Vac'd a thermometer

[Winger 03]

The title does not lie. We vac'd a plastic thermometer. It is about 1/2" dia x 5" long or so. Went right up the vac line into the plumbing between the skimmer and pump. Needless to say I am quite concerned. So far, no change in pressure at the filter, and it is not in the pump basket. I also worked the hose quite a bit to see if it was still in there, and could not find it.

So do I.....

- forget about it.
- get a roto rooter type guy to smash it with a drain snake all the while pumping to waste to keep the mercury (or whatever it is) out of the pool water.
- fill the hole with dirt knowing that a pool is just not for me.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ohm_Boy]

Reverse flow with a Drain King?

 

[Lershac]

yeah def reverse the flow with the drain king.

 

[Bama Rambler]

If you don't have a drain king handy wrap a rag around the hose and seal it off as best as possible and back flush the pipe.

 

[Winger 03]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am ceratinly less worried than before as I found out there is no mercury in the thermometer, just colored alcohol.

What is hard to figure is that just below the skimmer port, it turns 90 degrees. I have no idea how the thermometer made that turn. Consequently, I do not know if it will come back out and make that turn again. Either way, I am less upset today than I was yesterday.

 

[JohnT]

I would have expected that the thermometer would had stopped at the 90.

 

[Winger 03]

I agree (and wish it would have). Running the pump all weekend, the thermometer seems to not have any effect on operation as far as water flow is concerned.

 

[Bama Rambler]

You sure it's not stuck in the vac hose? Unless it broke into pieces I can see how it would have gotten past that first 90º Elbow.

 

[Winger 03]

Positive, I pushed a 10 foot 1/2" dia pvc pipe through the hose a couple of times. Believe me, this is a complete mystery. No broken pieces in the pump basket either.

 

[JohnT]

No help now I know, but in the future, you should use a skimmer plate and vac with the basket in place.

 

[PoolGuyNJ]

Blow the line with a 3 HP+ blower or shop vac. Someone's gonna get wet in case it doesn't quite clear the port. Gotta make sure it doesn't fall back in.

Scott