Both of the Skimmers are plugged up

[Snehal Anurag]

Hello,
I am a new homeowner and need help understanding how my pool works.
Both skimmers are not working, and I don't know why they are plugged in.
Are they clogged, or did someone intentionally plug them?
Does anyone know why they are plugged in and how to unplug them?
Your advice and guidance on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jimrahbe]

SA,

Skimmers come with two holes.. When your main drain is connected to your equipment pad, then the hole next to the water is plugged.

This in no way effects the operation of the skimmers.

Show us several pics of your equipment pad, so we can give you some advice..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

SA,

If your water is green or cloudy, then most likely your filter is clogged with algae and will not let water pass through it.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Snehal Anurag]

Hey Jim R,
Thanks for quick response.
I recently changed the filter and pump in my pool.
The water is not cloudy or green, but both skimmers are not working.
The suction hole of the skimmer line is plugged in. Can you tell me why this happened and what I should do next?

 

[Snehal Anurag]

SA,

Skimmers come with two holes.. When your main drain is connected to your equipment pad, then the hole next to the water is plugged.

This in no way effects the operation of the skimmers.

Show us several pics of your equipment pad, so we can give you some advice..

Thanks,

Jim R.

I'm a new pool owner and would like to learn more about equipment pads. Can you share some insights on what they are and how they work? I'm interested in sharing pictures of my pool, but I'm not sure what an equipment pad is or how it works.

 

[Bperry]

The suction hole of the skimmer line is plugged in. Can you tell me why this happened and what I should do next?

Its not plugged, its open in your picture. There should be a large basket to prevent leaves from going down the open pipe. You have that?

 

[Snehal Anurag]

Its not plugged, its open in your picture. There should be a large basket to prevent leaves from going down the open pipe. You have that?

I have a basket in one of my skimmers, and I'm buying one for the other skimmer. However, if the skimmers are open, why aren't they working? The pool cleaning guy told me that the skimmers are plugged in, but he doesn't know why. He is saying that white plug is there insde left hole of skimmer.

 

[Bperry]

I have a basket in one of my skimmers, and I'm buying one for the other skimmer. However, if the skimmers are open, why aren't they working? The pool cleaning guy told me that the skimmers are plugged in, but he doesn't know why. He is saying that white plug is there insde left hole of skimmer.

Skimmers come with two holes because some pools use two but most only use one hole.

If the pump is on and there is no basket in the skimmer, its possible some debris got in the pipe and plugged it. But thats unlikely to stop water flow to both skimmers unless the pump is clogged.

The “equipment pad” is the area where your pool pump and any valves that control the skimmer are located. Post a picture of that area to help know why the skimmer wasnt pulling water.

 

[Snehal Anurag]

Here is a picture of my equipment pad. I think both the skimmer and main drain lines are open.

 

[Bperry]

Here is a picture of my equipment pad. I think both the skimmer and main drain lines are open.

Is there water being pumped out from the return jets? That blue hose looks like its filled with water?

 

[Snehal Anurag]

I recently backwashed my pool. The blue hose is filled with water because of the backwash. However, the water is circulating through the main drain, pump, and returning valve.

 

[Bperry]

I recently backwashed my pool. The blue hose is filled with water because of the backwash. However, the water is circulating through the main drain, pump, and returning valve.

if water is going through the system then theres only two possibilities:
1. The skimmer line is clogged.
2. The skimmer is working but just pulling very small amount of water. You can try turning off the main drain and see what changes to know if its this one.

 

[Jimrahbe]

SA,

Your pump only has two input pipes..

One pipe if for your Main Drain and the other pipe is for your Skimmers.

This means your skimmers are using the same pipe.. This means that both skimmers could be shut off by a plug in the single line feeding the pump.

I would open the Intake valve (the one in front of your pump) and see if it is full of leaves.. I would then use a "Drain King" and force water backwards from the Intake valve toward both skimmers and see what comes out.

Thanks,

Jim R.