Vacuum suction issue

[cam2000deluxe]

I cannot get vacuum suction when the pool level is below where the vacuum hose comes out of the plastic nozzle that connects to the vacuum plate in the skimmer box. Seems like air is being sucked through this loose hose connection, it's fine when water level is above. Pool store solution was just to fill the pool up, which is a little annoying when kids splash out water every swim. Question: has anyone tried gluing/epoxying the nozzle to the hose to seal this air ingress off? Would this work?

Cheers

 

[ajw22]

You could try Pool Putty. But I don’t think it will work long term with the flexing of the hose. Epoxy is too hard and will not hold when the hose flexes.

Adding water while vacuuming is a much easier solution.

 

[cam2000deluxe]

The idea was that I'd epoxy in the threads where the nozzle screws on to the hose - A lot less flex there than the hose proper....might give it a try

 

[Texas Splash]

@jseyfert3 do you have any thoughts on these vacuum plates? I'm also under the belief the best seal will be a higher water level to submerge, but we're looking for any other opinions.

 

[Newdude]

So the leak is where the flex-y hose attaches to the collar, correct? All hoses will fail there given enough time from the stress of doing the far corner. I tried silicone and gorilla glue but both tore out thr first time I pulled the hose to the opposite end of the pool. Then I bought a 'heavy duty' hose and it was sucking air in a matter of weeks.

I found that simply splashing water to fill the collar helped alot. It would take it a half hour or so to need more water.

The also make elbow plates that have the hose go through the skimmer instead of up out and over to save some of the stress on the hose. I will be trying one soon. The skimmer comes in a few sizes but they aren't confusable. Say a 5.25 inch / 6.5/ 8.75. You should be able to figure out which one you need easily but here is one so you get the idea.

https://www.amazon.com/Hayward-SP11071-Skim-Ground-Skimmer/dp/B0036UN9GI/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?crid=B48I8MYY40HD&keywords=skimmer+plate+elbow&qid=1645627112&sprefix=skimmwr+plate+elbow%2Caps%2

 

[Newdude]

You can also try reversing the hose. If your vac head stays on the one end permanently like most of us do, the other end is always tugging at the skimmer. Swap the hose and the leaky side will be under water and you'll still get the bulk of the vac suction.

Until the other side fails.

 

[cam2000deluxe]

So the leak is where the flex-y hose attaches to the collar, correct? All hoses will fail there given enough time from the stress of doing the far corner. I tried silicone and gorilla glue but both tore out thr first time I pulled the hose to the opposite end of the pool. Then I bought a 'heavy duty' hose and it was sucking air in a matter of weeks.

I found that simply splashing water to fill the collar helped alot. It would take it a half hour or so to need more water.

The also make elbow plates that have the hose go through the skimmer instead of up out and over to save some of the stress on the hose. I will be trying one soon. The skimmer comes in a few sizes but they aren't confusable. Say a 5.25 inch / 6.5/ 8.75. You should be able to figure out which one you need easily but here is one so you get the idea.

https://www.amazon.com/Hayward-SP11071-Skim-Ground-Skimmer/dp/B0036UN9GI/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?crid=B48I8MYY40HD&keywords=skimmer+plate+elbow&qid=1645627112&sprefix=skimmwr+plate+elbow%2Caps%2

Hey guys,

Thanks for this - sorry for slow response...having internet issues. We don't have a fixed end, just a loose hose that gets pulled out when vacuuming - one end attaching to the plate and one to the pole. The hose threads just screw on to the cuff at each eand with the seal I guess supposed to be a soft hose seated against the cuff i.d. Looks like this: white cuff screwed to hose threads I'll see if I can send some pics at some point, but also ask about that right angled vac plate this would probably lower the water level that would be sufficient to cover up the air leak point....also a shorter cuff collar would do that too which I'll look for. Was going to just epoxy the threads on the hose, then screw the cuff back on letting it seal in the threads..

 

[cam2000deluxe]

I could also hacksaw the cuff/collar to be lower profile I suppose

 

[Newdude]

The hose threads just screw on to the cuff at each eand with the seal I guess supposed to be a soft hose seated against the cuff i.d.

Exactly. It holds itself with pressure from the tapered cone on both the vac head and skimmer plate. Tugging on the hose with regular use makes the connection rip/ leak. The bulk of the amazon reviews mentioned it. It wasnt a question of if, for most brands, but a question of when. Matter of fact, thats the fail point of my Dyson vaccuum wand as well. Where the flexy hose meets the base of the vaccuum.

I'll see if I can send some pics at some point, but also ask about that right angled vac plate this would probably lower the water level that would be sufficient to cover up the air leak point.

It will definately be lower than the upright model, and may even be low enough to totally seal it. Next time you're trying, splash water in the top of the white cuff like i mentioned above. For just an ounce of water (?) It sealed the leak and lasted for quute some time. I could hear the sucking noises to know it needed another splash 30 mins later.

 

[jseyfert3]

I only do manual suction side cleaning. My skimmer vac plate to hose connection is always above the water level. I don't have issues with this sucking air myself, not sure why this is the case. I don't leave the hose connected though. My procedure to vacuum is to fill the hose with water by sticking it in front of the return to blow the air out. Then I bring it over to the skimmer, get the plate into the skimmer behind the weir door but above the water, then run the hose through the skimmer door and jam the hose onto the skimmer plate. Once done, I slap the plate down over the skimmer to get the vacuum going.

 

[cam2000deluxe]

I only do manual suction side cleaning. My skimmer vac plate to hose connection is always above the water level. I don't have issues with this sucking air myself, not sure why this is the case. I don't leave the hose connected though. My procedure to vacuum is to fill the hose with water by sticking it in front of the return to blow the air out. Then I bring it over to the skimmer, get the plate into the skimmer behind the weir door but above the water, then run the hose through the skimmer door and jam the hose onto the skimmer plate. Once done, I slap the plate down over the skimmer to get the vacuum going.

Yep - I only do manual vacuuming as well. I always prime the hose by just attaching one end to the pole, popping that in the pool and then feeding the remaining hose down into the pool until water emerges from the other end...then I just whack it on the skimmer vac plate with the pump on (our vac plate and weir door are one and the same thing)