Skimmer and Main drain questions

[Martha_D]

Good afternoon everyone,

After pulling my hair out this morning, here I am. I am starting up my equipment.

I have backwashed the filter, rinsed, and set to filter. I primed the pump. Finally, water is coming from the returns nicely with the skimmers on and the main drain off.

My issue: The skimmers dont seem to be suctioning at all. How is that possible since the returns are flowing, and how do I fix it? Also, I have 2 separate switches for the main drain and the skimmer. Should both be on at the same time or just one at a time? when I turn on the main drain the filter loses pressure.

Im really afraid of screwing my system up, and very tempted to just call a pool guy even though I cant afford it!!

Please help.... thanks in advance.


ps - still waiting for the test kit.

 

[duraleigh]

ps - still waiting for the test kit.

If you ordered it from TFTestkits, please PM me your name and I'll get you an answer.

Post a pic of your valves and controls (make it complete) and someone will walk you right through it.

Whaqt is the water level in the skimmers...it might be too high.

 

[Martha_D]

The water is about half way up... when I feel down where the water drains in the skimmer I dont feel any suction. I did the tennisball test and nothing. I tried turning the valve off and on and it sounds like something rattling. I dont know if that's normal.

Im not worried about the test kit. I was just mentioning that Im still waiting (I went with the slower shipping), but thank you.

I will try to post pics.

 

[Martha_D]

ok, Update: there is something that looks like a return on the side of the pool that needs to remain plugged. I had removed it thinking it was a return. I put it back in and the skimmers are working beautifully.

Crisis averted.

 

[brainchasm]

Yeah, that's a vacuum port, used for certain kinds of automated cleaner things IIRC.