Decreased Skimmer Effectiveness

[Lizbethmcq]

So we have had our pool five years now, and for the most part all has been good. This year though I have noticed a lot more "stuff" in the pool, leaves, bugs, etc. and a lot less in the skimmers. I used to put hair nets in the skimmers to capture all the small stuff and had to clean them out at least every other day, now I can go weeks with out much in them. Suction is good, water level is good. The pool is 43'8"x16' with two skimmers with a return between them on one side and two returns on the opposite side. I'm at a loss as to why it doesn't seem to be functioning well.

The other thing is we have the pumps running 24/7 which you would think means the water would be more free of debris. I keep trying to adjust the on/off trip switches but they keep coming loose and falling together - killing me on electric and not helping with keeping the pool clean.

Any ideas?

 

[Flying Tivo]

Do you have a main drain? Maybe you need to close the sucction on the main drain for the skimmers to work better. If you have a valve to select which skimmer, try to use only one.

 

[Oly]

Proper water level, adequate pump speed and proper weir door operation are key to keeping the pool surface clean. Felipe's gives good advice about checking bottom drain vs skimmer suction as this may have been redirected.

 

[Lizbethmcq]

No main drain, water level and weir doors all working properly, I think we have just a single speed pump.

 

[Chasarms]

Is your filter pressure normal?

 

[Lizbethmcq]

Yep filter pressure is normal and filter cartridge is new

 

[Oly]

Try using ping pong balls to observe and diagnose your surface circulation. Are you able to see debris being pulled into your skimmer boxes as it gets near or does it float on by. Do you feel good suction below your skimmer basket?

 

[Lizbethmcq]

Yes good suction in the skimmer, tennis balls left by my husband and dog always end up in the skimmers. I’ll try the ping pong balls. looking at the attached construction plan you can see where the two skimmers and three return lines are, would it make sense to have the two returns on the far side go in opposite directions and the one between the skimmers going straight to get two circular motions or should they just go all the same direction to create one circle? I never notice this before but the one "return" is marked "pool cleaner" is this not a return, there is water coming out of it like the other two returns?

 

[Oly]

Yes the returns should be pushing water towards the skimmers. Is your pool cleaner port for a pressure side or suction side cleaner? Take a look at the cleaner port is it open and working? I notice you are using a robot pool cleaner so no longer using the cleaning port?

 

[borjis]

They should be pointed in such a way that a circular movement happens on the surface. It can be clockwise or counter clock, whichever works best.
I've done this with two pools and worked well.