Bought a home and over my head

[Orion7319]

This picture may be better

That’s all you should have in a skimmer. It’s just a basket in a cylinder with a weir door. If the weir door doesn’t close or open, replace it because it will affect how your skimmer works and could suck air into your pump. I have a sand filter, not sure about cartridge filters, but they should be cleaned when the PSI on the gauge goes up a certain amount… 10 to 15 somewhere in there..

 

[TatianaP]

All of them. Everything you test for
pH
FC
CC
CH
CYA
TA
Salinity...etc

We need all of them because they are all inter-related. Also include the test that you ran since you can get Cl reading for OTO or FAS/DPD test. FAS is more precise and accurate. Also can you put your equipment in your signature? it provides a ready reference for us to make recommendations. You can leave out the bathroom water heater

pH 7.3
FC 4 (I put more to get it to SLAM will retest like I’m supposed to. Sorry I’m dumb.)
CC .5
TA 90
CYA 30
CH 350

Thank you for your help!

 

[TatianaP]

That’s all you should have in a skimmer. It’s just a basket in a cylinder with a weir door. If the weir door doesn’t close or open, replace it because it will affect how your skimmer works and could suck air into your pump. I have a sand filter, not sure about cartridge filters, but they should be cleaned when the PSI on the gauge goes up a certain amount… 10 to 15 somewhere in there..

Ok I’ll see if it opens and closes. I don’t think it does cause it barely moved when I tried to figure out what it was

 

[TatianaP]

That’s all you should have in a skimmer. It’s just a basket in a cylinder with a weir door. If the weir door doesn’t close or open, replace it because it will affect how your skimmer works and could suck air into your pump. I have a sand filter, not sure about cartridge filters, but they should be cleaned when the PSI on the gauge goes up a certain amount… 10 to 15 somewhere in there..

Actually just kidding I don’t have a weir door pretty sure after I googled search. There’s a triangle piece in there that I thought it could be it that’s hard to move.

 

[TatianaP]

Guys everytime I do something in the pool I’m about to cry. Well the skimmer function never worked, after googling realizing that its actually supposed to suck I stuck a water hose in the two cylendera and found a whole bunch of debris came out…. And low behold it’s sucks now. -.- well the reason why I was investigating that is cause my pool vacuum is intermittent. Sometimes it works and it’s awesome when it does. And other times I feel like I wasted money buying it cause it doesn’t move. Do y’all have any suggestions?

 

[Durangler]

I'm thinking there should be a Diverter between the skimmer basket and the 2 pipe holes at the bottom of the skimmer.
The pipe forward to the skimmer is the main drain. The pipe to the back of the skimmer goes to the pump suction..(filter)There should be a diverter valve there
,

 

[BassPlayingDude]

@Durangler spot on.. my pool has the same set up.. the back hole is suction to the pump, and the front hole is plumbed down to the main drain in my deep end. A lot of folks throw this valve away or never use it, but if your pool is plumbed like OP and mine are, it fulfills a crucial role for circulation as well as acting as a fail-safe in case the water level drops below the skimmer outlet (as can happen in Texas summers ). OP, if you don't have this, you should get one. There is a little slidely circular loop de doo on the bottom that controls the proportion of suction between your skimmer and main drain. You usually want it open about the width of a pencil so that your skimmer gets the majority of the suction. There is a rubber O-Ring that goes in a groove at the bottom of your skimmer that is necessary for this doohickey to function correctly. If you can't find the right sized O-Ring, as long as the width is good for it to go into the groove you can cut a too-big O-Ring with scissors and crazy glue the ends together to make it fit properly. If you have a single skimmer setup, your skimmer is not going to work properly unless you have a working weir door (the flappy-doo thing that has two pins that click into the holes at the top of the skimmer inlet ) PM me for more info if you want to get that skimmer working properly.

 

[mguzzy]

I dumped hella chlorine in there and re read the SLAM article as suggested. I’m an idiot sandwich. As far as my pool equipment goes, I’m still trying to figure that out so bear with me. I have an 11 month old that is trying to show me that she can in fact out herself in dangerous situations at all time. I do have a question about my skimmer, it looks like parts are missing. There’s a basket sitting on top and in there there’s just two cylinder shapes. I tried to get a good pic but I suck. (Please see idiot sand which reference above.) how often do cartridge filters need to be changed?

Yo girl.. lighten up on yerself! We have all been that sandwich! If you are an idiot sandwich, that makes me a stupid bagel. It will make sense soon enough!

Do you have a main drain? that is a drain in the middle of the deep end. If so it needs that diverter valve to work correctly. one of those holes in the skimmer goes to your pump the other one goes to the main drain. Without the divert it sucks all the water from the top.. with the diverter it sucks some of the water from the bottom. Some pools don't have them, I like mine because I think it helps the vertical mixing in the pool. You can order a replacement on Amazon. Good job blowing it out with a hose. No sense leaving that crud in the pipes.

Don't be afraid to post pics of your pool equipment and we can ID them for you.. that way you can fill out your signature with your stuff.

pH 7.3
FC 4 (I put more to get it to SLAM will retest like I’m supposed to. Sorry I’m dumb.)
CC .5
TA 90
CYA 30
CH 350

Thank you for your help!

Thanks for the numbers... With a CYA of 30 you want your FC at 12 for SLAMing. Follow this chart: FC/CYA Levels. If you have a green pool it will eat chlorine like crazy in the beginning. Just do your best to keep that FC level at the SLAM level as best as you can. That is what kills the algae. If you let it drift down, the algae will regrow. Also brush and look for places where the algae can hide. Brushing helps disrupt the cell membranes and makes it easier to kill. You already found one place that was likely filled with algae.. the pipe that was full-o-crud.

Ask lots of questions.. we are here for that. Don't get frustrated.. just ask us.. If we don't know.. we know someone on the forum who does know the answer.. as a last resort I can always come up with a witty retort to lighten the mood. Give you daughter a job.. something she can do on the pool while your are working on it too. maybe she can teethe on a pool noodle. 11 month olds are a handful.. been there done that.. x4!

 

[Orion7319]

I'm thinking there should be a Diverter between the skimmer basket and the 2 pipe holes at the bottom of the skimmer.
The pipe forward to the skimmer is the main drain. The pipe to the back of the skimmer goes to the pump suction..(filter)There should be a diverter valve there
,View attachment 335767

Huh.. I didn’t know such a thing existed … I wish my pool had that setup. My skimmer is simply plumbed to the pump, and there is no line to the main drain. When the skimmer fills up with pine needles (which can happen very fast with my pool) it can make my pump run dry. I had to buy a skimming robot because it’s such an issue. I wonder if there is a way to rig something up that if the skimmer started sucking air would divert the water from the skimmer to the main drain at the equipment pad.

 

[wireform]

Huh.. I didn’t know such a thing existed … I wish my pool had that setup. My skimmer is simply plumbed to the pump, and there is no line to the main drain. When the skimmer fills up with pine needles (which can happen very fast with my pool) it can make my pump run dry. I had to buy a skimming robot because it’s such an issue.

If your skimmer has only one hole as you state and you have a main drain in the deep end then you have a direct run to your equipment pad from your md. You should have a valve to control the md flow. If you leave the valve open say about 10% it'll help when the skimmer is full.

 

[BassPlayingDude]

@Orion7319 You could get one of these: Amazon.com: SR-500PS Stingl-Safety Vacuum Release Systems, 120/240 VAC, DPST Dry Contact: Industrial & Scientific

Or replace your motor with one like this: BG128A Century Guardian SVRS Pump Motor 1 HP 56J 3450RPM 115/230 Volts - - Amazon.com


Both monitor sudden changes in vacuum and shut down the pump, not only protects the pump from running dry but also protects your swimmers from suction entrapment.

 

[BassPlayingDude]

If your skimmer has only one hole as you state and you have a main drain in the deep end then you have a direct run to your equipment pad from your md. You should have a valve to control the md flow. If you leave the valve open say about 10% it'll help when the skimmer is full.

@Orion7319 You should be doing this anyway in order to get proper flow through your pool, otherwise, debris will collect on the bottom and require more vacuuming.

 

[BassPlayingDude]

Huh.. I didn’t know such a thing existed … I wish my pool had that setup. My skimmer is simply plumbed to the pump, and there is no line to the main drain. When the skimmer fills up with pine needles (which can happen very fast with my pool) it can make my pump run dry. I had to buy a skimming robot because it’s such an issue. I wonder if there is a way to rig something up that if the skimmer started sucking air would divert the water from the skimmer to the main drain at the equipment pad.

@Orion7319 If you have been thinking about upgrading to a VSP most new VS pumps also will give you SVRS.. I would consider that on the basis of saving energy too .. in your situation it sounds like a win / win.

 

[BassPlayingDude]

Yikes, let's not hijack OP's thread with our geekery!
@TatianaP How is the SLAM going?

 

[Orion7319]

Yikes, let's not hijack OP's thread with our geekery!
@TatianaP How is the SLAM going?

Lol, definitely let’s not hijack this tread. I started another one here.

No built in skimmer diverter. Any options?

This is a continuation from another thread I don’t want to hijack. If your skimmer has only one hole as you state and you have a main drain in the deep end then you have a direct run to your equipment pad from your md. You should have a valve to control the md flow. If you leave the valve open...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[TatianaP]

Yikes, let's not hijack OP's thread with our geekery!
@TatianaP How is the SLAM going?

My SLAM is beautiful this is the best I have seen my pool since buying the house last month and I even feel comfortable testing/ and finally getting in the pool later

 

[mguzzy]

YEAY!!!!

 

[kimkats]

It will only get better! I am SO proud of you!!! Wait until you look at the pool and panic because there is no water in it........................oh wait there IS water in it but it is so clear and still you cannot see the water!!! Yeah I have done that LOL

 

[TatianaP]

I want to thank the member who told me to get to know my equipment. You made me realize I couldn’t trust the pool guy said my filter was clean. That does not look clean. Besides the one white one I’ve been spraying

 

[kimkats]

I hope he is no longer allowed at your house!!