Pumps, filters and equipment
Air bubbles coming out of the pool jets
Bubbles from the return jets mean air is being drawn into the system somewhere before the pump.
A pool pump pulls water through the skimmers and main drain, then pushes it through the filter and back through the return jets. If air bubbles come out of the jets, air is entering on the suction side — between the pool and the pump. Air reduces flow, can make the pump noisy and, in time, can damage it by running partly dry.
Equipment guides cover servicing and faults on the plant an existing pool already has.
The most common causes are simple: the water level has dropped so the skimmer gulps air, the pump lid O-ring is dry or cracked, or a union or valve on the suction line has worked loose. Less commonly, a crack in a suction pipe or fitting draws air in.
The short version
Air enters before the pump
Bubbles at the jets point to the suction side.
Low water level is common
A skimmer drawing air creates bubbles quickly.
Seals and unions are next
The pump lid O-ring and suction unions are frequent culprits.
Tracing the air
Water level
Restoring the level to mid-skimmer and checking the skimmer weir works.
Pump lid and O-ring
Cleaning and lubricating the O-ring with a suitable lubricant, or replacing it if it is cracked or flattened.
Suction fittings
Tightening unions and checking valves and pipe joints for hairline cracks.
Quick checks
Look at the pump basket
Air pockets in the lid suggest a suction leak.
Check the water level
It should sit around the middle of the skimmer opening.
Listen at the pump
Gurgling or sputtering confirms air.
Common questions
Are a few bubbles after backwashing normal?
Briefly, yes. Continuous bubbles are not.
Can air damage the pump?
Running with a lot of air can overheat seals and wear the pump.
Is this a leak in the pool?
Not necessarily. Air entering the suction side is different from water leaving the pool.
Related pool care guides
- Restoring weak flow from pool return jetsA related check on the same part of the plant.
- Using a multiport valve correctlyA related check on the same part of the plant.
- Backwashing a sand filterA routine task that prevents the same trouble.
- When pool pH is too highAnother water problem with a related cause.
This guide sits under pump & filter services. Browse all pool care guides. We look after pools at homes and commercial properties across Dubai.
Ask about your pool
A clear photograph and your latest test reading are usually enough for a useful first answer.
Phone
+971 56 181 0106Talk through what the pool is doing and book a time for us to see it.
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Next step
Bubbles from the jets?
Send a short video of the jets and the pump basket. We will help trace where the air is getting in.