In ground pool 36x18
Pool was not used for about 18 months (lost my leg and that changed and that slowed up a lot of things)
Pool became very dirty and at least a foot of dead and decaying leaves at bottom
Drained and cleaned pool, refilled and balanced the chemistry
Then: Bubbles in pool return, Pump basket doesn’t completely fill with water, Vacuum is strong at skimmer then drops off to nothing.
More background info: before emptying the pool I tried vacuuming to see if I could clean it without completely draining. In doing that I would clog the DE filter in about 15 minutes (or less) of using the vacuum. A lot of leaves and debris was pulled through the skimmer pipe to the filter.
There is a concrete deck around the pool and all the plumbing is below that. Making any pipe repair very costly. I am being told that there must be an air leak in the pipe between the skimmer and the pump.
This non-priming, non-complete filling of the pump basket, loss of suction (pressure) happened suddenly.
So now here are my questions:
What other things could be causing this problem. For example could cavitation in a pipe elbow cause this? Could a clog (after the pump), in the maze of pipes around the pump and filter cause this?
What testing and bypassing procedures can I use/try to locate the problem
If it is underground is there a skimmer that I can purchase that would clamp onto the cement deck and be piped on the top of the deck to the pump? Bypassing the underground pipe completely?
I need the pool operational to help me get back in shape so I can work and bring in some income. Luckily I am a Vet and the VA has been wonderful in building me a prosthesis. Any thoughts you have on what I might do to fix or work around this problem would be greatly appreciated.
Pool was not used for about 18 months (lost my leg and that changed and that slowed up a lot of things)
Pool became very dirty and at least a foot of dead and decaying leaves at bottom
Drained and cleaned pool, refilled and balanced the chemistry
Then: Bubbles in pool return, Pump basket doesn’t completely fill with water, Vacuum is strong at skimmer then drops off to nothing.
More background info: before emptying the pool I tried vacuuming to see if I could clean it without completely draining. In doing that I would clog the DE filter in about 15 minutes (or less) of using the vacuum. A lot of leaves and debris was pulled through the skimmer pipe to the filter.
There is a concrete deck around the pool and all the plumbing is below that. Making any pipe repair very costly. I am being told that there must be an air leak in the pipe between the skimmer and the pump.
This non-priming, non-complete filling of the pump basket, loss of suction (pressure) happened suddenly.
So now here are my questions:
What other things could be causing this problem. For example could cavitation in a pipe elbow cause this? Could a clog (after the pump), in the maze of pipes around the pump and filter cause this?
What testing and bypassing procedures can I use/try to locate the problem
If it is underground is there a skimmer that I can purchase that would clamp onto the cement deck and be piped on the top of the deck to the pump? Bypassing the underground pipe completely?
I need the pool operational to help me get back in shape so I can work and bring in some income. Luckily I am a Vet and the VA has been wonderful in building me a prosthesis. Any thoughts you have on what I might do to fix or work around this problem would be greatly appreciated.