We have made contact, cut and glued the brand new skimmer line. We still have some digging and backfilling but we're making progress. It's after midnight.
Good flex pipe does not just collapse, so that's an unusual situation.The line cavitated and needs replaced.
You're never going to see the line because it's incased in concrete. I had to dig a brand new suction line the whole way around the outside perimeter of the decking.I want to see the flex hose when you get it out please.
We just had another member ask about his PF wanting to use flex hose on his fiberglass pool. I shared your thread with them and told them to hold out for the solid pipe!
It did in my case. We ran 2 50ft paracord through the line with fish tape to make it 100ft long. Tied a big nut in the center so we could pull the cord from both ends. First swipe got nothing. We were trying to get behind the obstruction thinking something was stuck in the line. Second pass through added another nut. It got harder to pull but still nothing. 3rd pull, added 3rd nut and he felt the lined ridges on the inside of the pipe and new it collapsed. It was our last ditch effort before installing a new line because we knew how much work it was going to be. I threw everything at this line with the advice from 3 other pool builders and NOTHING was helping.Good flex pipe does not just collapse, so that's an unusual situation.
That just means that you have too much suction.I could also never manually vacuum my pool without the head slamming to the bottom of the pool.
Even though I had to set it to the lowest speed of 1600 and rebleed the line multiple times and it was still happening? That line was collapsing in the spring. I don't care what anyone says. I could never get the vac to work properly. One half swipe n I was forced to shut my system down every single time even at the lowest setting 1600.That just means that you have too much suction.
That is not an indication of a failed line.
No. I don't think so. Never had a problem running 3 nuts through the line closest to the skimmer. At this point, it doesn't really matter to me. I have done all the hard work to run the new line and I'm moving on now.Not sure what's going on.
Maybe a blockage near the skimmer?
You can likely adjust your pump to go lower in the menu settings. The PB likely just picked a high and low threshold based on your SWG. Going with a lower RPM will free up the vacuum from sticking if the problem persists once this is done.I could never get the vac to work properly. One half swipe n I was forced to shut my system down every single time even at the lowest setting 1600
I was thinking the same. But if you go back to the install pics, i don't see how that type of pipe could have been crushed. Installed close to the shell in a trench - difficult for the heave equipment to crush it and not damage everything. I don't think a human can crush it? puzzling!I'm thinking it was either a defective couple of feet of pipe and it collapsed, or they somehow crushed it and didn't realize it at the time.
That is about where the blockage is because we took a 40ft snake and laid it out on top of the concrete from the pump and the skimmer because we never hit the "blockage" from either side because my runs are about 100ft. It brought us to this approximate location by the tanning ledge. Is it kinked? I don't know. All I know is I put the time in to get it fixed and came up with no other solution than to cut my losses and run the new line. Absolutely sick over it. I had to do something on a brand new pool that usually isn't done for YEARS (!!!) if ever.This has been gut wrenching to read through. Casey you’re powering through it and getting it done. Mad Respect for you in this situation.
I know almost less than zero about flex pipe in this scenario, but have worked with HDPE irrigation installations. Looking through some pics in post 591, pic 114818. Is that a kink in the picture? I literally can’t tell, and know less about the location in regards to where your suspected collapse is. Take it for what it’s worth, someone that’s ignorant asking a question.
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My shoulders were definitely burning from using the digging iron. I gotta get moving n go clean my filter. My pool and the decking is a mess. I think the pool is cleaner than the decking though.Super impressive determination, Casey. I know you were out of options but not too many people would’ve taken this repair on themselves. You’ve probably got mad defined shoulders now, can add ‘extensive pool plumbing repairs‘ to your resume, and have picked up a young admirer. High five?