I have a Pool that was not getting much suction at the skimmer. I cleaned the skimmer basket back washed and rinse the filter cleaned out the pump basket and inspected the O-ring. When I took off the top of the basket to check the O-ring water kept just pouring out of the basket. Also, when I run the pump, you can see air in the pump basket. It’s just wow that water keeps gushing out after the pool is turned off and the lid is off. Any thoughts? I’m not so good with these pipes and stuff.
Pool suction
- Thread starter Grayman43
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,178
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Did you coat the pump lid O-ring with Pool Lube - Further Reading ?
Read 1.10 Air in Pump Basket in Pump Basics - Further Reading
Why do you think you need more suction at the skimmer?
Read 1.10 Air in Pump Basket in Pump Basics - Further Reading
Why do you think you need more suction at the skimmer?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,178
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Post pictures of your equipment pad.
How many skimmers do you have?
What valves do you have on the suction side of your pump?
Are you using a skimmer plate with the vacuum hose?
I’m not really trying to figure out why the water comes up. I’m just trying to figure out if it’s related to the lack of suction you can see bubbles in the pump basket.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,178
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
OK, you are rattling around in what problem you are asking us to help you fix.
Some bubbles in the pump can be expected when vacuuming.
If the pump is not losing prime, or cavitation, or making strange noises, then consider it normal.
Your water running out of the pump is because the higher pool is draining into the pump basket. That is not related to your "poor suction." You can stop it with a 2 way valve for the times you open the pump basket but if you forget to reopen that valve you will cavitate the pump. I know that isn't the question you asked.
- Nov 23, 2014
- 215
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I don't have experience with above ground pools, but as @TinFoilHat alluded, water will always find it's way from higher points to lower places, so I imagine most above ground pool owners have the same issue when servicing the pump. My first thought would be to put a stopper in the skimmer when servicing, better yet a valve for when extended servicing required. Would need one in the return as well, or a check valve.
If you're not getting much suction at the skimmer then you're probably getting much output at the pool return ports either. That could be due to any number of things. The pump could be losing prime, the filter could be clogged, there could be some other obstruction anywhere in the path (valved off, stuck check valve in the return, etc), or the pump could be defective. You could eliminate the return path by placing a hose directly from the pump back to the pool as a test. Some air in the pump basket is normal but you need to determine whether the pump is achieving prime. If the pump struggles to gain prime (ie tons of air in the inlet basket), it could be the pump lid gasket. If not the lid gasket, air might be getting in through a fitting between the skimmer and the pump. Hope that helps.