I recently read a post where someone made a DIY double elbow pipe with a few holes to use in place of a skimmer diverter plate due to cost. Someone else mentioned the plate/float also served to prevent the pump from losing suction if level were to fall below the skimmer. This is also mentioned in this post, Is it OK to not use a skimmer diverter? , as a safety feature.
However in my case, which may be very rare, a few weeks ago my older Hayward cartridge filters lid cracked in half over night. I woke up to water spewing from the filter and a Pool that was 5 Ft. Lower!
I had thought the pump should have lost suction by then, but now realize it was because of the diverter plate. Now I can't help but think, what if I had been out of town? Would it have drained my in ground gunite pool to almost Empty? With my very high water table and how wet the yard has been recently could it not have easily popped my pool out of the ground? Goodbye Pool!
I think a burnt up motor and/or pump sounds like a better result in this situation, or any other case where a fitting/connection may break and start draining your pool. I've replaced the filter and a new pump housing since, but considering doing away with the diverter or making that DIY elbow. Just wondering if anyone has heard of something like this happening.
However in my case, which may be very rare, a few weeks ago my older Hayward cartridge filters lid cracked in half over night. I woke up to water spewing from the filter and a Pool that was 5 Ft. Lower!
I had thought the pump should have lost suction by then, but now realize it was because of the diverter plate. Now I can't help but think, what if I had been out of town? Would it have drained my in ground gunite pool to almost Empty? With my very high water table and how wet the yard has been recently could it not have easily popped my pool out of the ground? Goodbye Pool!
I think a burnt up motor and/or pump sounds like a better result in this situation, or any other case where a fitting/connection may break and start draining your pool. I've replaced the filter and a new pump housing since, but considering doing away with the diverter or making that DIY elbow. Just wondering if anyone has heard of something like this happening.
