question about main drain and automatic suction cleaner

[Elusive1up]

I have an automatic suction side cleaner with its own side port. I leave this in the pool all the time so its running always when the pump is on, I have the three way valve usually half open. My question is and I've always wondered should I completely shut off the main drain or have the main drain pulling some water. I have a float valve at the skimmer to control flow between skimmer and main drain. I usually have this set to mostly just to use the skimmer to get get good surface cleaning, sometimes I close the flap slightly to get maybe 25% at most coming from the main drain becasue I am concerned about getting good water circulation and turnover, but closing it much more, say half way and my skimming action is minimal. Since I have the automatic cleaner running all the time when the pump is on pulling water from the bottom am I ok to set my float valve to just pull water 100% from the skimmer and nothing from the main drain? FYI The valve at the equipment pad for the cleaner is open about half way.

 

[ajw22]

Do you only have one skimmer feeding your pump?

The risk with totally shutting off the main drain is if the water in the skimmer gets low your pump can run dry and damage itself. With the main drain open if the skimmer water gets low the pump will get water from the main drain.

You have to decide if running your pump dry is worth the risk to get better cleaning.

 

[Elusive1up]

Do you only have one skimmer feeding your pump?

The risk with totally shutting off the main drain is if the water in the skimmer gets low your pump can run dry and damage itself. With the main drain open if the skimmer water gets low the pump will get water from the main drain.

You have to decide if running your pump dry is worth the risk to get better cleaning.

Thanks for the reply. My main drain is plumbed into the skimmer line, it doesn't have it's own dedicated line to the pump. It has a float valve in the skimmer to control the flow between the skimmer and main drain. If the water level drops too low the float valve shuts off flow from skimmer and diverts it to the main drain only, so running the pump dry shouldn't be an issue. I was more concerned with proper water circulation and chemical mixing if I run only the skimmer. But with the automatic cleaner running when the pump is on I feel that is pulling water from the bottom of the pool and that should be enough for proper circulation, but I wanted to confirm that or get other opinions on if this set up was good for water circulation and chemical mixing or if there is a reason I should split the flow between the main drain and skimmer.

 

[MGA]

I use the diverter to go from main to skimmer
And the skimmer is set up the same way as yours
If skimmer fails the main drain takes over so there is no chance of the pump running dry

 

[Jimrahbe]

1up,

If you have to worry about your skimmer running out of water, you are just not swimming enough..

I have two rent house pools and both of them do not have a working main drain.. The pool at my house does have a main drain.. I used to have it open, but could not see one difference in operation of the three pools.. My main drain is now only open about 5 or 10% just to keep the water in the pipes fresh..

I would not hesitate to shut off the main drain by removing the diverter. But then I check on my pools a few times a week so I can add water when required.

Thanks,

Jim R.