Thanks for the welcome.

I do have a SWCG. Nature 2 fusion soft. (I don't use the mineral cartridge as I understand that's not a good thing).

I just realized the same tools at the pool co didn't lubricate pump lid o-ring when they replaced the pump (last year this was the cause of bubbles in return but I assumed a newly installed pump they would have lubed it.... bad assumption). I just lubed the o-ring at the top and it reduced bubbles even further. Still there though. I have reverse heat system too which is running so the main drain at the moment is returning water (by the way this does work to heat the pool a lot faster). Every minute or so a big bubble is seen coming out of main drain. Sometimes the small air bubbles on the returns also appear to get worse intermittently so I'm sure air is in the system. I don't see any big bubbles at the pump but a load of very small bubbles are coming through.

The replacement valve (as well as original ones) have no name brand on them that I can see but the rest of the pool stuff is Zodiac/Jandy stuff, I'm sure the valves are not. They are gray with black plastic handle.Pool co seems to try to save money and in the end they cost themselves a ton or me the consumer. I'm thinking this not lubed or not installed correctly may be the air problem. At least I hope it is.

I'm a woman who is fairly handy but not very knowledgable yet on pools. The pool is just a year old so the equipment shouldn't be bad.

The filter has a reading of 17 and is a DE filter.