yann
0
- Aug 15, 2017
- 273
- Pool Size
- 36500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Astral VX 7T
Clearing a blockage in the skimmer line
- Thread starter lockmc
- Start date
Thanks! So it sounds like what I've already been doing- filling up the pump with wate before turning it on. That probably explains why I can only get it to pump if i put the hose in the skimmer inlet valve as it will force the pump bit to fill with water.
Not sure what services you have down under, but it may be worth contacting a pool company that has a winterizing blower and get them to blow the line out with that. They're designed to blow a high volume of air at enough pressure to clear the lines completely. The problem with trying to use an air compressor is that they're designed to blow a small volume of air at a high pressure. Also the problem with trying to use a leaf blower is that they're designed to blow a high volume of air at a very low pressure. Not enough to blow air out of a line.
So I spoke to a plumber who has a jetter and he doesn't think he will be able to get it in there. He said that he may only be able to get the jetter around 1 bend... 2 max and that its difficult because 50mm pool pipe is much smaller than normal pipe. Thinking I might need to start digging 
Is it normal for the pressure guage on the filter to be 0?
Is it normal for the pressure guage on the filter to be 0?
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Can you feel any water coming out of the return when the pump is on? If the gauge is working then if there is very low pressure it could read zero but it is not doing much good. Have you cleaned the filter?
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,227
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
- Lock,
Wow, tough problem! When you did the air injection at the pump end what do you mean when the line exploded? Did the large white PVC pipe explode? Or did the hose you used to connect to the pipe explode? Could be the connection assembly just didn't get the air pressure that high. The reason I'm asking is PVC 2" pipe is rated for 280 psi, burst rating is even higher, and most air compressors can't get nearly that high. Here's what my next steps would be:
- If you haven't done this, prime the pump and let it run for a longer time, up to 5 min or so. Then prime again and repeat. Then once more. Could be the line isn't obstructed but you just have a LOT of air in it.
- Disassemble the pump as KK suggested. A very small amount of leaf parts in the impeller or diffuser or any part of the pump internals before the impeller can make it do exactly what you describe (low to very low flow).
- Try to flush the line backwards (from the pump end) with water not air. Water, even low flow may be able to slowly break up the leaf-jam you may have.
- Use a snake camera from the pump end and inspect the line. back to the pool.
Chris
I'm not sure which is the return line. I can feel the water being sucked from the pool in the skimmer box, just not as high as it once was. No, haven't cleaned the filter. From what I read, if its reading 0 on the gauge, then the low pressure has to be from the impeller or earlier as from that point on, it should be pressurized.
It was the pipe that he was using to connect into the pool pipes.. so none of the pool pipes exploded. I'm starting to think the fact it exploded was some other reason unrelated. It had worked for a few minutes before. Then he stopped and tried again.
So I've had the pump on for over an hour now. It is pumping without issue.. just about half the original flow.
I couldn't seem to get to anything near the impeller- it seems to be quite a distance to it from where I take the basket out. Can I safely pull this apart? There is about 6 bolts connecting the pump together- can I remove these to see?
We had tried this earlier - we had one pump pushing water back into the pool through the skimmer line and another pump at the skimmer line pumping water out. It did pull out a hand full of leaves but not the mother lode that I assume is in there. I wonder if we had left it longer if it would have eventually got it.
I couldn't get the snake camera in far enough. When I put it into the hole near the inlet into the pool pump, I can see some leaves around a few bends that obviously are stuck, but it doesn't seem to be enough to stop the flow. I'm wondering if there is more around that corner that I simply can't see? I hope not as that is going into the concrete! I'll take another look over the weekend with the camera and grab some photos.
Thanks for the help thus far guys!
I will call a professional.. i'm just not sure who that is yet (pool guy, plumber or a mate to help me dig up the concrete!)
A return is usually round in shape. It is the hole where the water is "returned" to the pool from the pump. You should be able to feel the water coming out of it if your pump is on.
You can take the pump apart. I took mine apart when I got some leaves in the impeller and I am a girl LOL There are videos that show you how. You REALLY need to do that before you spend the time/money to bring someone out. Just make sure the power to the pump is turned off at the breakers!!
You can take the pump apart. I took mine apart when I got some leaves in the impeller and I am a girl LOL There are videos that show you how. You REALLY need to do that before you spend the time/money to bring someone out. Just make sure the power to the pump is turned off at the breakers!!
L,
If this were my pool I would check the impeller and clean out the filter, before I started digging up any concrete!!! Assuming they are both OK, the next thing I would do is spend a day with a Drain King alternating back and forth between the skimmer end and the pump end to see if you can break any clog up..
Jim R.
If this were my pool I would check the impeller and clean out the filter, before I started digging up any concrete!!! Assuming they are both OK, the next thing I would do is spend a day with a Drain King alternating back and forth between the skimmer end and the pump end to see if you can break any clog up..
Jim R.
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,227
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Lock,
I really admire your patience and trying to do what people are advising. It just doesn't make sense that leaves in your line should require digging up concrete. During my blue water sailing days we had a saying for fixing the boat in remote areas "Make sure you try all the simple stuff real well before you dig deeper". I've found it applies equally well to my pool.
It will interesting to see what comes out of the pump. And definitely as KK says don't be afraid to open up the pump. Just have some silicone lube to lightly coat the o-rings for re-assembly. Also be careful not to stretch them when you lube them.
If you don't get any joy from the pump and filter cleaning, then it would be good to find a way to get a snake through the pump suction line. Doesn't need a camera. You can get a long one from Home Depot or your plumber buddy. If you get to a blockage just turn it with the handle and force water into the pipe at the end you are inserting the snake at. Use your hand to partially seal it. If it's a leaf plug you should get bits of leaves in the water return.
I hope this helps.
Chris
I really admire your patience and trying to do what people are advising. It just doesn't make sense that leaves in your line should require digging up concrete. During my blue water sailing days we had a saying for fixing the boat in remote areas "Make sure you try all the simple stuff real well before you dig deeper". I've found it applies equally well to my pool.
It will interesting to see what comes out of the pump. And definitely as KK says don't be afraid to open up the pump. Just have some silicone lube to lightly coat the o-rings for re-assembly. Also be careful not to stretch them when you lube them.
If you don't get any joy from the pump and filter cleaning, then it would be good to find a way to get a snake through the pump suction line. Doesn't need a camera. You can get a long one from Home Depot or your plumber buddy. If you get to a blockage just turn it with the handle and force water into the pipe at the end you are inserting the snake at. Use your hand to partially seal it. If it's a leaf plug you should get bits of leaves in the water return.
I hope this helps.
Chris
Get a pool pump that you can place at the side of the pool, open the pump lid on your pool pump, connect a vacuum hose to the pump by the pool, get the pump running full speed and stick the vacuum hose into the skimmer hole and it will suck the leaves out.
So that the suction of the extra pump is full force.
It will also verify if the "blockage" is in the pipe or the pump itself
It's also so that the impeller doesn't spin backwards and the dirt isn't sucked out of the filter.
What you want to do is get the side pump running full speed and the stick the vacuum hose in the hole and then pull it out multiple times.
What you want to do is get the side pump running full speed and the stick the vacuum hose in the hole and then pull it out multiple times.
I haven't followed this thread......has a suction side air leak been eliminated as a cause?
How would I know that?
I was able to get my camera a little further down than last time - i've put it down the hole that comes into the pump (about half a meter).
I can see this image. This looks to be a grate of some sort that the water flows through before going up the pipe into the pump. Is this possible?
It looks like there are a bunch of leaves and stuff caught in the grate? Looks like i am ripping up concrete.
Attachments
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,227
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Can you send a picture of your pump arrangement? Looks like this might be a closed valve.
Chris
Chris
I would say the sggestion to try the auxiliary pump from the skimmer side (as vacuum), and if you can increase reverse water pressure from the pump side back towards the skimmer to break that clog loose.