How to Manually Vacuum a Pool that has a Vacuum Leak (Suction Leak)
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2016
- In this video I cover how to vacuum a pool that has a vacuum leak, known also as a suction leak. If air is entering the filtration system, this causes the pump to lose prime when you connect a manual vacuum or automatic cleaner to the skimmer. The vacuum leak introduces air into what should be a closed system creating a loss of suction.
Some of the tell tale signs of a vacuum leak are that there is air coming out of the pool return lines constantly while the pool is running, sometimes air will come out of the return lines for the first couple of minutes and then stop. But with a vacuum leak air will come out of the line all the time. When you connect an automatic cleaner or a manual vacuum hose, the pool will lose prime.
One of the problems with a vacuum leak is that the air in the system will cause the pool pump to prime slowly (usually it primes) and a vacuum leak makes it nearly impossible to manually vacuum a pool and will cause your automatic cleaner to work poorly, if at all.
With the air in the system the skimmer will work fine in most cases. It will continue to pull water in at a good velocity and you generally don't have any real issues with a vacuum leak causing the pool not to run, unless the air leak is really large. But when you connect 50 ft of additional hose to manually vacuum your pool, the pump will loss it's prime completely.
Because of the air in the system the pump cannot pull the water the extra 50 ft and the pump will lose prime. Disconnect the manual vacuum hose and the pool primes back up in about 30 seconds. Connect the hose and the pool will lose it's prime again. This can be very frustrating, especially if the pool needs a good vacuuming.
The end all solution would be to fix the vacuum leak. Usually it is the pump lid o-ring, a bad union or a leaking PVC joint. But sometimes it is harder to isolate and the problem will persist for a long period of time. In the meantime to pool is getting dirty. You can of course spend $800 and get a good robotic cleaner that does not require your pool pump and filter, which would solve the problem but is expensive.
Another option is this little trick I have come up with which works in most cases, unless the vacuum leak is just severe. You can use an automatic cleaner skimmer regulator valve to “trick” the vacuum leak. The automatic cleaner skimmer regulator can be adjusted so that while a vacuum hose is connected, some of the suction can still come from the skimmer. So you can vacuum the pool slowly and the pump will hold most of it's prime.
The suction will be pretty weak, but if you move slowly and carefully you can vacuum a pool effectively. I suggest using a heavy vacuum head like the one I use in the video. Here is the link to it and a video on it.
Pentair R201276 Pro Vac #214 Commercial Vac Head - Review: • Pentair R201276 Pro Va...
Pro Vac Link: www.amazon.com/Pentair-R20127...
If you are a pool service professional this trick will come in handy on your pool route if you cannot isolate or fix the vacuum leak in a timely manner, which happens.
Here are some links for the three parts to connect the vacuum to the skimmer:
Hayward AXV092 Automatic Pool Cleaner Hose Connector: www.amazon.com/PoolSupplyTown...
Pool Cleaner Skimmer Cone Adaptor for Zodiac Baracuda Valve Cuff W70263 W63900: www.amazon.com/Cleaner-Skimme...
Skimmer Universal Cleaner Regulator Valve: www.amazon.com/dp/B004VJSQUC/...
So this won't solve the problem but it will allow you to at least manually vacuum a pool with a vacuum leak, slowly and effectively.
Outro Video links:
Maintain and Service A Swimming Pool: A Step By Step Guide: • How to Maintain and Se...
Poolman Tips and Tricks: For Pool Service Professionals and DIY Homeowners: • Poolman Tips and Trick...
Visit my Website: www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
CZcams Video Index - A list of all of my videos:poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/...
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my pool is sucking a lot of air. The pool runs fine with air coming out of the returns continuously. When I plug in a pool vacuum ( the hose is only 25 feet) the pump has a little bit of trouble but still pulls water. When it rain the air goes away for 2 hours after it stops raining. I think it the jandy valve in the front of the pump for the cleaner. The pump loses prime when I connect a cleaner to the side port. When I pour water in the pump, some or the air goes a way with the cleaner connected. Is there a way to test to see if it is leaking from the jandy valve?
David can you use the vacuum on a fiberglass pool? Thanks Nikki in Arkansas
Yes. I use it all the time in fiberglass pools - it is really heavy so perfect for the slick surface.
FYI: The pool that I show in the first clips is a fiberglass pool
What can be used since the Skimmer Universal Cleaner Regulator Valve is no longer available in the link above?
Try this one: Hayward V094P Automatic Pool Cleaner Regulator Valve for All Hayward Suction Cleaners
@@SPL Thank you
What happen to the dorado installation
It's coming soon. I keep some videos unlisted so I can release them later.
The only problem I see with pool hacks is pool owners see the pool running (with air or not) then they don’t care. If there are pool hacks for suction leaks they will use that and keep it like that.
True.
3:53
thanks my friend, your video series has been extremely valuable to me over the years...one quick question if you have time: what is the amount of vacuum pressure in the skimmer that would be considered normal for a creepy to function? my creepy stopped working and i was wondering if my vacuum pressure is light. it seems really good just from feel. the pump primes quickly ...so maybe i need a new creepy vacuum or hoses? thanks again.
It's possible the cleaner itself has an issue. It is the old Keepy or the new updated version?
@@SPL yeah, its an old zodiac creepy that came with our pool 15 years ago...i replaced the diaphram piece in head part but no go...i'm thinking possibly the hoses them self may be the culprit now... its almost 16 years old and used to jump around like a champ...i swear the dam thing used to have so much power, it felt like it would jump out of the pool and go down the block! so yeah, possibly the interconnecting series of hoses may be the issue i'm now thinking...wish i had a friend who had one that we know worked so i could try it out... thanks for the reply my friend, what would you suggest?
@@giantessmaria Since the price of hoses is not cost effective to replace look at the Zodiac Ranger for $145 online. It is a solid replacement for a 16-year-old model - that is impressive by the way. 💪
Question, why not just fix the leak? Right off the bat
Very logical question. Sometimes it is not a simple fix. I have found some strange vacuum leak locations and sometimes you can't fix it without extensive re-plumbing. It is hard also to convince some customers that their equipment needs to be re-plumbed when everything seems to be running just fine. The first pool in the video is a rental property and the Landlord is unresponsive.
But yes, optimally fixing the vacuum leak is the best solution to the problem. This is a band-aid in the meantime.
+Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To -MrDgvb1
Awwwwww I see ok well good alternative I'll def use this method if need to thanks for the tip and keep up the great work
My pool will do the same with the pool pump a lot of suction
Air is getting in there somewhere - can be tricky to find the source. How old is your pump and equipment?
my pump is about 20 years old it doesnt look old the motor is 4 months old since the last time we replaced it its a pentair whilsperfow 1 hp and its got a sand filter whitch is 2 years old
My pump loses prime immediately when trying to connect vacuum. Hose is fully primed. I must have small suction side pump air leak (have small amount of air in pump, slow to prime, some air in return jets). Am going to try this arrangement to let some skimmer water continue to flow to the pump while vacuuming. I assume the way to adjust the regulator valve to allow skimmer water in is just to turn the dial. Will start with it all the way open and see what pump does when vac hose connected. Inherited this pool arrangement from prior owners - main drain is plugged so there is barely any turn over of water and I really need to be able to vacuum up debris from bottom. Any further suggestions?
Try the vacuuming trick from this video. Check the pump lid o-ring also as that is sometimes the air leak source.
You may need to call a Leak Detection Company out to find the source of the air leak just to verify it is not underground in the plumbing. Only problem is that these companies typically charge $400-$500 for the complete process - plus repairs. But they guarantee to fix the issue.
So I will have to pay 500 plus to fix an air leak. Moral of the story don’t buy a house with a pool.