Increase pump suction

[Endless Summer]

Hello!
I recently moved into a place with 36,000 gallon vinyl liner pool.
i have backwashed the sand filter, but I still wish the vacuum would be stronger. It has one 86 gallon/min 1 horsepower pump. There is only one suction side pipe (with 1 skimmer and 1 vacuum port both connecting to the same pipe). Vacuum port is closer to the pump/filter.
I’m wondering if I can block off the skimmer to increase suction to the vacuum port?
Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
You should be able to. Is there a 3 way diverter valve on the suction side?
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[Jimrahbe]

ES,

Let's see some pics of your equipment pad...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Endless Summer]

Welcome to the forum!
You should be able to. Is there a 3 way diverter valve on the suction side?
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

I don’t believe there is a diverter valve.
Thanks for the recommendation; I’ll try get some time to read it.

 

[Endless Summer]

ES,

Let's see some pics of your equipment pad...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Let me know if you need any more pics. Thnx!

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Do you have two holes at the bottom of the skimmer? How about a float/diverter valve (UFO looking thing) under the skimmer basket?

 

[mknauss]

As Mike stated, check your skimmer.
Do you attach your cleaner hose into the skimmer or use a skimmer plate?

 

[Jimrahbe]

ES,

So, re-reading your first post, it appears you have a vacuum port on the side wall of your pool... I have never seen a pool with a vac port and only one pipe coming out of the ground..

Based upon the pic, I say go ahead and try blocking the skimmer and see what happens.. It would be best if you could have someone else block the skimmer (with the vac port open) while you look at the pump.. If the pump suddenly runs out of water, you will know that the pump can't draw enough water through the vac port to allow the pump to run.. If this is the case, you could try blocking off only part of the skimmer.

In your particular case, blocking off the skimmer should increase the water flow through the vac port.

Keep in mind that most pools with only one pipe have the main drain plumbed into the bottom of the skimmer. When you block off the skimmer pipe, it just may switch over to the main drain.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Endless Summer]

Do you have two holes at the bottom of the skimmer? How about a float/diverter valve (UFO looking thing) under the skimmer basket?

This is what it looks like under the skimmer basket

 

[Endless Summer]

As Mike stated, check your skimmer.
Do you attach your cleaner hose into the skimmer or use a skimmer plate?

I just moved in, but Ive attached the cleaner hose to the vacuum port closest to the pump (the skimmer is on the far side of the pool).

 

[mknauss]

Ok. Follow what Jim described.

Odd set up

 

[Endless Summer]

ES,

So, re-reading your first post, it appears you have a vacuum port on the side wall of your pool... I have never seen a pool with a vac port and only one pipe coming out of the ground..

Based upon the pic, I say go ahead and try blocking the skimmer and see what happens.. It would be best if you could have someone else block the skimmer (with the vac port open) while you look at the pump.. If the pump suddenly runs out of water, you will know that the pump can't draw enough water through the vac port to allow the pump to run.. If this is the case, you could try blocking off only part of the skimmer.

In your particular case, blocking off the skimmer should increase the water flow through the vac port.

Keep in mind that most pools with only one pipe have the main drain plumbed into the bottom of the skimmer. When you block off the skimmer pipe, it just may switch over the main drain.

Thanks,

Jim R.

“it appears you have a vacuum port on the side wall of your pool”. Yes, this is correct.

Thank you for the advice. I’ll give it a try.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

It looks like the skimmer has a hose slip fitting on the suction port. You might try using hooking up there if you can't get enough suction out of the vacuum port. If you don't have a main drain, it's possible your vacuum is connected to the skimmer through the plugged port. But, if that's the case, you wouldn't feel any suction from the vacuum port now.

Good luck!