Getting no suction at skimmer

[gguadagno1]

Hello i just bought a house with a pool and unfortunately my on patient self decided to try and open the pool even though I’ve never done it before. The problem i am having is at the skimmer basket i am getting little to no suction at all but the pump is still pulling in water from what i assume is coming from the floor drain. I closed the valve to the floor drain hoping that the skimmer would suck but no i was wrong. Can anyone please help me out.

 

[mas985]

Welcome to the forum!

Did you remove all of the winterizing plugs? There is usually one in the skimmer or a gizmo.

Also, post a picture of your equipment and plumbing.

 

[gguadagno1]

Yes all the plugs from the jets and this blue tube from the skimmer was removed

 

[mas985]

Is the water level at least half way up the skimmer mouth?

Pictures?

What make/model pump do you have?

 

[Jimrahbe]

G,

Show us several pics of your equipment pad and your pool...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[gguadagno1]

Once i get home i will send everything thank you all

 

[gguadagno1]

Is the water level at least half way up the skimmer mouth?

Pictures?

What make/model pump do you have?

The water level is more then halfway up the skimmer, and its a hayward 1hp pump

 

[gguadagno1]

These are some pics if they help

 

[mas985]

Picture of your pad equipment too.

 

[gguadagno1]

Picture of your pad equipment too.

 

[mas985]

With flex pipe, my first thought is that the pipe has collapsed somewhere or is plugged.

Is this an above ground pool? Can you inspect the full line?

 

[gguadagno1]

Its in ground

 

[gguadagno1]

There was a blue tube thing screwed into the skimmer that i took out and next to that is another hole that is plugged

 

[mas985]

Is the hole with the plug further from the pool? If so, that is likely to be the line that goes to the pump and you will need to remove that. The other hole probably goes to the main drain. Do you have two skimmers or perhaps a suction port in the wall for a cleaner?

 

[gguadagno1]

No suction port i was told they did the vacuums from the skimmer, the hole that is still plugged is closer to the pool, i just attached a house to try and see if there was a clog but only water came out the other side

 

[Jimrahbe]

G,

I'd get a Drain King and use it to force water from the pump backward toward the skimmer, and see if you can get flow that way, and if clogged, it might blow out the line.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000CBIWC/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=f9a0dd97046c60b8b2c94ec2ced21bcd&hsa_cr_id=4474058510701&qid=1717774783&sr=1-1-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_title&pd_rd_w=6asgv&content-id=amzn1.sym.417820b0-80f2-4084-adb3-fb612550f30b%3Aamzn1.sym.417820b0-80f2-4084-adb3-fb612550f30b&pf_rd_p=417820b0-80f2-4084-adb3-fb612550f30b&pf_rd_r=MG3FR1086K45ZYRSYAJ3&pd_rd_wg=LBEEv&pd_rd_r=a1f04c07-3335-41b1-8233-72dd371872d6&th=1

The link is just to give you an idea what they look like... You can buy them almost anywhere//

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

G,

The hole farthest away from the water is normally for the pump.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[gguadagno1]

I just used that same thing and didnt get water going to skimmer but wen i put it on the skimmer side it shot water out by the pump

 

[gguadagno1]

Would my pool being over filled be the problem?

 

[mas985]

Would my pool being over filled be the problem?

No, that is not the issue.

I just used that same thing and didnt get water going to skimmer but wen i put it on the skimmer side it shot water out by the pump

If water only travels in one direction in that pipe, that could indicate there is a check valve inline. But that also means water should be drawn into the pump from the skimmer.

If you close each of the lines separately, does the pump lose prime or suck in air? If so, that could be a leak in the line.