Closed Thread
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 41

Thread: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    18

    Exclamation Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    Hi Everyone,
    Not going to believe this...

    but my 18x36 inground marcite pool, built in 1986 (I just bought the house in '03), has what appears to be CONCRETE chunk stuck 3 inches inside of the main drain! Pool drain depth is 6'. YES... it is definitely concrete, and boy is it HARD.

    For about 6 months, the vacuum side of my pump continued to pull in air. I couldn't figure this out. So I replaced literally everything above ground, with. still no luck. Until....

    Amazing....

    I stapped on the scuba gear, took a dive, popped the grill on the main drain, and put a mirror down there to see the clog in the 2" pipe!

    Now for about 1 week, 4 tanks of air, and countless times trying to "break" the clog with a screwdriver, files, small saw blades, I got the thing about 1/4 of the way down. But it's a royal pain in the @#$.

    And I can't get any leverage to try to lightly hammer on the clog with a hammer and screwdriver being under water.

    1. Anyone have ANY ideas?
    I'm trying to come up with anything without having to resort to draining the pool.

    2. How the heck could a piece of concrete nearly 2 inches in diameter get in there in the first place?

    Please help a newbie...
    Daryl
    Florida

    P.S. Since hacking away and busting my knuckles underwater, the water circulation has improved, and the air resistance in the pump has started to dissipate.

    Lesson: The clog is causing the air to be pulled from the water into the pump!

    Now: How do I get rid of the frickin' concrete clog?

  2. #2
    CarlD's Avatar
    CarlD is offline SuperMod Emeritus Vortex Adjuster CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
    Location
    North Central NJ
    Posts
    6,607

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    Short of draining your pool and using a hammer-drill and concrete bit to cut through it, I don't know....

    If there was something that would break the concrete down chemically, like salt or acid.....I dunno...
    Carl

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    I tried injecting some acid onto it and letting it sit, and that definitely helped. But I'm reluctant to put a whole bunch of acid in there for obvious reasons, including fitting that contain PVC glue.

    I think I know the answer, but anyone know if the big acid injection is doable?

  4. #4
    beary is offline Registered+ Thread Analyst beary 0
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    .
    Posts
    61

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    What about changing the plumbing temperarily and reverse the flow to push it out?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    Thanks. Tried that already. No luck. It's almost as if the concrete got inside of the pipe and it dried in there.

    Plus, 20 years of crap flowing through the main drain on the suction side, means every other spec of sand, rock, etc pool probably got captured by the clog and the whole thing calcified.

    I wish I could snap a picture of this thing, cuz it's really an eye sore.

  6. #6
    Laguna Joe is offline ** No working email address ** Laguna Joe 0
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    8

    Wink Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    Buy an 8' long piece of angle or channel iron, or all-thread rod. Have someone position and hold the end against the concrete, while a second person uses a small sledge hammer on the end that juts out above the water level to drive the iron rod into the concrete chunk.

    Pre-arrange a method to signal the top-side person so you can control or stop the hammering in the event of a problem or the need to reposition the iron rod.

    And keep your fingers clear.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    ny.
    Posts
    33

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    How about an electric plumber's snake? These electric augers can be rented from any rental store, and are usually at least 100 feet long. You can have someone above operating the motor as you feed the auger into the drain. I would again reverse the water flow to blow out any debris that may break up. Not very familiar with the construction of the main drain, so this is a shot in the dark! Good luck!
    P.S. If you use anything electric be sure to plug it into a GFCI protected outlet and make sure the operator is familiar with the tool....those snake can easily get away from you!!

  8. #8
    waste is offline PF Support Team Whizbang Spinner waste 3 stars waste 3 stars waste 3 stars
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
    Location
    S.E Maine
    Age
    57
    Posts
    1,765

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    Dog, welcome to the forum You say you have air bubbles in the pump, is there a chance that the pipe itself was breached allowing the concrete in, in the first place? If so, have care removing the obstruction as you might cause a fatal leak in the pipe (using power equipment or excessive force is also not a good idea as the pvc pipe will probably give before the concrete). If the crete was just a glob that ended up in the pipe a good poke should have freed it, I fear the pipe was compromised before the crete was poured/ shot (pvc & crete don't bond very well).
    I would suggest keep doing what you have been (I know, pain in the @$%& and all those trips to the dive shop to refill). If you want to get a hammer and 1/2" cold chisel involved, have someone topside hold you down with your wallbrush, but be careful about the pipe. Once you get it down to ~ 1/4" mix up some 2 part epoxy (any plumbing store will have some) and generously coat the entire area, making sure that you have a good layer over the remaining concrete and adjacent pipe. Wish I could offer a better solution, but I believe this will take care of the problem. GOOD LUCK! - Waste
    Luv & Luk, Ted

    Having done construction and service for 4 pool companies in 4 states starting in 1988, what I know about pools could fill a couple of books - what I don't know could fill libraries

  9. #9
    duraleigh Guest

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    Dog,

    Listen to "Waste"!

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

    As an aside, it doesn't seem to me this is the source of a suction side air leak. It's not clear to me how air could be entering the system that far underground
    Last edited by duraleigh; 05-24-2006 at 06:56 AM.

  10. #10
    CarlD's Avatar
    CarlD is offline SuperMod Emeritus Vortex Adjuster CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
    Location
    North Central NJ
    Posts
    6,607

    Default Re: Newbie with MAJOR problem...

    Quote Originally Posted by duraleigh
    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?
    Carl

Closed Thread

Similar Threads

  1. A MAJOR problem
    By SL Dan in forum Dealing with Algae & Slime
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-01-2011, 04:53 PM
  2. Major Chemistry Problem on open
    By psciotti in forum Testing and Adjusting Pool Water Chemistry
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 06-23-2011, 11:05 PM
  3. Newbie - old concrete pool problem
    By eville in forum In-Ground Pool Construction and Repair
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-12-2010, 06:28 AM
  4. newbie with pool... pressure problem.
    By lange in forum Pool Equipment & Operations
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 05-31-2006, 05:29 PM
  5. Newbie with filter problem
    By South_paw in forum Pool Equipment & Operations
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-31-2006, 09:08 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts