Possible Clogged skimmer line
IG with 2 skimmers and bottom return line.
I'm concerned about one of my skimmer lines. When I leave only one of the lines open...either bottom or near my pressure drops maybe 1 or 2 points. When I turn only the far skimmer on My pressure drops by half. Also, the near skimmer has an easily visible "current" inside and easily pulls my skimmer sock down when I put the basket in.
When all valves are open the far skimmer has been lightly floating and there is no visible current inside the skimmer. If I put my hand in the bottom almost completely covering the hose hole I can feel a good draw. But this seems pretty weak.
When I opened the pool I used a shop vac to clear the "anti-freeze" from the lines. from one of them I pulled a large nut or a small pit. Later I checked my pump basket and there was a decent sized stone.
It seems to me I have a blockage but I don't know what to expect. More importantly I need suggestions on how to fix if there is a problem.
Ideas or suggestions?
Re: Possible Clogged skimmer line
Quote:
Originally Posted by
buki5
IG with 2 skimmers and bottom return line.
I'm concerned about one of my skimmer lines...
It seems to me I have a blockage but I don't know what to expect. More importantly I need suggestions on how to fix if there is a problem.
Ideas or suggestions?
Since you can isolate each suction line, I would shut off the bottom drain and the working skimmer so that you only have flow from the problem skimmer. Remove the basket and start feeding "quality" masonry line down said skimmer until said line shows at the pump strainer. A helper is needed just in case the end deciders to enter a hole in the strainer and mess up the impeller.
If that is successful, turn off the pump, and tie on a quality piece of heavier line, at the pump strainer which is now removed and slowly pull that back out from the skimmer.
Again from the pump, attach a 3/8 inch washer onto the heavier cord but do so with a knot in the middle of the line.
In short do not cut the line, Slowly pull heavier twine and washer from the pump to the skimmer; if you get any resistance then you and your helper will need to do a pull/pull, skimmer to pump in order to dislodge the obstruction.
Hopefully the washer will grab what ever it is and let you pull it out from the skimmer.
Washer passes through with no resistance? Use a half inch washer next, then a fender washer but nothing with a diameter of more that 1 1/4 inches assuming that you are dealing with a 1 1/2 inch pipe.
Do NOT skimp and try this by just pulling from the pump to the skimmer or visa versa; you MUST have a way to pull from either end or you could have a real blockage on your hands.
Once she is clear, invest in two 1 1/2" pvc plugs. :)
You might try the shop vac to suck that first masonry line from the pump to the skimmer if you have no helper.
GL, and keep us informed please.
Re: Possible Clogged skimmer line
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Searcher
Since you can isolate each suction line, I would shut off the bottom drain and the working skimmer so that you only have flow from the problem skimmer. Remove the basket and start feeding "quality" masonry line down said skimmer until said line shows at the pump strainer. A helper is needed just in case the end deciders to enter a hole in the strainer and mess up the impeller.
If that is successful, turn off the pump, and tie on a quality piece of heavier line, at the pump strainer which is now removed and slowly pull that back out from the skimmer.
Again from the pump, attach a 3/8 inch washer onto the heavier cord but do so with a knot in the middle of the line.
In short do not cut the line, Slowly pull heavier twine and washer from the pump to the skimmer; if you get any resistance then you and your helper will need to do a pull/pull, skimmer to pump in order to dislodge the obstruction.
Hopefully the washer will grab what ever it is and let you pull it out from the skimmer.
Washer passes through with no resistance? Use a half inch washer next, then a fender washer but nothing with a diameter of more that 1 1/4 inches assuming that you are dealing with a 1 1/2 inch pipe.
Do NOT skimp and try this by just pulling from the pump to the skimmer or visa versa; you MUST have a way to pull from either end or you could have a real blockage on your hands.
Once she is clear, invest in two 1 1/2" pvc plugs. :)
You might try the shop vac to suck that first masonry line from the pump to the skimmer if you have no helper.
GL, and keep us informed please.
That solution could work, but it scares me-- the washer could possibly get stuck at a pipe joint or elbow and no amount of pulling either way would dislodge it (I know I'm cautious, but this would be a really expensive problem if a washer became lodged like that). I would try the following 1st-- get a "drain king" water hose attachment and "blast" the line from the pump end AND from the skimmer end. You might need to do it several times before it dislodges whatever is there (if there is anything) and the water flows freely.
Reason... nothing to get stuck in your line... and... past experience clearing a rust filled AC condensate drain line-- had to blast it about a dozen times before all the rust ran out and the line ran free again. I know it's not the same as a pool line, but this would be a cheap, safe fix if it works for you.
It's also possible that this particular skimmer line has more elbows than the other and consequently just has a lower flow than the other...
Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
Re: Possible Clogged skimmer line
Thanks all. "Drain king" seems to be a good start. I'm a "snake" guy myself but these lines look like corrugated flex PVC and I'm afraid I'd cut right through them...and yes they are 1 1/2 inch lines.
There is course white granite stone around the deck. My guess is that the previous owner vacuumed some up cleaning and one or more got stuck. I'm afraid this isn't going to be as easy as solve as I was hoping.
