Clog after vacuuming

[vikes]

Hi! I'm hoping someone can help me, I've got a clog somewhere from vacuuming leaves....I know stupid! I've read all the posts I can find on this and have determined from them that the clog is before the filter since the psi is almost nothing. The pump chamber fills only about 1/2 way and the water from the main and skimmer comes in somewhat slower but not terrible. It fills up a little over half and then the pump sucks it up and then stops to let it fill again....kind of a pumping action. When I turn it off it fills almost full but I think there is water coming back from the filter. No suction from the skimmers, barely any output from the jets. The pump chamber's leaf basket had a small crack on the edge that I didn't know about. Leaves were jammed in the crack. I reached up and felt the ocillatior and it was clear. The 0 ring is fine, I lubed it just in case. No leaks in any of the connections. I was able to look at the tube from the motor to the filter and it was clear. Not sure if it can get stuck somehow in the valve on the filter or how to take that apart (sand filter). I plugged up the skimmer that I didn't vacuum out of and shut off the main and ran a garden hose into a funnel into the line to see if there was a jam there and water came out the supply line in the pump, so I don't think that's blocked. Where the heck else could it be??? Maybe I burned up the pump, but it sounds the same. Thanks so much!!

[duraleigh]

Most vacuum plugs like that occur in the hose from the vacuum device to the skimmer............did you check that?

[vikes]

Hi, thanks for the reply! The hose is fine. That was actually the first thing I checked. Thanks!

[duraleigh]

First of all, if you have no pressure, you are correct.......the problem is in the suction side of your system. Next, since you have apparently checked the entire suction route and don't see any clogs, then I would suspect a suction side leak......very possibly around that crack. If it's not clogged, (and it sounds like it's not) then air is getting into the system somewhere between the vacuum head and the impellor on the pump.

Hose connections tight? Water high enough in pool not to let air in skimmer? Crack in pump basket fixed?

[catnip]

Have you tried using the main and skimmer inputs to the pump one at a time (presuming you are plumbed with valves to do this)? If you can't get flow with any of those inputs, if would almost certainly point to a clog or vacuum leak somewhere upstream of the valves.

Though it sounds like you have eliminated the possibility of a clog in the suction line(s) between the skimmer(s) and the pump, let me pass along a solution I used when I managed to clog my skimmer suction lines with wood chips from the surrounding landscape. The main drain was working fine, so I could get flow through the pump, just not from the skimmers.

I plumbed in a tee in each suction line just before the shutoff valve. I then connected the output hose from my Polaris booster pump to the tee fitting and (after closing the shutoff valve) used the water pressure from the Polaris pump to blow out the suction lines in the reverse direction, i.e. back out the skimmers. It worked like a charm. I then plugged the tee's and left them in place in case I get any future clogs.

I've seen pool service companies do something similar by connection the suction side of a portable pool pump to the skimmer inlet and sucking out the blockage.

Good luck!

[vikes]

Hi, well I finally figured it out. There was one line that I hadn't checked because I couldn't get the fittings loose. The clog was in the line between where the two lines (skimmer and main) come together right before the pump...a small stick had lodged itself and leaves piled up. I wrongly assumed it wasn't clogged because I was still getting some water through the line. It's back to normal now and I promply went out and invested in a 12.00 leaf net...lol. Much safer! Thanks so much everyone! Thanks also, Catnip for the suggestion...that sounds like a fantastic idea!
Amy