. This is something that is pretty uncommon, but it does occur – and it is not a pretty scenario. Just like a home settles into the ground because of its massive weight, so does a pool. Through time, it’s going to settle and move a bit.
And there it is, the top 5 causes of air going into a pool’s pump system. There are others, but they are so uncommon I will not be addressing them in this particular post.
Just as your car needs some basic regular maintenance, so does your swimming pool. Since they are often similarly priced investments, doesn’t it make sense to take care of them both on a regular basis? Treat it to a fundamental care regiment and you will save yourself lots of money and probably prevent most, if not all, important repairs. If you need some help, then be sure to get in touch with us to learn more about our amazing pool service. The number is (480) 243-7665, so don’t be a stranger!
