Priming pump question

[HiddenRiver]

We have two return jets and there are water and bubbles entering the pool from the jets. The working skimmer is on the shallow end of the pool, and the jets enter at the shallow end of the pool.

Would a clog in the working skimmer pipe cause air to enter system? I don’t see this mentioned by Richard vortex in the skimmer well.

Sorry I am so clueless!

You also asked how I primed the pump ( sorry!) . I blocked off the working skimmer by turning off the valve and poured water in to the top of the priming chamber, closed it and screwed it down and turned pump back on while reopening valve. I hope that was the right way to do it but there is still air in the system. In the past it has righted itself but does not seem to be this time.

 

[Catanzaro]

My husband tells me the previous owner blocked off the non working skimmer. Bu I will try blowing air out the working skimmer. I assume, using a compressor? I wonder if there is a way to isolate the skimmer, remove strainer basket and and suck water (and clog) out at the pool end of the skimmer pipe like with a toilet bowl plunger? I guess I would have to reprime... ugh. Maybe use a snake?

Blocked off the non working skimmer from where? The skimmer side or somewhere on the run? Do you know if the line is broken? Also, is the second skimmer attached to the same shut off valve? I see you have 2 valves on the suction side.

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Would a clog in the working skimmer pipe cause air to enter system?

A slight clog could cause air, but it is extremely difficult to tell. Considering you have had issues with priming, up to you if you want to shut down the system, try to blow air backwards, try to unclog one skimmer and also the second skimmer as well to purge the system and try to remove any debris if in the lines. My friend had the slightest clog and a shop vac (from a professional) as he would not listen to me cleared his only one skimmer. We do not know what exactly was in there as no one was paying attention.

Here is a post on how to clear lines:

The concept of closing an in ground swimming pool

 

[HiddenRiver]

Blocked off the non working skimmer from where? The skimmer side or somewhere on the run? Do you know if the line is broken? Also, is the second skimmer attached to the same shut off valve? I see you have 2 valves on the suction side.

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A slight clog could cause air, but it is extremely difficult to tell. Considering you have had issues with priming, up to you if you want to shut down the system, try to blow air backwards, try to unclog one skimmer and also the second skimmer as well to purge the system and try to remove any debris if in the lines. My friend had the slightest clog and a shop vac (from a professional) as he would not listen to me cleared his only one skimmer. We do not know what exactly was in there as no one was paying attention.

Here is a post on how to clear lines:

The concept of closing an in ground swimming pool

I don’t know how it was closed off just that it was. (The fireplace was closed off two because it needed to be lined but we were told it didn’t work) We would have to get some major work done I theorize to fix the currently non working skimmer, but this might be a question for the previous owner who will answer my question if I call him. It looks to me that both skimmers are handled from that on valve. We see an “s” marked on it and the other marked “D.pump” and this is what we open to flush the filter.

If I blow backwards toward the pool wouldn’t any clog end up in the pool? Could the filter be leaking air? Sometimes I see a drip or two coming from it. Did your friend clear his skimmer pipe with the shop vac?

How about a (clean) toilet bowl plunger in the skimmer??

 

[Catanzaro]

My friend had a pool professional come for $90 because he did not want to be bothered. The wife had left and they only know that this is how the job was performed. He could have taken the shop vac and worked from the skimmer to the pump? I do not know. Do not use toilet bowl plungers, just air. Bubbles and the pump not priming is probably not the filter, once water runs past the impeller and up the return hose. Try calling the old homeowner to dig for more information.

 

[HiddenRiver]

My friend had a pool professional come for $90 because he did not want to be bother. The wife had left and they only know that this is how the job was performed. He could have taken the shop vac and worked from the skimmer to the pump? I do not know. Do not use toilet bowl plungers, just air. Bubbles and the pump not priming is probably not the filter, once water runs past the impeller and up the return hose. Try calling the old homeowner to dig for more information.

Ok, here is what he said. Doesn’t sound too good:

Right skimmer froze in about winter of 1996. I capped the pipe between skimmer and filter with a rubber end cap and a stainless steel band around the pipe. I replaced it once after I capped it, probably to cure same problem you are having. Replace rubber 1 1/2 in end cap or fix skimmer. We fixed left skimmer ourselves. Busted concrete, excavated to cracked pipe, install new pipe., backfill and pour new concrete. I was more ambitious then. Barto pools or Shipp will do it. ~$1500 - $2000. Replace solid pipe with flex if you do it.

 

[Catanzaro]

Ok, here is what he said. Doesn’t sound too good:

Right skimmer froze in about winter of 1996. I capped the pipe between skimmer and filter with a rubber end cap and a stainless steel band around the pipe. I replaced it once after I capped it, probably to cure same problem you are having. Replace rubber 1 1/2 in end cap or fix skimmer. We fixed left skimmer ourselves. Busted concrete, excavated to cracked pipe, install new pipe., backfill and pour new concrete. I was more ambitious then. Barto pools or Shipp will do it. ~$1500 - $2000. Replace solid pipe with flex if you do it.

Wow, even though I really do not understand what they actually did, this does not sound good. Somehow they closed the skimmer line on both ends so no water flows out. Just make sure chlorine is in the broken skimmer if you see "green". At this point, you may be experiencing the same thing, but not sure. Hard to tell and some people have no issues for decades or even the life of the pool.

If you can keep the pool running, to balance out the system, try increasing or decreasing suction on skimmer and main drain with shut off valves. If you partially close the main drain, the skimmer has more suction and vice versa. This may help out on the suction side, not sure.

Can you take and upload some pictures of the pool, etc.? If your patio is not that large, maybe even breaking a small area could work. Good luck & keep us posted.

 

[HiddenRiver]

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Good morning! The non-working skimmer is in the foreground nearest the pump and the working one is in the background of the photo.

 

[Catanzaro]

Where exactly is the skimmer plugged? At both ends and with what? At least this one is the closest to the pump. I see two shut off valves, which I assume can shut off one skimmer (that is working) and the main drain. If you can get that one working, then your whole system will be back to normal. And is the system running normal or you still have air in the system?

 

[HiddenRiver]

Where exactly is the skimmer plugged? At both ends and with what? At least this one is the closest to the pump. I see two shut off valves, which I assume can shut off one skimmer (that is working) and the main drain. If you can get that one working, then your whole system will be back to normal. And is the system running normal or you still have air in the system?

He says he capped it between the filter and the skimmer with a rubber ended cap and stainless steel strap (says it in the quote above I included yesterday). One valve is for both skimmers the other is for discharge from filter. I guess I will call the pool folks to see about getting this fixed. I am not sure if this is what is causing the problem with the excess air in the filter system, but yes the bubbles are still there. Ugh.

 

[HiddenRiver]

So now that I am thinking about it if I do a better job of plugging the non working skimmer maybe from the pool side (I have to get the cover open to look inside the skimmer —it is on very tight) will that potentially solve the problem ?

 

[Catanzaro]

Hidden River:

The biggest issue here is that I am not by your pool. If I was, it would be easy to trouble shoot just by using my vacuum that the pool is closed with. You may want to call in a professional to look at the system. Take good notes to really see what is going on over there. A service call is about $75-$100, depending on the person. Then you can go from there. Sorry, I can not be more help, but hard to tell from just descriptions. And yes, I did read the posts carefully.

The only thing about my pool is that for starters, I was here during the whole construction. In addition, I have so many pictures (1,500 + in total) that I can refer back to them to see what happened. It is pretty easy to understand my system as the runs are all pretty much independent. If one of my skimmers, main drain or returns fail, I will know that it has to be from point A to point B. Not knowing your underground plumbing is one of the main reasons for the confusion.

Please call someone at this point and keep us posted. You are really not that far from me, but probably to far for me to send out one of my friends here in NJ.

 

[HiddenRiver]

Little by little there are fewer bubbles coming out of my jets and the priming chamber is getting closer to being full with fewer swirling bubbles. Maybe my problem is a function of a slowly sealing O ring?

 

[RandyM27]

The first pic you posted shows 2 separate suction side intake lines. Each has a shutoff valve. The one on the left is closed, the one on the right is open. If both skimmers are on the same intake line (the open valve), do you know what the other intake line (the closed valve) is for?

If the left intake, the closed one, is for your bottom drain(s), you should be able to use this to determine if you have a suction side leak in the skimmer line, or if it’s something else. This wasn’t clear to me from your post but I may have missed something.