Skimmer line blocked with stabilizer

[lakeview]

I was trying to raise the CYA and added about 2.5 Lbs. stabilizer down the skimmer. I guess I did not do it slow enough and now the skimmer line is completely blocked. There is no suction at all from the skimmer. If I set the pump to skimmer-only, the pump does not suck any water. How do I unclog the skimmer line? It has already been 2 days since I added the stabilizer and the pump had been running continuously with skimmer+main-drain setting (until I changed it to main-drain only this morning).

I have already tried to break down and dissolve the stabilizer sitting in the skimmer and most of that seems to have gone but there is still no suction. Should I try to suck the stabilizer out from the skimmer line using shop vac? Or maybe blow air into the skimmer like we do while closing the pool?

p.s. Even before adding the stabilizer, the suction from the skimmer seemed low compared to last year, but I am not absolute certain about that.

Many thanks!!

 

[Texas Splash]

I think I would first try pushing water "backwards" from the pump inlet back to the skimmer. Use a garden hose and wrap a rag around it at the pump inlet opening to help with a seal and see if water comes back out the other way at the pool.

 

[jtpipkin]

if you'd previously had skimmer line issues, good chance this just exacerbated it. You can try a drain king type device and see if it works, but may need to snake it. I had the same issue, just kept getting worse and worse. Tried everything, ended up calling a plumber...

 

[lakeview]

Pat, thanks for your response. I just tried what you suggested and was not able to push the water to the other side, in spite of applying all the pressure I could with a rag, the water splashed back to my side. What do I do next?

 

[Richard320]

I think I would first try pushing water "backwards" from the pump inlet back to the skimmer. Use a garden hose and wrap a rag around it at the pump inlet opening to help with a seal and see if water comes back out the other way at the pool.

My first thought, too.

And if water pressure won't break through, a plumber's snake should.

 

[Texas Splash]

Ugh. well, as noted above, you could try a presure bladder, but even that may not be enough. The line may have to be physically snaked to dislodge whatever got hung-up on the PVC highway traffic jam.

 

[lakeview]

Just so I make sure I understand it right, we are talking about something like this Amazon.com: Drainx Pro 50-FT Steel Drum Auger Plumbing Snake with Work Gloves and Storage Bag: Home Improvement

And do I snake from the pump side or from the skimmer side?

Same for the pressure bladder: If I were to use that, I do it from the the pump side or the skimmer side.

Thanks again!

 

[jtpipkin]

pressure bladder from either side, or both. I would go back and forth. Speaking from personal experience, unless you've got a really good, broken in snake, call a plumber. Those things are not easy to navigate through 90s and such. Even the pro in my case struggled with a powered auger...

 

[lakeview]

jtpipkin, thanks for your insights. Let me start with the pressure bladder and see if that fixes it. Will keep you guys posted.

 

[Texas Splash]

There are several out there. This was one I saw at a local store ....

 

[jtpipkin]

if you can find the 'Drain King', it's worth a few more dollars in my opinion. I bought the cheaper of the two first go round and went back for the drain king. It pulsates the water somehow which, in theory, would help to agitate and break up the clog. Not sure if it did anything, but it made me feel like I was doing more... G.T. Water Products 186 Drain King Unclog Hose Attachment - Chemical Drain Openers - Amazon.com

 

[Bosley]

Home depot rents power snakes. Here in Canada its $30 per day. May be the fastest way to fix it as opposed to trying a bunch of different things over the course of a few days.

 

[Pool_Medic]

Place your garden hose in the skimmer hole, let the water coming out of the house break down the cya, the hose will be able to be pushed deeper into the hole as the water breaks it down. I suspect your plug is at the bottom connection which is normally a 90 degree elbow.

 

[lakeview]

Drain king is king. Just got it delivered from Amazon and within 15 seconds of using it, the line got unclogged.

I used it from the pump side, closing the drain line and keeping only the skimmer line open.

Thanks everyone for your help. TFP rocks . Thanks jtpipkin for persuading me to get Drain king itself. I was almost going to get the one available at HomeDepot.

 

[Texas Splash]

Drain king is king. Just got it delivered from Amazon and within 15 seconds of using it, the line got unclogged.

Now THAT's a great way to start the weekend. Good job.

 

[jtpipkin]

Glad it worked for you - Cheers!

 

[Txjole]

What came out? Blow bags are great, I sell tons of the canvas ones that Slpash pictured above.

 

[lakeview]

What came out? Blow bags are great, I sell tons of the canvas ones that Slpash pictured above.

Just the stabilizer that was clogging the line. There was no other debris.

 

[Jvee]

You might want to put your stabilizer in a sock next time?

 

[lakeview]

You might want to put your stabilizer in a sock next time?

Yes, that's what I am doing now. lesson learned