Wandering in the Wasteland of Pool Maintenance!

[dihicks6]

I have just 'inherited' an inground pool to care for. I have managed to 'unwinterze' it and have the pump running and have added chlorine, shock, etc. The testing comes out okay, and the water is blue, but very cloudy. Here are my questions (I have no manuals):

-Is there a plug at the bottom of the skimmer return that needs to be removed? I pulled something called a gizmo out of the skimmer when opening the pool, however, it has screw threads on the end of it, but it just popped it out -- it didn't unscrew.

-The jet in the deep end of the pool has no water coming out. The one in the shallow end is pumping water out of it (like it should be, I believe). It seems to me that there should be water coming out of the other jet?

-Pump was installed new last summer and is running fine. PSI gauge on filter is at approx. 12%. Is that within normal limits?

-Where in the heck do you hook up the vacuum hose?

Many thanks for any assistance from the village and pool idiot!!!

[sailork]

The cloudiness could be several things but the two most likely are dead algae or high calcium in the water. You'll need to test the water to find out which.

I've never heard of the "gizmo" but the previous owner of my pool always used a threaded plastic pipe fitting to plug the other skimmer when vacuuming. Even thought it was threaded it didn't screw into anything. Yours could be the same deal.

You might have somebody hold a thumb over the working return and check to see if you get any flow out of the return on the far end of the pool. I've got a 1.5 hp pump and I've taken the restrictors out of my returns and the returns on the far end of the pool still produce enough flow to disturb the surface. It's possible the pipe is plugged, or that it's been capped due to a leak. Could you contact the previous owner?

My DE filter is bigger than it should be and only shows about 7psi when it's freshly cleaned. I'll usually let it climb to 14 or so before I clean it. Basically all you do is clean the filter and note the pressure and then never let it climb more than 10 lbs before cleaning it again.

Vacuum hose usually plugs into the opening in the bottom of the skimmer.

[CarlD]

"Gizmo" is a brand of polyethelene bottle that screws into the bottom of the skimmer for winterizing. If ice forms in your skimmer the "Gizmo" is supposed to crush to prevent the ice's expansion from bursting the skimmer.

Threads are normal at the bottom of a skimmer. You can put a threaded return plug in it to seal the skimmer off (say, when you are emptying the basket directly on the pump.) You leave it open during normal running.

[aquarium]

Check to see if there are valves in the return lines to the pool, and that they are both open.

Some skimmers come with a control plate (http://www.poolcenter.com/parts_skimmer_baker_hydro_hydropak.htm) that has a hole in the center, that's where the vacuum hose goes. It's a removable part in the top of the skimmer. Others have a separate vacuum port.

[dihicks6]

Thanks so much for all your help!

I think there is still a plug in the bottom of the skimmer, as I tried to vacuum (using the plate that goes over the top of the skimmer) and there was no suction at all. Is it possible that there is a plug in the bottom of the skimmer, and if so, how in the heck do I get it out? I tried to screw the gizmo bottle back in (stop laughing!), and of course, that's next to impossible to do with water in the skimmer. Any ideas?

[itstoohot]

How many skimmers do you have and do you have a bottom drain? If so, you will need to turn off the bottom drain and close the other skimmer to achieve enough vacuum pressure in the skimmer you are using to effectively operate the vacuum.

[dihicks6]

I have only one skimmer and do you mean is there a drain inside the skimmer, or did you mean is there a drain at the bottom of the pool? There is no drain at the bottom of the pool, so I figure there must be one at the bottom of the skimmer. I don't think I'll ever get this figured out.....sigh. My grandkids are counting on me to pull off this miracle!!!!

[Dr. Spike]

Do you have any other intakes? If so, you will need to plug them or turn them off with the valve.

I have 2 intakes, 2 skimmers, no main drain. I plug the intake that is plumbed with the skimmer that I use to vacuum, the other skimmer and intake are shut off at the valve.

EDIT: If you took the gizmo out of the skimmer, it shouldn't be plugged. Does it skim when the pump is running? With the lid off you should see water flowing over the weir (flapper)?

[dihicks6]

How do I shut off something "at the valve"??? The only valves I can think of are on the pump/filter inside the poolhouse. I really appreciate your answering my incredibly elementary questions!

[dihicks6]

Okay, I think I have it figured out. I backwashed about 2 inches of water out of the pool -- enough so that the skimmer basket wouldn't fill up again, and there at the bottom of the skimmer was a spot where the gizmo I took out broke off instead of being unscrewed. Once I removed the rest of the gizmo, water flowed into the skimmer basket from underneath. I'm refilling the water and will then turn on the pump again and see what happens. Thanks all!!!

[BogeyGolfer]

There should be a valve for each skimmer/intake located near the pump and filter. After you hook up the vacuum to one of the skimmers, turn the valve to the other skimmer OFF. This will increase the suction to your vacuum.