Is it safe to turn off skimmers during vacation?

[Dabby]

We are going out of town for a couple of weeks. I plan to shut off the water while we’re gone so I won’t be able to add water. I’m afraid the water level may drop below the skimmers. Can I run the pump for that long using just the main drains or could that damage the pump?

 

[mknauss]

Why are you going to turn off your make up water? You have a SWCG so setting the pool up to run each day, remain full, and generate chlorine should be you plan. It would be best to have someone stop by every few days and clean the skimmer baskets.

As to your question, no, it is not advisable to run the pump on only the main drain. Very likely you will lose prime.

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

I too can't understand shutting off the pool while you are gone for two weeks??

Tell us more..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

How do you fill water now?

When my parents were away from their home, I plumbed an automatic sprinkler valve to their fill line and connected it to a cheap wifi enabled irrigation controller. I used a Ring cam to monitor water level and was able to fill pool remotely from my home. Something to consider if you already have those devices.

 

[Newdude]

I used a Ring cam to monitor water level and was able to fill pool remotely from my home.

Goodness Mike, thats awesome !!! I could move the front doorbell that nobody ever uses to the back door if I ever went away.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

It worked pretty good. I used an outdoor stick up cam that had pretty good resolution/zoom. I took photos of the waterline on the tile that I looked back on when monitoring levels. I set a 30 min. timer on the controller 'cause things happen and I get easily distracted. A Wifi enable hose end timer and garden hose would work too.

 

[Dabby]

How do you fill water now?

When my parents were away from their home, I plumbed an automatic sprinkler valve to their fill line and connected it to a cheap wifi enabled irrigation controller. I used a Ring cam to monitor water level and was able to fill pool remotely from my home. Something to consider if you already have those devices.

I can fill using the WiFi sprinkler system. However, I want to turn off the water to prevent any flooding disasters.

 

[Dabby]

D,

I too can't understand shutting off the pool while you are gone for two weeks??

Tell us more..

Thanks,

Jim R.

I don’t plan on shutting down the pool. I want to turn off the water to prevent any flooding disasters. I’m just afraid the water level may get below the skimmers.

 

[Dabby]

Why are you going to turn off your make up water? You have a SWCG so setting the pool up to run each day, remain full, and generate chlorine should be you plan. It would be best to have someone stop by every few days and clean the skimmer baskets.

As to your question, no, it is not advisable to run the pump on only the main drain. Very likely you will lose prime.

How would turning off the skimmers cause the pump to lose prime if the main drains are still on?

 

[proavia]

Turn off the water to the property?
Just the house?
Just the irrigation?
Just the autofill?

Are the skimmer and main drain plumbed separately back to your equipment pad?

Most properties in my area have a shut off at the meter and two near rhe house - one for the interior of the house and the other for the irrigation. My autofill is plumbed to the main irrigation line. I usually shut the house water off if we leave for more than a few days. The irrigation line stays on so lawn and plants get watered and autofill works.

 

[Jimrahbe]

I want to turn off the water to prevent any flooding disasters.

D,

If I understand correctly, this is not about flooding of the pool, you are worried about flooding inside the house, like what might happen if the water heater ruptured, or ???.

How many flooding disasters have you had?

The lower the water gets in the pool, the harder it is for the pump to maintain prime. This is just one reason we never recommend using the main drains to drain a pool.

I doubt the water level would get low enough to cause this in just two weeks, but who knows.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Dabby]

Turn off the water to the property?
Just the house?
Just the irrigation?
Just the autofill?

Are the skimmer and main drain plumbed separately back to your equipment pad?

Most properties in my area have a shut off at the meter and two near rhe house - one for the interior of the house and the other for the irrigation. My autofill is plumbed to the main irrigation line. I usually shut the house water off if we leave for more than a few days. The irrigation line stays on so lawn and plants get watered and autofill works.

The only way to turn off the water is to shut it off at the meter. There is no separation between interior and irrigation. There are two valves to the pump. One for the main drains and one for the two skimmers. My plan was to just shut off the skimmer valve.

 

[Dabby]

D,

If I understand correctly, this is not about flooding of the pool, you are worried about flooding inside the house, like what might happen if the water heater ruptured, or ???.

How many flooding disasters have you had?

The lower the water gets in the pool, the harder it is for the pump to maintain prime. This is just one reason we never recommend using the main drains to drain a pool.

I doubt the water level would get low enough to cause this in just two weeks, but who knows.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yes, not flooding the pool, but flooding in the house. We have had more than our share of leaks that could be a disaster if left unattended for two weeks.
My fear is that the water level drops below the skimmers and causes the pump to suck air. Where I live in Texas, it is very possible to happen in two weeks.

 

[Dabby]

Yes, not flooding the pool, but flooding in the house. We have had more than our share of leaks that could be a disaster if left unattended for two weeks.
My fear is that the water level drops below the skimmers and causes the pump to suck air. Where I live in Texas, it is very possible to happen in two weeks.

I’m not afraid of the water level dropping drastically (unless we have another leak), just that it may drop below the skimmers.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

In theory, the Jandy diverter valves are intended to be airtight, but this isn't always the reality. When the skimmers are submerged, you would never know about a minor water leak within the valve. You could have minor water flow through one of the O-rings or diverter seals and you would never know about it. However, when there's no water, air sucked in through the same defect can cause your pump to eventually run dry. It's just not a chance that most of us would want to take.

 

[TinFoilHat]

I leave my automagically working pool running normally when I go on vacation. VSP with salt cell timer and autolevel. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[proavia]

The only way to turn off the water is to shut it off at the meter. There is no separation between interior and irrigation. There are two valves to the pump. One for the main drains and one for the two skimmers. My plan was to just shut off the skimmer valve.

Not that it helps your current situation, but seriously consider updating to include a shutoff for the house and a separate irrigation shutoff (to allow it to remain on with house off) with autofill plumbed to main irrigation feed. Right now you have zero options with only a meter shutoff.

Can a trusted individual swing by to turn the water on and refill the pool when needed?

 

[proavia]

If you choose to shut off the water and only use the main drains to feed the pump, losing prime to the pump may burn up your EcoStar pump and require a replacement to the tune of $2000. Of course, leaving the water on and having a leak in the house during your absence could be more costly. I guess you have to pick your risk threshold.

How old it the Ecostar?

 

[Dabby]

If you choose to shut off the water and only use the main drains to feed the pump, losing prime to the pump may burn up your EcoStar pump and require a replacement to the tune of $2000. Of course, leaving the water on and having a leak in the house during your absence could be more costly. I guess you have to pick your risk threshold.

How old it the Ecostar?

Can you tell me how shutting off the skimmers could cause the pump to lose prime?

 

[Newdude]

If the water level drops low enough, the pump loses prime. You dont just get to drain the whole pool because you have drains. All pool/pump setups have unique thresholds so YMMV.

Your water level probably won't evap enough to lose prime, but the irony is that one rare risk fix creates a new one.

You could also retain prime while low, have a power flicker and not be able to reprime.