Newbie with MAJOR problem...

[CarlD]

Dog,

Listen to "Waste"!

Bangin' on that PVC with power equipment or a sledge is an invitation to a much larger problem.

Hey! I was gonna suggest dynamite next! Are you saying that might not be a good idea?

[MyBlueDog]

Thanks.

Question for the engineers/scientists: Wouldn't a main drain suction blockage at 6' underwater, and a pump surface side 2' above cause the pump to pull oxygen from the water.

My thinking is since water contains O2, that any blockage in the main drain would restrict flow, causing the pump to work at the same rate, yet pull O2 from the water at a faster rate than it actually sucks the water.

Make sense?

[JJ in Tx]

How about a air chisel like on this page,used very carefully of course.

[MyBlueDog]

How about a air chisel like on this page,used very carefully of course.

Can you run an air chisel underwater?

[JJ in Tx]

Never tried but was figuring that the "power" was all coming in thru the air hose and everything happening on/at chisel was exhaust from the operation. would make sure i oiled tool prior to and after use as well as run it a bit once it was out of the water to make sure it was "dry" before storing it.
JJ

[KurtV]

Thanks.

Question for the engineers/scientists: Wouldn't a main drain suction blockage at 6' underwater, and a pump surface side 2' above cause the pump to pull oxygen from the water.

My thinking is since water contains O2, that any blockage in the main drain would restrict flow, causing the pump to work at the same rate, yet pull O2 from the water at a faster rate than it actually sucks the water.

Make sense?

I don't think you can "pull" dissolved oxygen from water with suction. If you could oxygen from water that easily, you probably would have been using a device that does that instead of a tank for your dives. (There are some devices for diving that allow you to extract breathable oxygen from water but I don't think the methodology is simple suction.)

Trying to think a little out of the box, is there any way you could drill a hole in the concrete chunk, insert a lead anchor, thread a lag bolt into the anchor, and pull the chunk out with a big pair of pliers?

[MyBlueDog]

Trying to think a little out of the box, is there any way you could drill a hole in the concrete chunk, insert a lead anchor, thread a lag bolt into the anchor, and pull the chunk out with a big pair of pliers?

I don't know. I think I'm going to try to keep chiseling on it with a long screw driver and take my chances with air refills at the dive shop. What a nightmare. I really don't want to have to drain the pool, but that's what it's sound like the only solution may be.

**One note: When my skimmer level is nornal l(half way up with water), and the pump is set on main drain, the air coming into the pump seems to disappear.

I have a simple 2-way Jandy, turn on way for the skim, one for the main drain. It is a brand new valve. 1 week old.

This makes no sense to me.

Why would a correct water level in the skimmer (or lack thereof) dictate me getting air in the pump when the valve is set on main drain???

[KurtV]

**One note: When my skimmer level is nornal l(half way up with water), and the pump is set on main drain, the air coming into the pump seems to disappear.
...
This makes no sense to me.

Why would a correct water level in the skimmer (or lack thereof) dictate me getting air in the pump when the valve is set on main drain???

Maybe there's something to your theory about somehow pulling the dissolved O2 from the water...

More likely, the skimmer and the main drain are connected before the Jandy valve. I'm NOT a pool plumbing expert, but I know that skimmers can be plumbed with two outlets; one goes directly to the pump and the other connected to the main drain plumbing. Maybe one the builders will weigh-in and explain the reasons for that. If yours is plumbed that way, and the water is not at the proper level in the skimmer, the system could be sucking air in through the skimmer and into the main drain piping on the main drain side of the Jandy valve. (There's a picture of what I'm inadequately trying to explain about half-way down on the right side of this page:http://www.howibuiltmyownpool.com/mo...bing-first-day.)

One other thought, try a small brick chisel or the like instead of a screwdriver; much harder steel.

[HAYMAN]

I don't think you can "pull" dissolved oxygen from water with suction. If you could oxygen from water that easily, you probably would have been using a device that does that instead of a tank for your dives. (There are some devices for diving that allow you to extract breathable oxygen from water but I don't think the methodology is simple suction.)

Trying to think a little out of the box, is there any way you could drill a hole in the concrete chunk, insert a lead anchor, thread a lag bolt into the anchor, and pull the chunk out with a big pair of pliers?

You guys are good........................lots of good stuff here. As I sit up here on the fence though, I would have to say I like the drill and pull method the best..........I would try that.

[PatL34]

MyBlueDog

Check your Inbox. Sent you a private message.

Pat