Plumbing - help with main drain vs skimmer, do I have option?

[Oregonpool214]

Hello! Diving a bit into my plumbing.....I just read something that blew my mind.....skimmer and main drain plumbing may be connected, or able to isolate/alternate? See attached pic of my pad. The black hose with red valve turned to off is the return to my solar heating system (forward flow is behind the filter hidden in photo). Do you see something that looks like capability to change between skimmer and main drain for route to pump? Thanks in advance!

 

[mknauss]

You have a single suction line to the pump. So your main drain is connected to your skimmer. Look for a device covering the two lines under the skimmer basket.

 

[Oregonpool214]

You have a single suction line to the pump. So your main drain is connected to your skimmer. Look for a device covering the two lines under the skimmer basket.

Thanks for the quick response! Are you saying if I wanted to limit what came from skimmer and increase what came from main drain, there are devices that would cover the two holes below my skimmer basket (where I plug my vacuum hose into)? My only concern with that is that I’ve noticed I end up with air in my pump window when my skimmer basket is too full (which makes me think that my main drain can’t keep up with pump pull?).

 

[mknauss]

Depends on what you have under the basket. Do you have a float assembly or other device over the holes?

Essentially, you always want 90% of your suction from the skimmer.

 

[Oregonpool214]

We had a float assembly a few years ago, but at the recommendation of our local pool store, we removed it because we kept getting air in our pump. It was as if it wasn't allowing enough water in, even if water in skimmer was sufficient level. I took their advice without question because I wasn’t at THIS STAGE of doing my own research. I guess I’m still assuming that seeing any air in pump is bad, And that’s not normal operation for a float valve. Our current setup is just a skimmer basket overtop of two holes (the posterior one is where I plug in vacuum hose).