skimmer inlet "raised" pipe

[dzl13]

Please see pic. In one of my skimmers, I have a "raised" thin wall pipe. It appears to be surrounded by some foam insulation. There is suction off this line but little. The pool is 30+ years old and I'm hesitant to put much force on this to remove it. On my other skimmer I have a standard inlet "hole" at the bottom. Can I unthread it? Does anyone know what this is or the reason for the insulation?


Thanks

 

[AftonJeeper]

It might have been for a suction side vacuum or pole vacuum. The foam insulation is there to make it "fit" in the larger hole.

 

[dzl13]

It might have been for a suction side vacuum or pole vacuum. The foam insulation is there to make it "fit" in the larger hole.

Sounds good, then I "should" be good to try and unscrew it?