Abandoned return?

dmorriso · Oct 12, 2015

I've got this in my pool wall... I'm assuming it is a return that got clogged? It was left that way after a replaster right before I moved in. I have no leaks, and there is no water movement from that pipe.

Two questions:
- Is it worth getting a cheap USB camera and seeing what's in that pipe?
- I've got 3 other returns (green checks). The only circulation problems I seem to have are stuff not moving to the skimmer from the deep end, and stuff gathering on the bottom about a foot from the main drain. Should I have 4 returns in a pool this size, or is 3 enough?

YippeeSkippy · Oct 12, 2015

That looks like my Polaris line. Are you sure there isn't a valve someplace turned off to this return?

JamesW · Oct 12, 2015

Most likely a vacuum line or a pressure cleaner line.

dmorriso · Oct 12, 2015

Interesting. I only have a single jandy valve, between the skimmer and main drain. But I DO have a stub of a pipe sticking up near those pipes that is capped. I wonder if that was originally a vacuum line.

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Qwaxalot · Oct 13, 2015

dmorriso said:
Interesting. I only have a single jandy valve, between the skimmer and main drain. But I DO have a stub of a pipe sticking up near those pipes that is capped. I wonder if that was originally a vacuum line.

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Yep, it's intended for a pressure side cleaner (could also be used as a vacuum port). This was a fairly common practice not long ago.

borjis · Oct 13, 2015

I had one of those too at my old place....it ended at a disconnected pipe in the pump room.

dmorriso · Oct 13, 2015

borjis said:
I had one of those too at my old place....it ended at a disconnected pipe in the pump room.

Did you do anything with it, or just leave well enough alone?

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tim5055 · Oct 13, 2015

Well, right now with no plug it is an area of little to no circulation. This could become a breeding location for algae. I see it you have two choices:

1. Get a threaded plug for about $3 at lowes and plug the pool end of the pipe.

2. Tie that pipe in with the other returns back at the equipment pad and put an eye on the threaded end. Probably less than $25 in parts.

borjis · Oct 14, 2015

dmorriso said:
Did you do anything with it, or just leave well enough alone?

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Just left it alone.

The pipe in the pump room it came from was much narrower than the return lines, so I didn't think
of making it into another return jet.