Friend of mine just bought a house with a pool. I told him I'd help him close it since I have the blower and do my own. His pool is probably 30-40 years old. Very basic - single speed pump, cartridge filter and that's it. There appear to be two main drains in the pool (Deep end and shallow end), two skimmers, and four returns. Two returns are under each skimmer, two returns are at the shallow end. The shallow returns also have very small (1/2" diameter?) holes above the water line directly above the returns. When we had the blower running, air was coming out of these. No idea what they're for? Overflow?
Anyway, he has one valve in all of this. The valve appears to close off the two returns under the skimmers. My problem is, I don't know how to put the mains under an air lock since I can't close them off. Since the skimmers appear to be connected to the mains, they never blow clear of water. Water in those lines stay at the pool water line. Additionally, I can't get the deep water main to blow bubbles. I assume I'm just losing too much air to the skimmers.
What am I missing?
Anyway, he has one valve in all of this. The valve appears to close off the two returns under the skimmers. My problem is, I don't know how to put the mains under an air lock since I can't close them off. Since the skimmers appear to be connected to the mains, they never blow clear of water. Water in those lines stay at the pool water line. Additionally, I can't get the deep water main to blow bubbles. I assume I'm just losing too much air to the skimmers.
What am I missing?