So, I tried using a 5hp/12gal (RIDGID) "shop vac" to blow the lines and it isn't cutting it. Based on lots of reading here I was expecting to possibly have trouble with the MDs, but I can't seem to clear much of anything!?? So I wanted to check here and make sure I'm not being stooopid 
I'm blowing from the skimmer - turns out my skimmer "drain" is an almost perfect fit for my shopvac hose (2") - I put a rubber dishglove that I cut the finger end off of over the end just to ensure a better seal, a heavy duty rubber band and duct tape seal the glove to the hose. At that junction I'm confident it's a pretty darn good seal. Also duct taped the hose at the vac blower opening
My skimmer line meets the main drain lines just before the pump with a multi-way valve.
skimmer------T--------MD
..............pump (periods just for spacing)
First, I basically cut the pump out of the path and blew skimmer to MD. Really rough estimate, there would be ~120' of line total, and about 6-7' depth water (including going under the pool) as the pool is partially drained. No dice... :grrrr:
So, as a test and to try to make some progress, I decided to try to blow returns... Cut the MD off so I had skimmer->pump...
From pump I have:
pump----T----cart filt
.......vac ret
Vac return doesn't have other stuff past it, and is the shortest total pipe run, so I tried that first; cart filter cut off so I have skimmer->pump->vac filter/pressure gauge->return@pool
I can see that I cleared the pump, and also saw "some" air in the vac filter canister (it's clear) so I know I'm moving something.
To make sure the filter wasn't adding resistance, coarse though it is, I removed it from the vac filter container as well.
So, when I turn on the shop vac, you can see some "disturbance" in the water (this particular return is lower than the rest and still below the water line by a couple inches - was planning to plug when I saw bubbles) for a few seconds, but then it stops.
I have a hard time believing there is all that much elevation change underground, maybe a couple feet, or that much line resistance (2" pipe)...
So what gives? Any ideas?
Thanks
I'm blowing from the skimmer - turns out my skimmer "drain" is an almost perfect fit for my shopvac hose (2") - I put a rubber dishglove that I cut the finger end off of over the end just to ensure a better seal, a heavy duty rubber band and duct tape seal the glove to the hose. At that junction I'm confident it's a pretty darn good seal. Also duct taped the hose at the vac blower opening
My skimmer line meets the main drain lines just before the pump with a multi-way valve.
skimmer------T--------MD
..............pump (periods just for spacing)
First, I basically cut the pump out of the path and blew skimmer to MD. Really rough estimate, there would be ~120' of line total, and about 6-7' depth water (including going under the pool) as the pool is partially drained. No dice... :grrrr:
So, as a test and to try to make some progress, I decided to try to blow returns... Cut the MD off so I had skimmer->pump...
From pump I have:
pump----T----cart filt
.......vac ret
Vac return doesn't have other stuff past it, and is the shortest total pipe run, so I tried that first; cart filter cut off so I have skimmer->pump->vac filter/pressure gauge->return@pool
I can see that I cleared the pump, and also saw "some" air in the vac filter canister (it's clear) so I know I'm moving something.
To make sure the filter wasn't adding resistance, coarse though it is, I removed it from the vac filter container as well.
So, when I turn on the shop vac, you can see some "disturbance" in the water (this particular return is lower than the rest and still below the water line by a couple inches - was planning to plug when I saw bubbles) for a few seconds, but then it stops.
I have a hard time believing there is all that much elevation change underground, maybe a couple feet, or that much line resistance (2" pipe)...
So what gives? Any ideas?
Thanks