Is there a reason NOT to have an eyeball on a return?

[440dodge440]

This is the first season with the pool. The pool has two returns- one has a 3/4" eyeball (at the front corner of the pool), the other has nothing (at the side of the pool-this one is several inches deeper in the water than the other). I never thought much about it and figured that's how it was intended, but I looked at it closer and noticed there were threads to screw in an eyeball. Is there a reason this one would not have an eyeball?

 

[Texas Splash]

Some pools may have a straight return to attached something else to it later like a pressure-assisted vacuum or a water feature to help with cooling the water or aeration.

 

[brianc636]

I was wondering the same thing 440dodge440. I've notice my filter pressure drops about 5-6 PSI when I remove the eyeball from the return.

 

[440dodge440]

Now that you mention it, I think they may have had a pressure assisted vacuum- there were some parts that I asked for identification on here, and there was some sort of pressure regulator....I would think more directed flow with an eyeball would help move water towards the skimmer. Maybe I'll have to try adding one. I don't know what it will do to my filter pressure, or if there's a target pressure to stay below. Right now I run at 7-9psi

 

[duraleigh]

Adding the eyeball will increase your filter pressure but that doesn't hurt a thing. Just remember that is your new "clean" psi.

If you need to screw in something else, you can simply unscrew the eyeball.

 

[mikech]

I have 2 returns and no eyeballs. Everything seems to be good with circulation luckily, as it looks like when the pool was re-plastered (don't know when exactly), the plaster went a little into the returns and they didn't bother to clean it out. So no eyeballs for me as I'm not going to attempt to chip it out. If it ain't broke ....

Mike