If you can dig to it easy, cut out the combined section to isolate each one and add another valve in the valve train to control the second skimmer. Then pinch way back on the main drain. Get weir doors and make sure you keep water in the skimmers. After awhile you will learn what speed to operate your VS motor to keep your skimmers working properly.
Low skimmer suction
- Thread starter Deltadog
- Start date
Getting to the “T” is not really an option at this point, as I would have to remove the concrete decking around the pool. Would separating them back again where I can get to the pipe be advisable at this point? I can probably get to the pipe and separate about 20ft from equipment pad.
Dog,
Unless you can run single lines from each skimmer back to the pad, it won't make much difference. I'd just leave it like it is and see what happens.
If this were my pool, as a test, I would remove the skimmer baskets and feel the suction at each skimmer. Then I would go to the far skimmer and block the suction port and make sure the near skimmer still works. Then I would block the near skimmer with the far skimmer unblocked and confirm that the far skimmer works. Just to confirm that what the builder says is how the skimmers are actually plumbed.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Unless you can run single lines from each skimmer back to the pad, it won't make much difference. I'd just leave it like it is and see what happens.
If this were my pool, as a test, I would remove the skimmer baskets and feel the suction at each skimmer. Then I would go to the far skimmer and block the suction port and make sure the near skimmer still works. Then I would block the near skimmer with the far skimmer unblocked and confirm that the far skimmer works. Just to confirm that what the builder says is how the skimmers are actually plumbed.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Appreciate the advice Jim! I did remove the baskets. Skimmer closest to equip pad, pulls more suction than other, if I plug the skimmer closest to equip, the lesser suction skimmer does begin to pull more. What are your thoughts on the cartridge filter?
Dog,
Depends on how big it is.. The bigger the filter the less it will reduce the flow of water passing through it. A big cartridge filter should make the flow better at a lower RPM.
I have the CCP-520 and love it. When running at 1200 RPM my filter pressure is about 1 lb. when clean and only 2 or 3 lbs. after 6 months.
Cartridge filters have no Mulitport/Backwash valve which also reduces the amount of backpressure.
The near skimmer will always have much more suction than the far skimmer. That is why, in a well thought out system, both skimmers are separately plumbed back to the pad. This allows you to independently adjust the suction to each skimmer and make them the same. This is not a huge issue, just something to be aware of.
Thanks,
Jim R.