So, I've been suspecting a leak for a while but haven't done a bucket test or anything because I live around Houston, TX and it gets prety hot here during the Summer. I figured an inch and a half in a day wasn't too far out of the realm of possibilities. I have had my pool light out of it's niche for a while because when I removed it to replace it I didn't realize how much a replacement bulb for Colorlogic was (WOW).
Fast forward to my son and his girlfriend using the hot tub one night and not setting the valves back correctly running the hot tub almost out of water and the pump pretty pissed off when I walked outside the next morning. It took hours but eventually got a prime again but I seem to really be losing water faster now. Although it gets prime and runs, if I wait even a few minutes and go back out and open the air valve on my filter, it's emptying air out. The pump never really gets to the point when I let air out where there's no bubbles like it used to. I did notice my lid wasn't as tight as it could be so I tightened it. Also noticed that if I turn the pump off the bowl eventually empties and I see little bubble coming up while it's doing so form the suction side.
Any ideas on what this catastrophe could be and how much someone is going to try and charge me for finding and fixing it? I already am gonna be out a grand to fix the dang light. Ugh!