Upgrading skimmer

[xycron]

I'm considering replacing my skimmer and have a handful of questions around it. My primary motivator is to upgrade my plumbing diameter from pool to pump. It is only 1.5" which is pretty undersized for my pump.

My pool is an in-ground vinyl pool, for reference.

1) On skimmers with larger pipe connections, is the hole also larger, or is it always the same size to support a standard vacuum hose...? This is the only intake for my pool, so I'm wondering if upgrading the pipe size is mostly pointless if it'll still be constrained by the initial hole.

2) Are these skimmers typically attached to the concrete in any way? Or is it solely held in place by the dirt around it and the screws from the pool side going into it? My plan was to dig under the concrete to replace the plumbing and the skimmer, I probably don't want to do this project if I have to cut the concrete out.

3) Is there anything else I might be neglecting to consider here?

 

[PoolStored]

It is only 1.5" which is pretty undersized for my pump.

1.5" plumbing is plenty. I have two skimmers, both 1.5," no main drain. Just not an issue.

I'm wondering if upgrading the pipe size is mostly pointless

Yes, pointless.


Let's back up. What is the "problem" you think you are trying to solve? (i.e. why do you want to upgrade from 1.5" to 2")?

 

[xycron]

1.5" plumbing is plenty. I have two skimmers, both 1.5," no main drain. Just not an issue.

Odd comparison considering I only have a single skimmer at 1.5. How could you know 1.5" is plenty without more details? There are numerous posts on this very forum on maximum water velocity and suggesting larger diameter piping, not to mention the objective energy efficiency differences. I'm out of spec from the suggestions in this forum, from my pool pump manufacture and even california's 2019 building energy efficiency standards

 

[Jimrahbe]

x,

Feel free to do what ever pipe size you want, but... You will not notice one lick of difference in the way your pool operates.

Tell us what is not working now... Not what the specs are, but what is it your pool system is not doing now, that you think bigger pipes will accomplish?

Tell us more.. What type of pump do you have now? A single speed or a VS?

Just as a reference... I have two rent house pools that only have one skimmer, 1.5" plumbing, and a 3 HP IntelliFlo VS pump and they both work flawlessly.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[xycron]

OK... Maybe it would be better to redirect and focus on a singular question here. Do skimmers with a pipe attachment for a 2" pipe have a 2" hole on the pool side, or is the hole the same 1 1/2 size regardless? I can't seem to find this specified on any of the skimmers I've looked at online.

 

[veraj]

OK... Maybe it would be better to redirect and focus on a singular question here. Do skimmers with a pipe attachment for a 2" pipe have a 2" hole on the pool side, or is the hole the same 1 1/2 size regardless? I can't seem to find this specified on any of the skimmers I've looked at online.

You would actually benefit from the experience of some of the great members here, if you explain what you are trying to solve. Skimmer replacements are quite involved for in-ground pool and you should have a good reason to do this. I need to do mine -- not because of 1.5", because it broken due to settling near that area. I am not an expert / have experience, but if I have to guess hole size should be proportional to the pipe below it. However, hole size inside the skimmer is going to be immaterial to your flow. You probably have much more head loss in your filter than this.

Vacuum hose will not fit skimmer

Hi all... I bought a new 1.5 inch diameter vacuum hose since my old one broke. When I got it I noticed that the skimmer side would just slide right down into the hole. So I measured the skimmer hole as best as I could and it measures about 2 inches inside diameter and the ID has threads. So I...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[xycron]

Ill go with the least dismissable reason - energy efficiency. There is a measurable difference in power draw for the same GPM flow between pipes hooked up to that skimmer and a full diameter pipe going directly into my pool. Of course it wasn't quite a "perfect" test because it also used one less 90.

Understanding how involved it is is why I asked my second question. If I can simply dig all the way underneath and unscrew it from the pool side, I don't mind going through that effort. (although you guys will probably still think I'm insane for that work for the power savings, but it'll make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and it's worth it to me.) If it's attached to the concrete, I don't want to go through that. And of course I'm not going to do it if my flow will be just as restricted either, thus my first question.



I aprechiate the link to the other thread though, thank you. At least let's me know some of them are larger, and I got to learn about the skimmer plate which I had no idea existed and if I end up doing this will be very helpful to have.

 

[Newdude]

although you guys will probably still think I'm insane for that work for the power savings, but it'll make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and it's worth it to me

NOW we're getting somewhere !!!

You recognize it's hard labor and expense for little financial gain. But you want to do it anyway.

Also. Instead of 'insane', we call ourselves 'enthusiasts' and you are amongst your people now. We just meet alot of people who think 2 inch plumbing or a few less 90s will change the price of beer, which they won't.

My pool is an in-ground vinyl pool, for reference.

Steel wall ? I have a concrete wall vinyl pool and the skimmers are encased in the wall.

My plan was to dig under the concrete to replace the plumbing and the skimmer,

How wide is the patio there ?

If I can simply dig all the way underneath and unscrew it from the pool side, I don't mind going through that effort

What about breaking it free from the patio ?

Do skimmers with a pipe attachment for a 2" pipe have a 2" hole on the pool side, or is the hole the same 1 1/2 size regardless?

See if there is a model # for the skimmer on the bottom of the lid. I'm pretty sure mine has a 1.5 inch hole for a 2 inch pipe. My 1.5 inch vac hose end fits snug but the underside was 2 inch. Some may be 1.5/1.5.

Do you have a variable speed pump ? You'd save way more going that route instead.

 

[reggiehammond]

OK... Maybe it would be better to redirect and focus on a singular question here. Do skimmers with a pipe attachment for a 2" pipe have a 2" hole on the pool side, or is the hole the same 1 1/2 size regardless? I can't seem to find this specified on any of the skimmers I've looked at online.

First listed Hayward skimmer shows to be a 2" female connection: Hayward SkimMaster In-Ground Auto-Skim Skimmer for Concrete Pool, Square Cover - SP1082 - INYOPools.com

One reason you may think you aren't getting the help you were expecting is that there's essentially no reason to run a pump at anything other than the lowest speed necessary to accomplish the simple tasks that a pump is required to do for pool care.

 

[veraj]

Ill go with the least dismissable reason - energy efficiency. There is a measurable difference in power draw for the same GPM flow between pipes hooked up to that skimmer and a full diameter pipe going directly into my pool. Of course it wasn't quite a "perfect" test because it also used one less 90.

Understanding how involved it is is why I asked my second question. If I can simply dig all the way underneath and unscrew it from the pool side, I don't mind going through that effort. (although you guys will probably still think I'm insane for that work for the power savings, but it'll make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and it's worth it to me.) If it's attached to the concrete, I don't want to go through that. And of course I'm not going to do it if my flow will be just as restricted either, thus my first question.



I aprechiate the link to the other thread though, thank you. At least let's me know some of them are larger, and I got to learn about the skimmer plate which I had no idea existed and if I end up doing this will be very helpful to have.

Thanks. Energy efficiency is not a dismissable reason in Ca, and I share the same concern given the energy costs. I started with inherting a fixed speed motor burning 1.5KW per hour to get ~40 to 45 GPM, switched to Pentair VS which helped a lot, and then moved from DE filter to pentair 520 sq ft cartridge filter -- now get about 32GPM @ .92W per hour (changed the pipes near pump / filter 2", my skimmer / main drains are still 1.5" & did not go super crazy other than using sweep elbows. What is your current flow and power consumption? and what is your target? It is going to get increasingly harder once you improve the basics (like VS pump, biggest filter, make plumbing near pump & filter efficient).