Water Level Above Vinyl Liner Track

[MM32]

Hello,
This is my first winter owning a pool and we are experiencing a torrential storm tonight. I ran out to check my water level and it’s all the way at the top of the skimmer (I assume it’s above where the liner clips in but I have a loop loc cover and can’t see.). I am trying to pump it out using a pump my pool company left in the pool when they closed it but it’s going very slow as it’s connected to a garden hose. This is the first time I’ve checked since it’s been closed so there is no knowing how long the water level has been that high. Is there a chance that permanent damage was caused? Is there anything else I should do besides pump the water out until it’s back below the skimmer and hope for the best? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[PoolStored]

*probably* no permanent damage. I'd open each corner and inspect with flashlight down each side. Best you can do tonight is let it run and monitor how fast it lowers the water. Don't let the water level get below about 18" in the shallow end.

I keep a sump pump with 1.5" pvc riser, that I connect to 1.5" backwash hose, that I keep just for this reason in the winter. The sump with the 1.5" can lower the water fast. I've already lowered the pool by 3-4 inches, 3x since closing.

 

[MM32]

Thanks for the quick reply. Happy new year!

 

[PoolStored]

We are about to get an arctic blast. Were the skimmers/lines winterized? Were the skimmers plugged? Did they use gizmos or put foam in the skimmers?

I would, once you get the water down about 4-6" below the skimmers, I'd shopvac out the skimmers.

The questions on the skimmer plugs/gizmos are important at this point.

 

[MM32]

Hi,
Thanks again for your help. If you look at this picture they put some foam in the skimmers when they closed the pool apparently. There is still of course water at the bottom of the skimmer since the pool had almost overflowed. Should I shopvac that excess water out of the skimmer? I have to believe they added some winrwrizing chemicals/antifreeze when they closed the pool.

Also,
The water level is right at the bottom of the skimmer now and I am still siponononf water out. However the water level is now below my top stadium step. Is that an issue at all? I attached a photo of that as well.

Thanks again!
Mike

 

[MM32]

Steps

 

[MM32]

We are about to get an arctic blast. Were the skimmers/lines winterized? Were the skimmers plugged? Did they use gizmos or put foam in the skimmers?

I would, once you get the water down about 4-6" below the skimmers, I'd shopvac out the skimmers.

The questions on the skimmer plugs/gizmos are important at this point.

Update:
I lowered the water level to about 3” under the skimmer and shop vacced out all the water from the skimmers. However, the skimmer in the shallow end of the pool keeps pooling water at the bottom of the foam/gizmo. Could that just be residual water or could it be the sign of a more serious problem? Photo attached for reference.
As always, thanks again!

 

[MM32]

Update:
I lowered the water level to about 3” under the skimmer and shop vacced out all the water from the skimmers. However, the skimmer in the shallow end of the pool keeps pooling water at the bottom of the foam/gizmo. Could that just be residual water or could it be the sign of a more serious problem? Photo attached for reference.
As always, thanks again!

Also, if it matters, I have vacuumed the residual water pooling at the bottom out 2x and it came back this morning. Thanks again.

 

[PoolStored]

Update:
I lowered the water level to about 3” under the skimmer and shop vacced out all the water from the skimmers. However, the skimmer in the shallow end of the pool keeps pooling water at the bottom of the foam/gizmo. Could that just be residual water or could it be the sign of a more serious problem? Photo attached for reference.
As always, thanks again!

Gizmos have an o-ring. It may be that the o-ring failed to seal, allowed water to get into the skimmer return line, or the Gizmo is cracked. When you vacuumed the water out of the skimmer, you removed the pressure on the line, allowing the water in the line to rise and bypass the o-ring, or escape through a crack, into the skimmer.

Your best line of defense, at this point... I would remove the Gizmo. Lubricate the o-ring. Vacuum as much water as you can out of the line. Add some RV/Pool anti-freeze to the line, and replace the gizmo.

If you want to test for a crack in the Gizmo, fill a sink with water and submerge the Gizmo. If no air escapes, the gizmo is fine.

If the o-ring is cracked or damaged, you can order replacement o-rings here:

Amazon.com

 

[MM32]

Gizmos have an o-ring. It may be that the o-ring failed to seal, allowed water to get into the skimmer return line, or the Gizmo is cracked. When you vacuumed the water out of the skimmer, you removed the pressure on the line, allowing the water in the line to rise and bypass the o-ring, or escape through a crack, into the skimmer.

Your best line of defense, at this point... I would remove the Gizmo. Lubricate the o-ring. Vacuum as much water as you can out of the line. Add some RV/Pool anti-freeze to the line, and replace the gizmo.

If you want to test for a crack in the Gizmo, fill a sink with water and submerge the Gizmo. If no air escapes, the gizmo is fine.

If the o-ring is cracked or damaged, you can order replacement o-rings here:

Amazon.com

Thanks again for the advice. I lowered the water level a little more to about 6” below the skimmer and there’s a total of about 26” of water in the shallow end now. That is enough water to have in the pool still, right? I just looks low to me and I’m afraid it might affect the liner.

I also bought a universal attachment for my shopvac to try to vacuum as much water as possible out of the skimmer line. I spent probably 30 mins vaccuuming last night because I couldn’t get a tight seal but still wasn’t able to get all the water out. I got a good amount out though, probably about 2.5 small shop vacs worth of water.

I then poured about half a gallon of pool anti freeze down the skimmer. I lubed the o ring on the gizmo that failed and replaced it. I also left a little antifreeze in each skimmer last night when I finished up. I just checked and the anti freeze in the skimmer where the o ring failed has leaked into the skimmer lines… Upon inspection the o ring seemed intact and free of debris. Could it be possible that the skimmer has a crack in it or is it more likely that the o ring/gizmo is not working how it should be?

I would assume the next logical course of action would be to purchase a new o ring and try to replug the skimmer. What do you think?

Being that the water level is so low now, if I am diligent in keeping the water level below the skimmer, is the leak in the gizmo/o ring as much of a concern? This is my first winter with the pool so I feel like I might be over thinking this but curious what you guys think and don’t want to mess up my pool in year 1! Thanks as always, you guys are awesome.

 

[PoolStored]

That is enough water to have in the pool still, right?

Yes.

I lubed the o ring on the gizmo that failed and replaced it.

I'd give the threads of the gizmo a few wraps of teflon tape...that may help it seal.

Could it be possible that the skimmer has a crack in it or is it more likely that the o ring/gizmo is not working how it should be?

I don't think it is a crack. If it was a crack, the line would have to be cracked and the water go through the skimmer crack, through the dirt, through the line crack. Most likely Gizmo failure of some sort.

I would assume the next logical course of action would be to purchase a new o ring and try to replug the skimmer. What do you think?

I bought the o-ring pack and just replace them every year. I'm now on my second pack. I'd get the o-rings, use teflon tape, you should be fine.

Being that the water level is so low now, if I am diligent in keeping the water level below the skimmer, is the leak in the gizmo/o ring as much of a concern?

Not as much of a concern. I do exactly that. I keep the water level below the skimmer, if at all possible, and vacuum my skimmers. I also put a cut up set of 3 noodles in the skimmer, and 3 noodles in the skimmer mouth. That should be enough to protect from freezing.

To drain, I use a sump pump with a 1.5" PVC pipe to above the pool line with the adapter linked below. I then attach a 1.5" backwash hose to my drain areas.

Then I put the sump in a bucket and have a rope tied to the bucket. I tape the rope to the electrical cord from the pump with slack in the cord. The bucket protects the pool surface, the rope allows me to pull the bucket up without putting strain on the cord.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Aqua-EZ-Hose-Adapter/3151503?user=shopping&feed=yes

 

[MM32]

Thanks again for all your help!