Skimmer plumbed wrong

[Texas1]

My pool install included a paramount venturi skimmer. From what I can tell, the venturi skimmer return was gunite over. I did not figure it out until my just completed build. I’ve contacted my builder to question this, but have not heard back yet.

From photo logs of the job I see where the pipe was rough plumbed, but then covered after gunite. Now my concern is I have a partially functional skimmer (the weir door wont fit either die to tile grout) and possibly a gunite capped pvc pipe that will leak slowly over time.

Curious to hear any builder’s opinions on the form on potential impact and best course of action.

 

[kimkats]

@bdavis466 build input please.

My gut says they can/should chip that area out and "find" the pipe. Let see what Brian has to say.

 

[bdavis466]

Your pool is finished and filled now?

That return pipe looks like it got buried because the seat in front of it interfered. If the pool is actually finished then i would leave it be, if the pool is not finished then definitely correct it. They'll probably need to raise that seat height to accommodate the return

 

[HermanTX]

The concern I have is about the skimmer. If the weir door does not fit then that needs to be fixed. Your skimmer is important to over all circulation of the pool.

I don't understand why the pvc pipe was below the skimmer (and through the bench seat) if you have 2 returns already adjacent to the both sides of the skimmer. Is one of these pipes a booster pump outlet or some other use? Be interesting to hear why the PB covered up the pvc pipe under the skimmer.

 

[Dirk]

The concern I have is about the skimmer. If the weir door does not fit then that needs to be fixed. Your skimmer is important to over all circulation of the pool.

I don't understand why the pvc pipe was below the skimmer (and through the bench seat) if you have 2 returns already adjacent to the both sides of the skimmer. Is one of these pipes a booster pump outlet or some other use? Be interesting to hear why the PB covered up the pvc pipe under the skimmer.

Google "venturi skimmer." I just did. The buried pipe is part of the skimmer and its "venturi" suction feature. Without the pipe exposed, will it just work as a normal skimmer (we hope)?

I'd be very curious about what happened to the pipe. Was it cut out once they realized that it wouldn't fit with the bench, as Brian thinks? Was it capped off properly? Or did it snap off somehow and nobody noticed? Was that before or after the system pressure test? Is it OK for now, because it's sealed up with gunite, but cause problems later because it is essential a leak in the plumbing? Will Batman be able to foil the Joker?

I'd be most concerned if the PB knows nothing about this and can't answer those questions.

 

[Texas1]

Your pool is finished and filled now?

That return pipe looks like it got buried because the seat in front of it interfered. If the pool is actually finished then i would leave it be, if the pool is not finished then definitely correct it. They'll probably need to raise that seat height to accommodate the return

The pool is finished and full.

 

[Texas1]

Google "venturi skimmer." I just did. The buried pipe is part of the skimmer and its "venturi" suction feature. Without the pipe exposed, will it just work as a normal skimmer (we hope)?

I'd be very curious about what happened to the pipe. Was it cut out once they realized that it wouldn't fit with the bench, as Brian thinks? Was it capped off properly? Or did it snap off somehow and nobody noticed? Was that before or after the system pressure test? Is it OK for now, because it's sealed up with gunite, but cause problems later because it is essential a leak in the plumbing? Will Batman be able to foil the Joker?

I'd be most concerned if the PB knows nothing about this and can't answer those questions.

I believe the gunite guys covered it during gunite. It was covered with duct tape at gunite.

 

[Dirk]

If it wasn't properly capped (glued), is that technically a plumbing leak? Can it be plugged up, correctly, from the inside of the skimmer?

 

[HermanTX]

If it wasn't properly capped (glued), is that technically a plumbing leak? Can it be plugged up, correctly, from the inside of the skimmer?

Do you lose the purpose of the "venturi" design? Maybe you should ask for a discount.

 

[Texas1]

The concern I have is about the skimmer. If the weir door does not fit then that needs to be fixed. Your skimmer is important to over all circulation of the pool.

I don't understand why the pvc pipe was below the skimmer (and through the bench seat) if you have 2 returns already adjacent to the both sides of the skimmer. Is one of these pipes a booster pump outlet or some other use? Be interesting to hear why the PB covered up the pvc pipe under the skimmer.

The pool has 4 returns. In the picture to the left is one of them. To the right is a vent for the drain system

Do you lose the purpose of the "venturi" design? Maybe you should ask for a discount.

yes, its still a functioning skimmer...just not how it was designed to be, nor what I paid for. I believe the only 2 option are for me to either insist the hole is drilled to and found through the pool surface, or seal it off somehow from the inside of the skimmer.