Skimmer Appears to be Clogged. Blow Bag to Remove Clog….

[heykerrdog]

Bought the house yesterday.

Poorly maintained.

First project is the pool.

First pool project is the skimmer not working.

The pool inspection reads, “Skimmer appears to be clogged – pool maintenance should use a blow bag to try and remove clog. If unable to repair our remodel department can check this.”

Based on the nosy neighbor, high probability little boys may have put objects in the skimmer suction hole.

What’s a “blow bag” (aside from a college party reference) ?

Pool inspection report attached.

 

[ajw22]

Drain King

Clogged Suction line!

Hey folks! So my suction line is clogged thanks to all the lovely mesquite trees around me. I should have had a leaf canister on my line. Well I just ordered one. Anywho, I need to get my line unclogged. The pool guy who was here suggested getting my “ line blown” with air. They do bot do that...

www.troublefreepool.com

Google search results

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Jimrahbe]

Dog,

Just to make sure....

You would put the Drain King at the pump end, and blow back toward the skimmer.. at least at first...

A Drain King or similar device can be bought at any big box store. They come in all sizes, so you need to know where you are going to put it, to match the size you need.

Show us several pics of your equipment pad and we can get you pointed in the right direction..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Hammond]

I will say that those work well. I have a lot of leaves and the skimmer lines get clogged about once a year. In my case I take the front off the valve, put the drain jet on the hose and stick it down the pvc. Turn the hose on and it tends to clean it right out

 

[an1vrsy]

Congratulations on your new house!

I would also strongly recommend getting a skimmer basket afterwards…

 

[heykerrdog]

Thanks for the help. It has a skimmer basket. I’m currently equipped with the following tools . POD on a ship somewhere in the Pacific. Guess I’ll be borrowing from Mr. Nosey, which isn’t all bad, as he’s already added to my wine supply . Welcome to the neighborhood

Two holes in the bottom of the skimmer. Crud on one side I chipped away. My guess / hope is it’s unused and with construction debris and salt. Dumping chemicals in skimmers seems to have been a popular past-time of dumb and dumber or current pool company (have not met and hope to do it all on my own).

When I move the valve that controls the intake water to the pump coming from the main drain / skimmer to full skimmer, it sucks all the water dry in the pump viewing basket and the water feature and single jet quit.

Suppose I have to match the blow bag “Drain King” to that PVC size supplying the pump and feed it into the pump basket supply line, turn the drain/skim valve full open skimmer side, and try to push backwards to the skimmer, yes?

 

[Hammond]

Rather then inserting in the pump basket, take the front off the valve going to the skimmer and push the hose in towards the skimmer and then turn on the water

 

[Jimrahbe]

Dog,

Just to make sure we are all on the same page...

1. Your main drain is connected to one side of the Intake valve.. This means that the hole in the bottom of the skimmer, that is away from the water, is connected to the Skimmer side of your Intake valve.. The other hole in the skimmer (the one closest to the water) is plugged from the bottom and not used.

2. In your pic of the Intake valve, the Jandy valve is set to shut off the skimmer.. (Just want to make sure you know which end of the valve handle is off..

3. I would take the top of the Intake valve off and see what you can see. Your clog could be right there. If not, I would use the Drain King from that open valve.. This will allow you to blow out the skimmer line by itself back to the skimmer.. It will also allow you to blow out the Main Drain line, by itself, if needed..

4. Many pools have the main drain plugged on purpose, so just keep that in mind.. You don't need a main drain anyway..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[heykerrdog]

A for effort, but no resolution. I can see a tiny bit of water movement in the skimmer when pushing water backwards with the drain king, but it’s very subtle without clearing the blockage (guessing blockage).

Tried both using the blow bag in the pump intake, and through the disassembled valve to the skimmer side.

Putting the blow bag down the valve body was difficult. Not all PVC pipe 90’s are the same. The skimmer 90-to valve is very squared, whereas the main drain to valve is a curved 90.

Tool used from HD.

If on the off chance the Husky brand matters vs Drain King, let me know.

Thanks again.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Dog,

With the valve top removed, try putting the drain king in the skimmer pipe.. The one away from the pool water..

It is easier to see the amount of water moving when it is not under water like the skimmer normally is..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[othater]

I'm a rookie but I had somewhat the same issue. Mine is a old ortega valve, suction from skimmer or spa. Not sure what your valve does but I stuff the water hose towards the skimmer but make sure to turn the valve in my case towards the spa to block water. This makes sure the water is directed directly to the skimmer. This cleared mine. Hope this makes sense.

 

[heykerrdog]

I know Victoria’s Secret…(by Jax) begin playing.

God, I wish somebody would’ve told me when I was younger…

 

[heykerrdog]

Fixed.

Next pool project coming up.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Dog...

Great job...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[heykerrdog]

Dog...

Great job...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks, Jim! I could not (would have hated trying) without your help and the help of the other contributors.

The advice to open the valve and work from there was gold.

Using the pipe snake is a little bit tricky and unless you understand how it “moves”, it can lead you to believe it’s stuck at a bend or otherwise reached a limit. After a couple of attempts through the disassembled valve, I finally figured out the process of pushing the snake until it stopped, then simultaneously squeezing the tool handle (which engages the snake like a drill) and turning the crank at the same time, which then allowed the snake to navigate pipe bends, until finally it reached the obstruction.

The drain snake is 25 feet. I started at the skimmer and after playing out all the snake, no obstructions encountered.

I went to the valve, disassembled it, and after about 5 feet, the snake stopped. I thought the obstruction was close, but it was not. I was not using the tool correctly. After several attempts, I decided to read the instruction manual

The tool bit off a tiny piece of material on the first hit, which then confirmed I was onto something. The second strike on the blockage I hooked it full cotton briefs and pulled it all the way to and partially out of the valve.

The kids toys showed up later after I put it all back together.

Burned out lights and pool stains next. A broken waterfall feature that’ll be beyond my level.

Got to get a plan together…

 

[JamesW]

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[Newdude]

pool stains next

The underwear appears to have filtered out some iron. You may want to stuff polyfill in the skimmers for a while and see how much more you can get out.

From brown to 😍😍. Thank you polyfil!

We filled our pool from our well. We knew the risks and knew we would have a battle when the water was 12" deep as it looked green from the metals. Our fears were confirmed when we added chlorine and the water turned brown almost immediately. Enter 5 gallon polyfil filter. It worked...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Jimrahbe]

A broken waterfall feature that’ll be beyond my level.

Dog,

Maybe, or maybe not... Tell us the problem..

I could use an extra pair of shorts, save them for me...

Actually, they look better than my shorts after a year in Thailand.. Washed by hand, in a garbage can, by the house girl... They did not make the trip back with me...

Thanks,

Jim R..