Air bubbles - finding leaks with a stethoscope

[mwsmith2]

I have a salt water chlorinator.

SWC generate some bubbles as a result of their operation. If you want to see if that's where they are coming from, turn your SWC off for an hour and see if you still have bubble. If you don't then they're coming from your SWC.

Michael

[DanS]

If it is the chlorinator, do I need to get it fixed, or is this OK? I did not have bubbles for the first two years, and the bubbles started at the end of last year.

[mwsmith2]

Well, if it's the SWC, you can't get it "fixed", 'cause that's the way it operates. In the process of making Cl, you get some hydrogen too...that's generally what's in the bubbles. I'm a silly boy because I've held a lighter to the bubbles to hear 'em go *PLOOP*. I just love a science experiment.

However, if you haven't had this problem before, then it's probably not your SWC, I'd guess you're sucking air through a jandy valve.

Michael

[PatL34]

Mike, are you still trying to blow yourself up?

Seriously take my word for it, it is hydrogen. I think there is definitely a leak and that has to be fixed. If air is coming, the best test I know, is to open the vent on the filter, and if lots of air comes out, then you have an air leak. That would be a big problem as you would be mixing hydrogen and oxygen with the possibility of blowing the cell or piping downstream apart. Your only recourse would be to shut off the SWC and use bleach until you find and fix the leak. That is why all piping and equipment on the suction side of the pump has to be airtight.

If it is only for about two seconds or so, the air leak is minimal, and could come from air dissolved in the water. The bubbles would then have to be hydrogen.

Hope this helps.

Pat