Hello,
I just purchased a home that came with a swimming pool. I have spent the last week or so watching videos and giving myself a "crash course" in pool maintenance. I need to get everything worked out before I close it for the winter and the lady who owned it before me was clueless. Her husband had left and he was the only one who knew anything about the pool (story for another forum).
In order to effectively answer my question, let me explain my pool setup.
I have a pool that is about 20k gallons that has only one skimmer and one main drain. It has a RETURN vacuum pump port and two return jets.
The maindrain and the skimmer are running off the same intake line (I think?), there is no valve at the front of the pump to regulate the two of them. It has to be done with the flow valve inside the skimmer (again, I think?)
Exiting my pump is two return lines with a valve. The valve regulates the water flow in two directions/return lines. One to my filter and back into the pool, or to the vacuum return port. (I keep it about 3/4 going to the filter and 1/4 going to vacuum port).
My issue is this, when /if I run ONLY the vacuum (valve turned all the way to the vacuum return line and cutting off the filter/return lines), my pump has full prime.
However, If I run the water flow to the filter/return lines and turn the vacuum port return line off, I don’t get the pump at full prime. It’s CLOSE but no cigar. It causes bubbles to spit out into my pool.
Here is the interesting part, If I remove the FLOW VALVE from the bottom of the skimmer (the flying saucer thing that has a hole on the bottom that can be partially covered, closed or open with a sliding flap), the pump will catch full prime. However, shortly thereafter, ALL of the water gets sucked out of the skimmer, it runs dry, than the skimmer fills back up again, and it becomes a vicious cycle doing this over and over. It CAN'T be food for the pump.
So, I’m assuming that it must be the flow valve that is preventing me from running full prime? Also, if I open the flow valve flying saucer hole ALL THE WAY OPEN, the same thing happens (the pump completely drains the skimmer). Could this also be an issue with the water flap on the skimmer throat or the water level? The water is about halfway covers the skimmer throat so I think the water level is good. Maybe the flap on the skimmer throat needs adjustment?
I have a main drain but again, there are no levers to control it at the pump. I’m not even sure where it’s connected. I’m assuming it’s the second hole in the bottom of the skimmer (the hole closer to the pool water that's not sucking anything in)?
Sorry for the long winded question(s). I just wanted to give as much detail as possible since pools have so many configurations and possible issues.
Thanks so much for any help!
I just purchased a home that came with a swimming pool. I have spent the last week or so watching videos and giving myself a "crash course" in pool maintenance. I need to get everything worked out before I close it for the winter and the lady who owned it before me was clueless. Her husband had left and he was the only one who knew anything about the pool (story for another forum).
In order to effectively answer my question, let me explain my pool setup.
I have a pool that is about 20k gallons that has only one skimmer and one main drain. It has a RETURN vacuum pump port and two return jets.
The maindrain and the skimmer are running off the same intake line (I think?), there is no valve at the front of the pump to regulate the two of them. It has to be done with the flow valve inside the skimmer (again, I think?)
Exiting my pump is two return lines with a valve. The valve regulates the water flow in two directions/return lines. One to my filter and back into the pool, or to the vacuum return port. (I keep it about 3/4 going to the filter and 1/4 going to vacuum port).
My issue is this, when /if I run ONLY the vacuum (valve turned all the way to the vacuum return line and cutting off the filter/return lines), my pump has full prime.
However, If I run the water flow to the filter/return lines and turn the vacuum port return line off, I don’t get the pump at full prime. It’s CLOSE but no cigar. It causes bubbles to spit out into my pool.
Here is the interesting part, If I remove the FLOW VALVE from the bottom of the skimmer (the flying saucer thing that has a hole on the bottom that can be partially covered, closed or open with a sliding flap), the pump will catch full prime. However, shortly thereafter, ALL of the water gets sucked out of the skimmer, it runs dry, than the skimmer fills back up again, and it becomes a vicious cycle doing this over and over. It CAN'T be food for the pump.
So, I’m assuming that it must be the flow valve that is preventing me from running full prime? Also, if I open the flow valve flying saucer hole ALL THE WAY OPEN, the same thing happens (the pump completely drains the skimmer). Could this also be an issue with the water flap on the skimmer throat or the water level? The water is about halfway covers the skimmer throat so I think the water level is good. Maybe the flap on the skimmer throat needs adjustment?
I have a main drain but again, there are no levers to control it at the pump. I’m not even sure where it’s connected. I’m assuming it’s the second hole in the bottom of the skimmer (the hole closer to the pool water that's not sucking anything in)?
Sorry for the long winded question(s). I just wanted to give as much detail as possible since pools have so many configurations and possible issues.
Thanks so much for any help!