Air Bubbles While Vacuuming

by Greg
(ny,ny)

I have an above ground pool and the filter is running fine. When I go to vacuum and place the skimmer lid to create suction I begin getting air bubbles from the return in about 1 minute, then I lose suction.

What is causing this?



Hi Greg. Placing the lid into the skimmer creates more suction in other places. A small air leak under normal circumstances become much larger with this added suction. The air is probably coming in through the lid of the hair and lint pot. To fix this it could be lubricated and possibly tightened more. Worst case would be it needs to be replace. Sometimes replacing the lid is enough, other times the entire pot needs replaced.

It could also be air coming in from a loose hose clamp or a small hole in a flex hose. You need to inspect everything between the front of the pump and the skimmer.

If the air bubbles begin after the hose is hooked up that usually means the hose was not properly primed with water. I hold the hose over the return and blow water through it before hooking it up to the skimmer.