A Question and Probably a stupid idea?

[TFP_Addict]

SO our pool only has one water intake from the pool skimmer.

My question? Is there ANY possible way to have the pool be able to use automatic or manual vacuum AND continue to intake water from the skimmer?


Stupid Idea: I was thinking about using something like this... heh



But i'm guessing this has probably never been done and for a good reason, i just don't know what that reason is. Of course it wouldn't have to be this attachment specifically. But I'm just trying to think of a way to get it done.

I know that if I did do something like this, I'd be getting half as much power from the skimmer and half from the suction power from the vacuum.

 

[pabeader]

In my experience with a suction side vacuum, there is usually a regulator that you adjust to control the function of the vacuum. This regulator allows some of the suction to work in the skimmer as it normally would.

 

[Richard320]

A robot vacuum works independently of the pool pump.

 

[Jimrahbe]

sg,

Here is a picture of what I did at a rent house pool before going "robot"...

Basically the valve allowed me to adjust or balance the amount of water coming from the skimmer vs. the amount of water coming through the vacuum for the best vacuum suction I could get... Similar to what you want to do, but I think that adjustable would work better...

Thanks for posting,

Jim R.

 

[TFP_Addict]

In my experience with a suction side vacuum, there is usually a regulator that you adjust to control the function of the vacuum. This regulator allows some of the suction to work in the skimmer as it normally would.

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

This might give you a better reference to what I have.

sg,

Here is a picture of what I did at a rent house pool before going "robot"...

Basically the valve allowed me to adjust or balance the amount of water coming from the skimmer vs. the amount of water coming through the vacuum for the best vacuum suction I could get... Similar to what you want to do, but I think that adjustable would work better...

I don't understand. Does the end of that PVC pipe connect to the vaccum? If so, does that mean you have to manually connect it everytime? Or you just set in 1 setting once and left alone.
Also my pool equipment is about 50 feet away from the skimmer. Not close at all.

A robot vacuum works independently of the pool pump.

But they are crazy expensive $600+
Can't justify the price over just doing it manually once every few weeks. We rarely have any leaves in our pool. Just bees going for a swim.

But I think this might be my only option at this point. Either I go the robot way or manually put in a kreepy krawler type deal. FML.

 

[Richard320]

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

This might give you a better reference to what I have.

Where's your diverter valve? Did you remove it to take the picture?

this is what it looks like:

Here's how it works:

It might improve the circulation down deep a little if it's working right. You won't be able to feel it, though.

But they are crazy expensive $600+
Can't justify the price over just doing it manually once every few weeks. We rarely have any leaves in our pool. Just bees going for a swim.

But I think this might be my only option at this point. Either I go the robot way or manually put in a kreepy krawler type deal. FML.

I hope you aren't trying to manually vacuum using a skimmer plate, because you won;t get much suction. If so, I see why you'd be looking for something better. I have the same setup and I use a PVC threaded adaptor to connect the vacuum hose directly to the suction port while I vacuum. It just fits inside without dropping in and the vacuum hose shoves in snug to the threads. Vacuuming the whole pool is maybe 20 minutes a week.

 

[TFP_Addict]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab-_Ux7ogCY

After watching this video. I'm 100% sure I don't have that diverter valve!
And I have been using the skimmer plate as my suction to the pool. I was told and assumed this was the only way to use the vacuum in our pool.

So the diverter value, from what I understand, has two functions.

One is a safety function that will lock down to avoid equipment problems if the pool water levels get too low.
The second is to divert the water from the skimmer to the main drain near the deep end.

I had a pool equipment professional come out and we discussed the main drain on the pool at great lengths. He told me the main drain for pools are essentially useless. The only effective way to clean the pool is to use a vacuum of some kind. And he claims newly built homes don't even have a main drain at the bottom of the pool anymore.

So i'm not sure what the big deal is that I don't have one. I'm willing to get one for just the safety aspect.
How often do you drain water from the main drain verses from just the skimmer. I'm really new to all of this stuff, and just learning as time passes. I try to read as much as I can on these forums, but only so much time in the day.

I use a PVC threaded adaptor to connect the vacuum hose directly to the suction port while I vacuum.

I don't use anything but connect the hose into pump intake. The suction is pretty strong in my opinion. But then again, I don't know how strong it COULD be. heh.
Just to give you some reference, I've never had the hose dislodge from the suction intake once. I can vacuum the pool in about 30 minutes.

PVC threaded adaptor: Any pictures to get a better idea? Does this allow you have to have a pure amount of suction versus just using only the hose?

 

[TFP_Addict]

My whole goal or point to this thread was for a simple reason.

I want the bottom of the pool to automatically get cleaned using a robotic vacuum of some kind that doesn't break the bank.
It sucks the debris at the bottom of the pool into the main filter.
And for both the skimmer and the vacuum to function at the same time.

That's not asking too much, now is it??

 

[Richard320]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab-_Ux7ogCY

After watching this video. I'm 100% sure I don't have that diverter valve!
And I have been using the skimmer plate as my suction to the pool. I was told and assumed this was the only way to use the vacuum in our pool.

So the diverter value, from what I understand, has two functions.

One is a safety function that will lock down to avoid equipment problems if the pool water levels get too low.
The second is to divert the water from the skimmer to the main drain near the deep end.

I had a pool equipment professional come out and we discussed the main drain on the pool at great lengths. He told me the main drain for pools are essentially useless. The only effective way to clean the pool is to use a vacuum of some kind. And he claims newly built homes don't even have a main drain at the bottom of the pool anymore.

So i'm not sure what the big deal is that I don't have one. I'm willing to get one for just the safety aspect.
How often do you drain water from the main drain verses from just the skimmer. I'm really new to all of this stuff, and just learning as time passes. I try to read as much as I can on these forums, but only so much time in the day.



I don't use anything but connect the hose into pump intake. The suction is pretty strong in my opinion. But then again, I don't know how strong it COULD be. heh.
Just to give you some reference, I've never had the hose dislodge from the suction intake once. I can vacuum the pool in about 30 minutes.

PVC threaded adaptor: Any pictures to get a better idea? Does this allow you have to have a pure amount of suction versus just using only the hose?

I just remember a thread years ago where the vacuum cuff came loose and got sucked into the plumbing and got stuck and restricted the flow. The guy couldn't blow it out with a drain king. How do you get something like that out? That's why I use the adaptor.

The pool guy is right -- you don't get a lot of circulation in the drain and a lot of pools don't have them because they come preplumbed with cleaners. I just like to set it to 100% drain when I'm brushing. Maybe I'm deluding myself but I hope some of that stuff gets sucked away before it settles.

 

[TFP_Addict]

I mean that seems like a super rare one time freak occurrence in my opinion. The diameter of the end my hose is pretty wide, I don't see that happening tbh.

On trying to determine the diverter valve. I recently had to buy a Pentair Flap Weir Replacement and it fit perfectly. Would it be safe to assume the entire skimmer assembly was made by pentair?

Therefore Buying a Pentair Diverter valve would lead to the highest success rate?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VU8TL2

is the one i'm looking at currently. Also would there be any reason to buy 2? Does these things ever break? Or does the O ring just go bad over time?

 

[Richard320]

I mean that seems like a super rare one time freak occurrence in my opinion. The diameter of the end my hose is pretty wide, I don't see that happening tbh.

On trying to determine the diverter valve. I recently had to buy a Pentair Flap Weir Replacement and it fit perfectly. Would it be safe to assume the entire skimmer assembly was made by pentair?

Therefore Buying a Pentair Diverter valve would lead to the highest success rate?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VU8TL2

is the one i'm looking at currently.

I just measured the diameter of the well and the pool store handed me a generic one. The brand of the skimmer is probably stamped on the lid.