Here's my situation: Built in mid 80s 21x41 vinyl pool with 4 return jets, 2 skimmers, vacuum port, and bottom drain. Pump and filter equipment approximately 15-20 ft from pool. When I bought the place, there was a bulkhead type fitting on the return line just above ground level (between the multiport valve and ground) that had a vinyl coated, two wire cord protruding. There was a defunct panel of some sort mounted to the wall nearby which I assume was part of a sensor/chloronator/???. As I got around to replacing some of the valves and other bits, I cut this bulkhead fitting out and left the wire in the return line as I could not pull it out easily. A few years go by with no issue...until I replaced the pump when the old one failed. The increased flow of the new pump ( I suppose the old had a lower flow or had slowly degraded the flow amount), apparently pushed this wiring further down the line until it restricted flow to all 4 return jets. I was unable to scope from the pump end, but I have a pic from down inside one of the return jet lines.
In order to maintain a sufficient flow to the system, I temporarily (although now seemingly semi-permanent as I work on ideas) routed a pvc line from the multiport valve to the pool on the patio surface.
Ok, I'll snake it out. Nope (at least no success yet).
As part of my fiberglas step repair, I drained the water down below the steps which allowed be to work above water line on the jets.
I'll dig up the return line near the pool deck and cut it, retrieve the cord, and patch it up. Oops, the return line is directly under 3 other lines that I assume must be the vacuum, skimmer, and bottom drain lines, making a cut there extremely problematic. (I deduced how to identify the proper line by pouring hot water in from the equipment end until the pipe could be felt to be warmer than the others)
Hey, I'll just use my surface return pipe to reverse pump water into the jet back to the equipment end (after plugging the other 3 jets) and maybe push the cord back out. Hmmm, not so easy or even safe for the plumbing. I did not glue all my pvc together in case the pressure rose too much and the pump pressure against the clog continually pushed the joints apart. I experimented on removing one of the return jet plugs to reduce the pressure some, but that also failed to dislodge the wire.
Now I'm looking for one last bit of genius to retrieve the wire without a large excavation and effort. I'm not optimistic, but maybe someone out there has that spark of an idea...
In order to maintain a sufficient flow to the system, I temporarily (although now seemingly semi-permanent as I work on ideas) routed a pvc line from the multiport valve to the pool on the patio surface.
Ok, I'll snake it out. Nope (at least no success yet).
As part of my fiberglas step repair, I drained the water down below the steps which allowed be to work above water line on the jets.
I'll dig up the return line near the pool deck and cut it, retrieve the cord, and patch it up. Oops, the return line is directly under 3 other lines that I assume must be the vacuum, skimmer, and bottom drain lines, making a cut there extremely problematic. (I deduced how to identify the proper line by pouring hot water in from the equipment end until the pipe could be felt to be warmer than the others)
Hey, I'll just use my surface return pipe to reverse pump water into the jet back to the equipment end (after plugging the other 3 jets) and maybe push the cord back out. Hmmm, not so easy or even safe for the plumbing. I did not glue all my pvc together in case the pressure rose too much and the pump pressure against the clog continually pushed the joints apart. I experimented on removing one of the return jet plugs to reduce the pressure some, but that also failed to dislodge the wire.
Now I'm looking for one last bit of genius to retrieve the wire without a large excavation and effort. I'm not optimistic, but maybe someone out there has that spark of an idea...