Mystery pipe?

[Oregonpool214]

Hey all. In the process of draining and repainting our pool. Have wondered about this mystery item for a while. Is this a covered jet? Or?? We have two other jets (one in shallow end, one in deep end) of our kidney shaped pool, and have kinda struggled with water movement efficiency... pool is 30+yrs old, and we know little about it. Thoughts? Why would this be covered? Worse case I break it open and ....?

 

[JamesW]

Worse case I break it open and ....?

Snakes come out?

Can you show a picture of the system?

 

[borjis]

Looks like a pressure cleaner port. Just guessing

 

[Richard320]

Somebody might have winterized it years ago and forgotten to replace the plug with an eyeball. I'd open it up and see where it leads. Stuff a hose in it and see if water squirts out the other jets.

 

[JamesW]

Most likely a vacuum line or a pressure cleaner port.

Is the pool painted?

 

[Oregonpool214]

Snakes come out?

Can you show a picture of the system?

lol, with my current swamp situation, snakes wouldn’t seem that outlandish. Photo of my system...like what pump / pipes look like?

 

[Oregonpool214]

Somebody might have winterized it years ago and forgotten to replace the plug with an eyeball. I'd open it up and see where it leads. Stuff a hose in it and see if water squirts out the other jets.

Perfect, will see if I can get cap off and then shove a hose in it. Would three jets in my pool size seem more appropriate?

 

[Oregonpool214]

Most likely a vacuum line or a pressure cleaner port.

Is the pool painted?

Yes, pool is painted epoxy. We’re draining to re-paint at the moment. Do you know how I would discern if it’s a vacuum line vs pressure cleaning port? I had other suggestion to stick a hose in it and see where it leads... maybe I’ll start there?

 

[Richard320]

Perfect, will see if I can get cap off and then shove a hose in it. Would three jets in my pool size seem more appropriate?

Yes. Or more. But pool builders often skimp.

 

[Oregonpool214]

Yes. Or more. But pool builders often skimp.

It would be nice, I imagine, if there were three functional jets. As I eluded to previously, we’ve had issues with dead water in various areas of pool, and it seems like we can’t quite get water moving right with trial and error. Have you found, or do you know, of any good resources for “ways to orient pool jets”. I imagine it’s quite different with different shaped pools....

 

[JamesW]

A picture of the whole system might give a clue to the purpose of the pipe.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

A pic of your equipment pad might solve the question.

 

[Oregonpool214]

A picture of the whole system might give a clue to the purpose of the pipe.

black hose after red valve that is turned off goes to our solar heating system.

 

[Oregonpool214]

lol, with my current swamp situation, snakes wouldn’t seem that outlandish. Photo of my system...like what pump / pipes look like?

Black hose after red valve thats off goes to our solar heating system.

 

[Chasarms]

I wouldn't crank on it too hard. If you break it, you have a brand new problem. It looks like it may be fused with past paint or epoxy.

If you put a hose in it and turn on the water and you get water out of the other jets, it is a return. If you get water to the pump basket it is a vacuum port.

 

[Oregonpool214]

I wouldn't crank on it too hard. If you break it, you have a brand new problem. It looks like it may be fused with past paint or epoxy.

If you put a hose in it and turn on the water and you get water out of the other jets, it is a return. If you get water to the pump basket it is a vacuum port.

Will be cautious when cranking! I know nothing of vacuum ports. Would this work similar to attaching vacuum hose into skimmer basket, or is it specific for a robot vacuum or?

 

[Chasarms]

Will be cautious when cranking! ☺ I know nothing of vacuum ports. Would this work similar to attaching vacuum hose into skimmer basket, or is it specific for a robot vacuum or?

It is the same as attaching to the skimmer, although I would think there would be some kind of valve somewhere to isolate it when vacuuming.

 

[Oregonpool214]

Well, we did some investigating... and the pipe goes... NOWHERE! It's sealed off about 4 inches inside of plug. Bummer - we were hoping for another jet or at least some kind of cool function. Thanks for all the insight, folks!

 

[Chasarms]

Well, that's no fun.