Plumbing for my new skimmer

[Homeowner]

I'm replacing my skimmer in my in-ground Hatteras pool.....My original issue was an air leak on the supply side and everything above ground tested good and the underground pipe failed a pressure test.
Removed concrete after leak detection company heard a leak at the skimmer. After I dug down I also found a leak in the pool light niche. Hopefully, I've got that patched up.

The Heyward Skimmer (model 1084) has rigid 1.5" PVC coming from the bottom and transitions to a flex pipe (I'm assume, for now, it's flex PVC, but I will call the installation company this week). There is a metal (iron), most likely barbed device that connects the two pipes and there is a hose clamp around the edge of the flex pipe. This looks strange to me. But I'm here for the real answer.

What is the correct procedure to connect flex PVC to solid PVC and done correctly? I don't want to have to dig up concrete again for the same issue.

Thanks!

 

[reggiehammond]

Have you only removed concrete to get to this fitting? You REALLY want to get that flex out of your system and re-pipe into PVC if possible.

 

[Homeowner]

Have you only removed concrete to get to this fitting? You REALLY want to get that flex out of your system and re-pipe into PVC if possible.

That may happen but not immediately.

 

[kellyfair]

If it is really flex PVC, you can connect it to the regular PVC with a coupler, just like you would connect two regular PVC pipes. Use the same primer and cement You would use on regular PVC.

 

[kellyfair]

I question if it is really flex PVC though. Can’t imagine using a hose clamp on it. Can we see a photo?

 

[Homeowner]

I question if it is really flex PVC though. Can’t imagine using a hose clamp on it. Can we see a photo?

Photo is included in original post above.

 

[reggiehammond]

I question if it is really flex PVC though. Can’t imagine using a hose clamp on it. Can we see a photo?

Based on the photo and means of attachment, or perhaps reattachment from a previous dodgy repair, I'd be concerned at what else we cannot see.

 

[kellyfair]

Yikes… is the lower pipe supposed to be the flex PVC? If it is, it looks seriously old and worn out.

 

[Newdude]

Looks like vacuum hose to me.

 

[Homeowner]

Appreciate all the replies. I have decided to abandon the flex pipe totally and run rigid all the way from the skimmer to the pump. Have another thread about installing a 90 degree elbow only 18" from the skimmer
to raise the pipe 8" to avoid an obstacle.

 

[Newdude]

I'm so glad you decided to go after this. It's one of those things that can't be unseen once you find it.

I had similar when installing my patio. I found what appeared to be 1 inch garden hose run under the area as a sprinkler line. It was already 21 years old and no WAY was I expecting it to live as long as the new patio. So a trenching I went with new poly pipe. It sucked, but not nearly as bad as ripping up my patio 5 (?) years in.

 

[reggiehammond]

There's always some jerk who points something out, then that's all you see/think about. Sorry to be that guy!

 

[Newdude]

There's always some jerk who points something out, then that's all you see/think about

There's also the guy that saves someone a collapsed patio when it gets sinkholed from a dodgy hose leaking when the pump is off.

I was thinking about this today and I've seen similar hoses for commercial grade submersible pumps. I think it's a legit suction hose, just 110% not designed for this and sure as snot not meant to be buried. A vac hose would have long collapsed by now.