Skimmer too low?

[drain_the_swamp]

I read water should be 50-75% up the skimmer box. The skimmer our pool company built is like this.. (sorry for the bad quality. It's the only image I have before pool was filled).

The entire opening is 5 tiles high. The skimmer box sits 3 tiles high from the bottom of the opening. If I were to set the water to 50-75% of that, which is 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 tiles up, the plaster would either not be fully submerged, or would be on the verge of being wet and dry. I marked those 2 levels in red.

As it is right now the water level is right op at the top of the skimmer box, and it really does not appear to be skimming well at all. We do have a float diverter valve in the skimmer which is set about 50-50 main drain to skimmer suction.

Did my pool company mess this up?
Should I just shoot for that top red line and see what happens? I just don't want to risk the water level going below the plaster.

 

[1poolman1]

Normally, the skimmer top is right below the deck, flush with the top of the actual pool. It appears yours was installed about 1.5" too low. There is seldom any margin above the skimmer, maybe 1/2" at most. Not a lot that can easily be done now. Keep your water level in the tile for the sake of the plaster.

 

[sktn77a]

It doesn't really matter as long as the water level is lower than the top of the skimmer.

 

[mknauss]

It doesn't really matter as long as the water level is lower than the top of the skimmer.

A skimmer only works if the level is such that the water flows over the weir door. Normally about half way up skimmer opening.

 

[drain_the_swamp]

I notice my wier door is sitting maybe 10-20 degrees instead of the recommended 70.. I worry my skimmer could run dry if the door isnt getting enough water. Not to mention its hardly sucking up anything.

Should I just remove the door? I dont have a floating wier basket; just a regular skimmer basket sitting at the bottom. Might consider trying one though..

 

[mknauss]

The water will force the weir door open if needed.

If you remove the weir door, you no longer have a skimmer. Just a place for water to suction to the pump.

 

[ajw22]

You have a basic construction flaw that is hard to correct now. The tile line should be the entire height of the skimmer mouth. The water level should be able to vary from the bottom of the skimmer mouth without exposing any plaster.

You will be challenged to not have plaster exposed at times when you have evaporation.

Do you have an autofill on your pool?

 

[drain_the_swamp]

You have a basic construction flaw that is hard to correct now. The tile line should be the entire height of the skimmer mouth. The water level should be able to vary from the bottom of the skimmer mouth without exposing any plaster.

You will be challenged to not have plaster exposed at times when you have evaporation.

Do you have an autofill on your pool?

Yes i do

 

[ajw22]

Your auto fill should keep your water at a level where the plaster is not exposed.

Keep your water level between your two red lines 2 to 3 tiles up the skimmer mouth.