Air Bubbles In Your Pool Might Look Cool, But It's A Problem You Should Take Care Of
Maybe you've already designed the pool backyard of your dreams. You've spent time selecting the right fibreglass pool, on the backyard landscaping, as well as on your patio. Everything should be perfect, except you've been noticing that there are air bubbles that are shooting out from the returns situated on the walls of your pool. These air bubbles can look cool, but they're actually a serious problem.
Don’t worry if you see air bubbles though, as it’s a common problem that many pool owners face. You’re more likely to encounter this problem at the start of the pool season when you’re getting ready to reopen your pool. Seeing a few air bubbles here and there, especially around the pool pump, isn’t abnormal. If there’s a lot of churning sound as well as air bubbles coming from your pool pump. Then you might need to call in a professional to repair it.
What you should know about your pool pump
It’s important to have a basic idea of how your pool pump actually works. Your pool pump is responsible for drawing in water from the pool skimmers, which are located on the walls of your pool. It also draws in water from the main drains, which are located on the floor of the pool.
Your pool pump has a strainer pot that catches large debris. Once the water has gone through the strainer pot, it heads towards an impeller. This impeller then pushes the water towards the filter. Your fibreglass pool could have a cartridge filter, a diatomaceous earth filter, or a sand filter. Irrespective of the kind of filter your pool pump uses, it will remove dirt and debris from the water that is passing through it.
After the water is properly filtered, it can flow through other components. These include a pool heater or a chiller, where you have one. If you have a salt generator, then it will head there as well. When the water is finally clean, the return jets are used to bring the water back to the pool.
But what does all this have to do with air bubbles?
Seeing air bubbles in your pool?
When you see air bubbles in your pool, then this can indicate that air is entering through the pool pump’s suction side. Say you’ve just opened your pool for the season. You’re preparing your filter system. Usually, if you find an issue, it will be with your above-ground plumbing and not the plumbing you have underground.
It’s also easier to fix issues that are above the ground as there’s no digging up involved.
What causes air bubbles in your pool?
When you see air bubbles in your fibreglass pool, then this usually means that air has been sucked in through the suction side of your pool pump. This could happen due to a few issues, which include:
- The water level in the pool is too low
- Your strainer pit shouldn’t be on too tight, also check to see if anything is wrong with the O-ring
- Check the union that’s present between the pump and its valves, to see if it’s properly tight
These could be the issues that you face:
The water level
The first thing you’ll need to do is check the water level of the pool, especially when compared to the pool skimmers. In case the water level is lower, the pool skimmer will end up sucking in the air. This air will then be sent to the pool pump.
So what exactly is the right level of your water for your pool? Ideally, the water in your pool should reach up to three-fourths of the pool skimmer. Since you have a fibreglass pool, you should be careful to never drain it. If you do, then you could end up voiding your warranty. It could also cause damage to your pool.
Check the strainer lid
After you’ve checked the water level and found that it isn’t the problem, then the issue can be the strainer lid. Your pool’s strainer lid should always be tightly closed. If it isn’t, then air can enter through the lid and into the pool pump. Also, ensure that you check the O-ring. You’ll be able to find the O-ring, under your strainer lid. Do the following:
- First, turn off your pool pump.
- Then, remove the strainer lid.
- Examine the O-ring to determine what condition it’s in.
- Ensure that the O-ring is in a position where it’s seated.
- There should not be any debris or grit that’s obstructing the lid and preventing it from closing properly.
Check the valve union
Finally, you’ll also need to check the valve union that’s between your pool pump as well as the valves. Most often, this is what is causing air bubbles that appear in your pool. This is the part where the plumbing of the pool is taken apart, so missteps are not uncommon.
There’s also an O-ring in the valve union, that you’ll need to check. This is how you do this:
- First, you’ll need to turn your pool pump off
- Then, you’ll need to remove a nut that’s on top of the union
- Examine the O-ring to ensure that it’s working properly
- Also ensure that this O-ring is properly seated within the groove, located within the union
- There should also not be any debris that’s preventing this union from properly closing
Conclusion
If you see air bubbles in your fibreglass pool, then don’t panic. The first thing you’ll need to do is determine what is causing the air bubbles to appear. Often, the issue is something that you can resolve by yourself, and you won’t need professional help.
This guide helps you learn the three common reasons that could cause air bubbles to form in your pool, as well as what you can do to resolve the problem. Whether it’s the water level of your pool or the O-ring that’s causing the problem, this guide should be able to help you get rid of those air bubbles.
Air Bubbles In Your Pool Might Look Cool, But It's A Problem You Should Take Care Of
Maybe you've already designed the pool backyard of your dreams. You've spent time selecting the right fibreglass pool, on the backyard landscaping, as well as on your patio. Everything should be perfect, except you've been noticing that there are air bubbles that are shooting out from the returns situated on the walls of your pool. These air bubbles can look cool, but they're actually a serious problem.
Don’t worry if you see air bubbles though, as it’s a common problem that many pool owners face. You’re more likely to encounter this problem at the start of the pool season when you’re getting ready to reopen your pool. Seeing a few air bubbles here and there, especially around the pool pump, isn’t abnormal. If there’s a lot of churning sound as well as air bubbles coming from your pool pump. Then you might need to call in a professional to repair it.
What you should know about your pool pump
It’s important to have a basic idea of how your pool pump actually works. Your pool pump is responsible for drawing in water from the pool skimmers, which are located on the walls of your pool. It also draws in water from the main drains, which are located on the floor of the pool.
Your pool pump has a strainer pot that catches large debris. Once the water has gone through the strainer pot, it heads towards an impeller. This impeller then pushes the water towards the filter. Your fibreglass pool could have a cartridge filter, a diatomaceous earth filter, or a sand filter. Irrespective of the kind of filter your pool pump uses, it will remove dirt and debris from the water that is passing through it.
After the water is properly filtered, it can flow through other components. These include a pool heater or a chiller, where you have one. If you have a salt generator, then it will head there as well. When the water is finally clean, the return jets are used to bring the water back to the pool.
But what does all this have to do with air bubbles?
Seeing air bubbles in your pool?
When you see air bubbles in your pool, then this can indicate that air is entering through the pool pump’s suction side. Say you’ve just opened your pool for the season. You’re preparing your filter system. Usually, if you find an issue, it will be with your above-ground plumbing and not the plumbing you have underground.
It’s also easier to fix issues that are above the ground as there’s no digging up involved.
What causes air bubbles in your pool?
When you see air bubbles in your fibreglass pool, then this usually means that air has been sucked in through the suction side of your pool pump. This could happen due to a few issues, which include:
- The water level in the pool is too low
- Your strainer pit shouldn’t be on too tight, also check to see if anything is wrong with the O-ring
- Check the union that’s present between the pump and its valves, to see if it’s properly tight
These could be the issues that you face:
The water level
The first thing you’ll need to do is check the water level of the pool, especially when compared to the pool skimmers. In case the water level is lower, the pool skimmer will end up sucking in the air. This air will then be sent to the pool pump.
So what exactly is the right level of your water for your pool? Ideally, the water in your pool should reach up to three-fourths of the pool skimmer. Since you have a fibreglass pool, you should be careful to never drain it. If you do, then you could end up voiding your warranty. It could also cause damage to your pool.
Check the strainer lid
After you’ve checked the water level and found that it isn’t the problem, then the issue can be the strainer lid. Your pool’s strainer lid should always be tightly closed. If it isn’t, then air can enter through the lid and into the pool pump. Also, ensure that you check the O-ring. You’ll be able to find the O-ring, under your strainer lid. Do the following:
- First, turn off your pool pump.
- Then, remove the strainer lid.
- Examine the O-ring to determine what condition it’s in.
- Ensure that the O-ring is in a position where it’s seated.
- There should not be any debris or grit that’s obstructing the lid and preventing it from closing properly.
Check the valve union
Finally, you’ll also need to check the valve union that’s between your pool pump as well as the valves. Most often, this is what is causing air bubbles that appear in your pool. This is the part where the plumbing of the pool is taken apart, so missteps are not uncommon.
There’s also an O-ring in the valve union, that you’ll need to check. This is how you do this:
- First, you’ll need to turn your pool pump off
- Then, you’ll need to remove a nut that’s on top of the union
- Examine the O-ring to ensure that it’s working properly
- Also ensure that this O-ring is properly seated within the groove, located within the union
- There should also not be any debris that’s preventing this union from properly closing
Conclusion
If you see air bubbles in your fibreglass pool, then don’t panic. The first thing you’ll need to do is determine what is causing the air bubbles to appear. Often, the issue is something that you can resolve by yourself, and you won’t need professional help.
This guide helps you learn the three common reasons that could cause air bubbles to form in your pool, as well as what you can do to resolve the problem. Whether it’s the water level of your pool or the O-ring that’s causing the problem, this guide should be able to help you get rid of those air bubbles.
