To skim or not to skim, that is the question!

[DocBob]

New to inground pools and bought a house with an pool that was being managed by a local service.

Unfortunately, the previous owners managed things minimally (capped off a water feature, never used or maintained the pop-up system, didn’t use the floor drain ever, left an old rusted out pool light housing and even replaced the pump motor less than a year ago with a single speed motor). At some point I’d like to see if all of this can be fixed.

Anyway, the service recommended leaving the suction side pool vac in 24/7… With it adjusted properly, there is some skimming, but minimal. And since there is no basket in place, anything that is skimmed ends up in the pump basket. Is this OK?

Or should I just be vacuuming a couple times a week?

Should I just leave the vac and hoses in the pool when I’m skimming? Or is drying out between uses less damaging than the exposure to the pool chemicals? Or just take it out when I shock the pool?

Lots to learn, but I am enjoying the management of my own pool. And I just want to learn to do it the right way to start.

 

[duraleigh]

Leaving the pool vac in or out is debatable. The superiority of a robot over a suction cleaner is not. I would consider a robot uprgrade unless you are really getting good work out of your suction side vacuum.

All your issues sure sound fixable. Tackle them one at a time and you'll have a great pool in no time.

 

[JJ_Tex]

The Kreepy Krawly suction vac is pretty old technology and has its shortcomings including taking up a skimmer as you have noticed.
Do you have other skimmers in the pool that can skim, or is that your only skimmer?

If you only have 1 skimmer, or the Kreepy Krawly is old, I would consider getting a robotic cleaner. They work better and do not tie up your skimmer.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Doc,

I can't imagine running a pool without having the skimmer running??? I guess it matters a lot what falls or blows into your pool during the day, but I can fill up a skimmer basket full of junk in a day or so depending on the wind.

In theory, the skimmer should capture all the stuff the falls or is blown into your pool, unless it does not float.

Have you tried to use the in floor cleaning system? I am not an IFCS fan, but I'd at least try it and see if it works at all.

Show us some pics of your equipment pad and we might have some other ideas for you.

I am a big fan of what is called a robot cleaner. Robots use low voltage electrical power to clean the floor and walls of your pool.

They look like this..

Dolphin S200 | Swimming Pool Cleaner Vacuum | Maytronics

The Dolphin S200 is a glorious piece of machine. Get in and read more about its main features, see the videos and learn about this superb robotic pool cleaner

www.maytronics.com

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[DocBob]

Thanks!
I can’t complain about the efficacy of the vacuum… The only place I ever notice any cloudiness when I brush is on the steps the vacuum doesn’t reach… The floor and walls are always spotless. So I’d like to keep that for now and tackle some other projects around the pool and house. Plenty to do around here.
Unfortunately, I only have the one skimmer. So for now, should I keep up as is? Or utilize the skimmer more and the vac less???

 

[Jimrahbe]

Doc,

I'd use the Skimmer most days and only use the vacuum when you want to clean the floor.

There is just no right answer here..

Do you have a skimmer basket?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[DocBob]

@Jimrahbe I do have a skimmer basket… and that’s what I thought, but wanted to get other’s opinions. I’ve disconnected the vac and put the skimmer basket in… What do you know, the floaters are moving towards the skimmer! Crazy, right?
Here’s a pic of my current setup. The fountain has been capped off. One of the old brass valves is open (the 3 returns with no nozzles so I can’t point them) and the other appears to be closed??? I am just assuming the pop-up valve has been disabled??? I need to get someone out here to go through it all with me!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Doc,

It does not appear to me that you have any way to shut off the IFCS..

You really should get nozzles (Eyeballs) for your open return lines. This would allow you to get the water moving better.

Go check and see if you have a weir door on your skimmer. It is what makes a skimmer... well, skim.

A weir door is hinged at the bottom and floats up and down with the water level. It is in the tunnel between the pool water and the skimmer basket.

I assume the shut off brass valve is for the fountain.

Under that dome looking thing should be a gear system that turns on different IFCS zones. It may be bad or just missing parts.

Your pump only has a single line going into it. So, I suspect there are other items around your pool related to the IFCS.. Maybe a Jandy valve sticking up in the middle of no where. Also a leaf catcher system that is connected to the main drain, so that when the IFCS is working it will capture all the junk being sweep into the main drain. It would most likely be in the deck and look like a very big (deep) skimmer. The ones I have seen have a solid clear plastic cover.

Let's see if Gene has any inputs... Calling @proavia

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[proavia]

Show us pics of the pool, the infloor popups, any in deck items (skimmer, autofill, leaf vac - with covers removed).

Is there any lettering visible on the water distribution valve (the dome thing)?
It kind of looks like a Gould or A&A water valve.
If you do open its cover, take pics of the inside.

What are the two brass valves plumbed to?

Do you know the approximate year the pool was built?

 

[DocBob]

@Jimrahbe
I don’t think there is any way to shut off the pop-ups so they must be disabled at the valve. I’ll have to tear into that.

Agree, I’d like to install eyeballs on the returns… interestingly, every one has a different “look”… one female threaded, one male threaded, and the third doesn’t appear to have any threads (see pics).

No Wier door… there’s only about 1 1/2” flowing over the inlet though so is does skim well. Is that a reasonable level?

And I’m not sure how you would shut off the main drain… But it definitely has no suction. There is no leaf catcher, no additional valves, no other plumbing that I can see?

 

[DocBob]

@proavia
The only two deck items are the skimmer and the autofill… no leaf catcher. I’m not seeing any lettering on the valve, but I will tear that apart tomorrow.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what the two brass valves are plumbed to. I assume just the returns?… I wonder if that small capped off line, closest to the filter, was for the fountain?

 

[proavia]

The small capped line probably went to an aerator. It's possible it terminates below the raised deck area where the white cap is. Theatappears to be the corrected size pipe.

How many wall returns?

With an infloor, usually the main drains are plumbed all the way back to the equipment pad, separate of the skimmer. At least that's pretty much the norm I've seen in pools with IFCS since the late 90's. There needs to be a way to adjust the suction between the main drains and skimmer separately.

At the skimmer - with basket remove and pump running - is it apparent what hole in the bottom of the skimmer is sucking water? Usually it's the one furthest from the water's edge. The one closest to the water's is either plugged or runs to the main drains (in older non-IFCS pools). Is either hole plugged?

There is at least one non-functional popup on the steps/bench area. On the intact ones, is the any printing on the top? Popups are about $50-$70 (or more) each. It may not be worth the $$$ to attempt fixing the IFCS - especially since there is no apparent way to isolate the main drains from the skimmer.

As for the brass valves - unless they are reallyeasy to turn, do NOT mess with them. Youdon't want to be redoing plumbing becauseone of them failed or started leaking. Based on what you plan on doing with the equipmemt in the future, you can replace them with much more suitable Jandy valves at that time.

It appears the equipment has been redone a couple times based on the couplers visible in the plumbing. So there's no telling what may have been abondoned and buried below ground.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Dec,

The weir door is what makes a skimmer work. The whole point is to 'skim' off the surface water with all the junk. Without a weir door this does not happen very well. A skimmer with a weir door is about 50% more effective than a skimmer without one. You can buy universal weir doors that are sping loaded to stay in place that work pretty well.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[DocBob]

@proavia
3 wall returns (see pics in my previous comment prior to my reply to you).

Yes, the hole in the skimmer that is sucking is the one furthest from the water's edge. I can't tell if the closer one is plugged, but it does not appear to be functioning.

If the IFCS was an "easy fix" I would pursue it, but I have no idea what was done with it. I didn't get a chance to pull the top off the dome valve, but will when I get a chance, out of curiosity. I assume it's been disabled. The pop-ups say "JET-CLEAN"

As for the brass valves - I am NOT messing with them right now. They're not turning easily, so I'm just going to leave them as-is.

Thanks for the reply.

@Jimrahbe I'll look into a Weir door... for now though, the skimmer appears to be doing a good job of pulling floaters in.

 

[proavia]

Do the popup heads have 2 holes for the removal tool or 3 holes?
2 holes is an A&A type 1 head
3 holes is an A&A type 2 head

As for the skimmer holes - take a broom handle and SLOWLY insert into the hole closest to the pool. Do NOT force it - stop at first sign of resistance. How far does it go in?

Great plan on the brass valves - no touchy until time to redo plumbing.

 

[DocBob]

@proavia
No touchy is my "go-to" plan in most things!!!
The pop-ups have 2 holes
And the front hole in the skimmer does not appear to be plugged... the pipe makes a turn 4 feet below the inlet.

@Jimrahbe I need an 8 1/2" Weir door... Can you tell from the pics if there might be a direct replacement? Or a generic version?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Doc,

They sell generic weir doors with spring loaded pins that should fit your skimmer. But.. you will need to find one that is about the right width and height.

Here is one just for reference...

https://www.amazon.com/SP1070-Pool-Skimmer-Replaces-SP1070-K/dp/B08XXK8VTT/ref=sr_1_3?crid=Z8WU4JT3B8UV&keywords=weir+door+pool+skimmer+spring+loaded&qid=1682437472&sprefix=weir+d%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-3

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mknauss]

Weir door replacement

...

www.inyopools.com

 

[proavia]

Is there a manufacturer and/or model number listed on the underside of the skimmer lid?

Based on the hole closest to the water not being plugged (and other unknowns), it most likely isn't worth getting the infloor working.

 

[DocBob]

Thanks, everyone...

@proavia
Swimquip Model U-3 (Pentair?) on the lid and on the skimmer itself is 8650-17 (but there is an 8 stamped over the top of the 1)