Hello TFP members.
I own a house with a pool about 35 years old, vinyl liner, about 16x32 rectangular. It seems to have developed a number of issues over the past year, but the more I dig into it, the more I realize, it's probably had multiple issues for a long time, but they have been growing worse to the point that it makes it obvious even for someone who is not a pool maintenance pro ( like myself ).
I am the DIY type , and have been working through several issues over the last few months because I was determined to enjoy my pool this year. I replaced all the above ground valves and pvc fittings and connectors this year because the old ones were brittle and breaking. I also dug up the two suction pipes and the one chlorinated return pipe near the pump and replaced them because my troubleshooting led me to believe I had a busted suction pipe. I was correct. Pine tree roots had expanded underneath causing the piple to break in my hand with the slightest pressure. It took many hot sweaty afternoons to dig through all that clay and roots. When I got it done , I felt victorious. After patching some vinyl liner leaks, I refilled the pool and it was soooo much easier to maintain for a while. Then to my dismay, I noticed it was leaking down again. I swam around with my mask and looked and looked for where it could be leaking to no avail. I pulled my patches and repatched them just in case. I have anxiety just thinking about digging up the pipes again. Out of frustration, I turned to google and found your website. After viewing a few threads, it appears the skimmer box is the most likely culprit. I always thought the skimmer box was just a box with suction attached to the pump. It appears there is a float valve underneath it? I've never really knew the skimmer has a line attached to the bottom drain AND to the pump. I've noticed two holes in the bottom before, just never gave much thought.
So anyhooo, after a whole lot of "figuring it out through trial and error" I'm exhausted, frustrated and "this far" from just filling it in. Would be a shame to think it was just the skimmer box all along and that I've gone this far. Because I don't really know how my particular skimmer works ( they aren't all the same right? ) I'm a little confused at this point on how to proceed to find ALL the problems with the skimmer box.
There is water in the bottom of it, but it rains here every day.
The box looks like it has some hairline cracks in it, but I'm not sure if that's an issue or not.
The deck has a crack in the concrete between the pool and the skimmer box.
I tried to take some good pics hoping this would help you help me. If you have the time to point me in the right direction I'll be more than happy to follow those instructions explicitly.
The pictures show the water level at which it seems to have stabilized, except for the rain we have had which probably wouldn't change it much as it would probably just leak out. I measured with the tape measure from the water line to the skimmer bottom for reference. I have more pics but could only attach 5
Thanks!
View attachment 41097
Deck crack
I own a house with a pool about 35 years old, vinyl liner, about 16x32 rectangular. It seems to have developed a number of issues over the past year, but the more I dig into it, the more I realize, it's probably had multiple issues for a long time, but they have been growing worse to the point that it makes it obvious even for someone who is not a pool maintenance pro ( like myself ).
I am the DIY type , and have been working through several issues over the last few months because I was determined to enjoy my pool this year. I replaced all the above ground valves and pvc fittings and connectors this year because the old ones were brittle and breaking. I also dug up the two suction pipes and the one chlorinated return pipe near the pump and replaced them because my troubleshooting led me to believe I had a busted suction pipe. I was correct. Pine tree roots had expanded underneath causing the piple to break in my hand with the slightest pressure. It took many hot sweaty afternoons to dig through all that clay and roots. When I got it done , I felt victorious. After patching some vinyl liner leaks, I refilled the pool and it was soooo much easier to maintain for a while. Then to my dismay, I noticed it was leaking down again. I swam around with my mask and looked and looked for where it could be leaking to no avail. I pulled my patches and repatched them just in case. I have anxiety just thinking about digging up the pipes again. Out of frustration, I turned to google and found your website. After viewing a few threads, it appears the skimmer box is the most likely culprit. I always thought the skimmer box was just a box with suction attached to the pump. It appears there is a float valve underneath it? I've never really knew the skimmer has a line attached to the bottom drain AND to the pump. I've noticed two holes in the bottom before, just never gave much thought.
So anyhooo, after a whole lot of "figuring it out through trial and error" I'm exhausted, frustrated and "this far" from just filling it in. Would be a shame to think it was just the skimmer box all along and that I've gone this far. Because I don't really know how my particular skimmer works ( they aren't all the same right? ) I'm a little confused at this point on how to proceed to find ALL the problems with the skimmer box.
There is water in the bottom of it, but it rains here every day.
The box looks like it has some hairline cracks in it, but I'm not sure if that's an issue or not.
The deck has a crack in the concrete between the pool and the skimmer box.
I tried to take some good pics hoping this would help you help me. If you have the time to point me in the right direction I'll be more than happy to follow those instructions explicitly.
The pictures show the water level at which it seems to have stabilized, except for the rain we have had which probably wouldn't change it much as it would probably just leak out. I measured with the tape measure from the water line to the skimmer bottom for reference. I have more pics but could only attach 5
Thanks!
View attachment 41097 Deck crack
