Hazard # 2 Compressed air trapped in the system

Water under pressure doesn’t present much of a hazard. But the piping and filtering systems on pools and spas can trap and hold large bubbles of air until they build up enough explosive potential to blow the tops off of filters, strainers, and separation tanks. The owner’s manual for your filter, separation tank, and pump will tell you how to safely bleed the air out of your filter system. For safety’s sake, review the following points:

1) Read the owner’s manual carefully to learn how to operate your filter system safely. Never try to adjust or service your pool or spa filter unless you have read the owner’s manual and understand how to release all pressure from the system (shut off the power and release the pressure first).

2) When starting up the system after a period of non-use (for instance, after a winter shut-down), read the start-up instructions in the owner’s manuals for the equipment involved so that you can purge all the air from the system before it builds up to dangerous pressures.

3) Never connect your pool or spa filter system to a household water system – the pool equipment is designed to run at much lower pressures and may split or burst if subjected to household water system pressures.

4) To avoid a dangerous pressure buildup in the filter, make sure that any shutoff valves downstream of the filter always remain open during system operation.

5) The pool skimmer may be sucking air (“vortexing”) as well as water. This can pull a large amount of air into the filter system, and should be corrected by raising the pool water level, reducing the flow of water through the skimmer or both.

6) Vacuums and cleaners can also suck air for brief periods of time. Before you use a vacuum, submerge the hose completely and let it fill with water before connecting it to the pump suction outlet. This will minimize the amount of air taken into the system.