Clog after vacuuming

[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!