Skimmer water and vacuum plate

[Axe Maddock]

Good evening, all.
I’ve been thru the search function and am not sure I found the answer.
Here’s my problem: After installing a vacuum plate and priming my vacuum hose, once the hose is installed and pump running, the water is going thru the skimmer around the plate. Am I failing to get a proper seal from the vacuum plate?
The plate is the oem part for the skimmer.
Thank you.

 

[Newdude]

Hey Axe !! Anytime mine didn’t suck itself tight right away, I either forgot to switch off the main drains first for skimmer only, or i forgot to close the other skimmer flap. Or I forgot both.

If those don’t apply, check the rubber gasket on the plate. They come out from time to time.

 

[Axe Maddock]

Good morning.
My skimmer has but one outgoing pipe. The main drain line to the skimmer is capped. The vacuum plate doesn’t have a seal; it is a hard, plastic disc. Plumbers putty is cheap, so perhaps I can pack a ring around the plate to seal it.
Thank you.

 

[Newdude]

The vacuum plate doesn’t have a seal; it is a hard, plastic disc

Maybe that’s the problem. Is there a channel for a gasket or is it or just flat/smooth ? Mine had a 1/4 inch gasket to help make the seal.

 

[Newdude]

They are real cheap if you want to try a different plate. Just double check the size on Amazon. There were a few sizes but it was easy enough to realize the 6.5 inch wasn’t the 8 inch and so on.