Zed

Do you have a pool cleaner? If yes check that there are no holes in the hoses. Check for suction leaks on the pool side piping. Sounds like your sucking air from somewhere. Regardless, I'd change out those gate valves.

I assume being underground that the equipment would be below the water level of the pool. You would need to add check valves and ball valves to keep pool water from draining out. So the extra costs in valves would be a con. Another con would be, its tougher to re-pipe if necessary. You'd need to make sure you have good drainage because alot of water will be generated when you clean the filter, also you would have to drag the filter grids/cartridges up and down. Some pros would be, the equipment would be quieter, equipment would be protected from the sun. As a poolman, I prefer the equipment aboveground, it's just easier to maintain and make repairs. GOOD LUCK!

100 watts is still less that 1100 watts, which would you rather run for 6 hrs? In my opinion, Pentair, Jandy, & Hayward are all the same quality, they're all high end products and can't go wrong with any of them. I've installed the Eco Star and it was really simple the built-in unions on the suction/return openings are great and programming and use was really simple.

Perfect!!! I love SIMPLE. I would also recommend the Hayward ECO Star Variable Speed Pump. I just installed and it was really easy, plus it has it's own controller mounted on the pump or you can mount it on the wall (with the purchase of a cable). I run it for 1hr (to run my pool cleaner) @ 2500 rpms and that = approx. 1,000 watts, then I run it for 9hrs @ 1600 rpms = 200 watts, thats 2 light bulbs, and the pool cleaner still works. The result is i can run my system all day and still save money. Since all you need is to circulate you can run it at its lowest setting (600 rpms) for a long time, this will help in the summer months. The cost for the pump is alot more that a single speed pump but you'll recoup the costs over time. You said you're running your system 3hrs @ 2kw thats 2,000 watts, you could run the ECO Star longer @ 100 watts (light bulb)

A pump would be better if there's a suction also. Air would work but be noisy. Thx Roger, There's no dedicated suction line I'd have to pull suction from the circ system, would that work?

My pool has one circ. pump. When I put it in spa mode there are no bubbles in the pool. There's a 2" line coming up from the ground I blew water thru it and it looks like it's connected to the spa jets. If I put a blower to this line will it give me bubbles?? Should I use a Blower or install a booster pump?? If I put just a blower will it be strong enough to give me the "spa effect"?? Thanks for your help!