I have a simple in ground setup. I have two valves that can be shut off. One valve shuts off main drain and the other the skimmer. Does it hurt any to shut off one valves completely if I want sediment to be sucked into main drain or if I want leaves to go faster into the skimmer? All I notice is the pressure dropping by 2 psi from 14 to 12 psi on filter gauge that is all. Am I hurting anything? Does the pressure drop because the pump realizes it's only pushing one suction line so it works less hard?
Main drain vs skimmer...and pressure
- Thread starter markuszoom5
- Start date
If you block one suction line, the pump is getting less water than it's able to pump, so pressure goes down. If you restrict a return line, pressure goes up. It's normal.
I like to set the main drain to draw just enough to see a difference in the skimmer but no more. Unless I'm brushing.... then I go full drain in the hope it will suck the dust in.
I like to set the main drain to draw just enough to see a difference in the skimmer but no more. Unless I'm brushing.... then I go full drain in the hope it will suck the dust in.
Thank you Richard. That makes perfect sense that closing off suction drops pressure as pump slows down and that blocking return increases pressure. Do you think shutting off either main drain or skimmer suction damages anything?
If the pump starts starving or you completely block flow, maybe. Otherwise, no.