Air in Pool Pump Suction

[RalphVa]

I should have changed out the o-ring near the end of last season when I noticed a little bit of air in the clear plastic suction basket lid.

The pump was a little slow to get going every time this season so far, and last night it really took a while. So, called the pool place and ordered a new o-ring. Due in Friday.

Tried another pool & spa place for the o-ring. They had a new lid but would have to order the o-ring. Was worth it going there. Got waited on by a knock-out good looking young lady. Oh, my. Got my heart going.

Went home and tried to start the pump by filling the basket and starting. No go. Remembered some plumber's rope caulk that the wife had bought for something and had left over. Put it in with the o-ring. Still no go. Removed the caulk and screwed the lid on with the o-ring. Had noticed it has lots of little radial cracks. That's the problem.

So, I put the rope caulk around the outside of where the lid goes down near the top of the suction basket. That worked. Almost no air. Good now till Friday when I get the new o-ring.

I'd tried wrapping that gap with some old inner tube rubber. Couldn't get it sealed up with that.

Ralph

 

[oosik]

And it doesn't take a lot of air being sucked in to reduce the pumps ability.

 

[4get gto]

I always use dielectric on the o-rings. Makes them easier to turn and seems to help them last longer.

 

[RalphVa]

I always use dielectric on the o-rings. Makes them easier to turn and seems to help them last longer.

What is it?

Ralph

 

[bunyip]

If it is what we used it was a silicon type grease, very viscous almost like axle grease but does not go off and set, we had the same problem when we had a pool, when it was turned off it would suck in air through the cover and take a while to prime itself.
I can't remember who made it but we bought it at an industrial supply house which was cheaper than a pool shop and you got more for less money.

 

[MossRoad]

You're supposed to use a lubricant on that o ring.... something like this is available at Lowes, Menards, pool stores, etc....

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Aqua-EZ-O-Ring-Lubricant/3152031

 

[Navvet]

+1 on the lubricant. But get a bigger tube because it's great on almost anything with a rubber o-ring seal.

 

[bunyip]

You're supposed to use a lubricant on that o ring.... something like this is available at Lowes, Menards, pool stores, etc....

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Aqua-EZ-O-Ring-Lubricant/3152031

The description looks like what we used but we had a tube, later we used a similar product in waterproof 'F' connectors to ensure they stayed watertight.
A colourless translucent thick gel.

 

[mcfarmall]

Molykote 111 high vacuum grease. Pure non-hardening silicone based grease.

 

[4get gto]

What is it?

Ralph

My bad. Forgot to add "grease"

 

[RalphVa]

My bad. Forgot to add "grease"

View attachment 557453

Thanks will look for this in Lowes, too, when looking for the o-ring lube.

Read something on the o-ring, and it said to use silicone only. Two pool places were recommending a PTFE grease like they sell you to put in the knobs that screw onto the valves on the suction of the pump to lubricate them. PTFE is what is in Super Lube. I don't like this stuff, to get it on my hands or have it on the o-ring. Hope this stuff or the other stuff that MossRoad recommended are less greasy. A non setting version of Goop heavy silicone would be ideal. It would be nasty on the hands, too, but not greasy like the PTFE.

Ralph

 

[Raspy]

Silicone grease is the best and better than anything with teflon in it. The grease is called "plumber's grease" or "stem grease". It is readily available at hardware stores and comes in a small container. A disk shaped container about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Usually in a blister pack in the plumbing section.

It is suppposed to be pure silicone grease and has lots of uses, but it also might be made from something else sililar to silicone. Either way, good stuff. A clear, non toxic grease that feels just like axle grease. It is not water soluble.

 

[kenmac]

I use this on my pool gaskets 2 NAPA 7651346 Sil-glyde Silicone Lubricating Compound Tube 4oz | eBay