On Monday, our inground pool water level dropped two inches overnight. I refilled it (which I realize now I should not have done) and by dark it had reached just above the skimmer intake. It was still at that level this morning. So the skimmer well is full and there is maybe an eighth of an inch of water along the bottom of the skimmer box/intake (sorry if I’m using incorrect terms). The leak continued at about the same rate whether the pump was on or off.
The pool has a Jacuzzi skimmer (model W 8395?) With two holes at the bottom; one in from the main drain and one out to the pump. This is the liner’s first season and there have been no detectable leaks since opening end April. I am a new pool owner, but the pool is 20 years old.
The only “events” in the past few days: (1) I discovered that a skimmer is supposed to have a weir (door?) and identified a broken one left for us in a box of pool bits. It worked well enough to help me manage a sudden overload of pollen, but popped out when anyone was swimming. I see no way it could have damaged the skimmer box or liner. (2) I blocked off the main drain and put a skimmer sock on the basket to help with the pollen problem. 12 hours after I put the sock on, I checked the skimmer and it was barely moving water with the sock absolutely clogged with pollen. (3) I cleaned out the pump filter which I have done before. (4) the pump has developed an intermittent shimmy (this is new). It goes away for a while when the pump is stopped and started again.
I have called the pool service that installed the liner and he is coming over to find the leak in a few days. He is sure it can’t be the liner and is expecting a broken pipe. Maybe I shouldn’t even be posting this since we should have an answer soon, but I’d like to understand the pool system flow a bit better and the pool guy, although friendly, always seems way too busy to badger with questions. Sometimes I do anyway.
Questions:
Can water flow backwards through the entire system or are the pressure side and suction side effectively separate? ie. Can a leak in the suction side draw water out through the returns? I can’t imagine how it would get past the sand filter.
The pool pump loses prime when I open it to clean. I assumed this meant the pump is above or at the pool water levels and there is no check valve, but when I block the skimmer hole, it still loses half its water. Where could the rest of this water go?
I have a few other questions, but will start with those. Thanks to anyone who can help me understand. It was certainly easier going the Y.
The pool has a Jacuzzi skimmer (model W 8395?) With two holes at the bottom; one in from the main drain and one out to the pump. This is the liner’s first season and there have been no detectable leaks since opening end April. I am a new pool owner, but the pool is 20 years old.
The only “events” in the past few days: (1) I discovered that a skimmer is supposed to have a weir (door?) and identified a broken one left for us in a box of pool bits. It worked well enough to help me manage a sudden overload of pollen, but popped out when anyone was swimming. I see no way it could have damaged the skimmer box or liner. (2) I blocked off the main drain and put a skimmer sock on the basket to help with the pollen problem. 12 hours after I put the sock on, I checked the skimmer and it was barely moving water with the sock absolutely clogged with pollen. (3) I cleaned out the pump filter which I have done before. (4) the pump has developed an intermittent shimmy (this is new). It goes away for a while when the pump is stopped and started again.
I have called the pool service that installed the liner and he is coming over to find the leak in a few days. He is sure it can’t be the liner and is expecting a broken pipe. Maybe I shouldn’t even be posting this since we should have an answer soon, but I’d like to understand the pool system flow a bit better and the pool guy, although friendly, always seems way too busy to badger with questions. Sometimes I do anyway.
Questions:
Can water flow backwards through the entire system or are the pressure side and suction side effectively separate? ie. Can a leak in the suction side draw water out through the returns? I can’t imagine how it would get past the sand filter.
The pool pump loses prime when I open it to clean. I assumed this meant the pump is above or at the pool water levels and there is no check valve, but when I block the skimmer hole, it still loses half its water. Where could the rest of this water go?
I have a few other questions, but will start with those. Thanks to anyone who can help me understand. It was certainly easier going the Y.
