Overflow drain stops draining

[foursix]

South Florida pool here.

It seems like every time we get a few days of rain put together my overflow drain system stops working. The pool is less than 1 yr old and I had the PB come out a couple times and "blow out" the line which involves running water back into the drain plumbing at the equipment pad. I've since had to do the same thing several times to get the overflow starting to drain again. As soon as it's blown out, it starts draining again.

As I understand it, the overflow in the skimmer is connected via PVC to a french drain in the gravel under the bottom of the pool, and then plumbed back to the equipment pad with 1.5" PVC in case (i was told) that if they ever needed to drain the pool they could pump the water out from around the shell and lessen the risk of the pool popping out of the ground.

The PB tech suspects that it's an air-lock causing the drain to stop. Looking for suggestions and/or knowledge to better prepare me with my future interactions with the PB.

 

[Jimrahbe]

46,

I really doubt it is an air lock... Having the overflow run into a French drain and then under the pool makes zero sense to me. An overflow needs to be big enough to handle a heavy rain in Florida and that little pipe in the back of the skimmer is just not going to do that.

Also that pipe is in the skimmer.. what else is floating on the water in the skimmer?? All the junk that is floating in your pool is now trying to float out through a 3/4" pipe... What could possible go wrong with that..??

Real overflows use 2" pipe and take the water out to the street or a storm drain..

Sorry, I know I am not being much help here, but I see this as a design issue and not a problem with the plumbing itself.

Let's see if some of our other members can chime in with some more positive posts..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[foursix]

Thanks Jim,

My last pool had the same type of overflow in the skimmer. It won't keep up with a massive FL downpour but it will catch up and eventually drain all the water. Clogging could be an issue but my pool is screened and very little debris is floating on the surface when the pool is overfull.

 

[Jimrahbe]

46,

I forgot that most all of you Florida pool owners have that large screened-in extra room...

I still can't see any reason for an "Air Lock"... just does not make a lot of sense to me.

This post will get your thread back before more eyes, so maybe we can get some more posts...

Jim R.