Hello! Everything on my pool is finally working great! The only real issue I see is that when I remove the skimmer basket to clean the debris out, a vortex develops and the pump starts to cavitate. When I put the basket back in, everything goes back to normal. Is it recommended practice to shut the pump off when cleaning the skimmer, or is something else wrong? The water level is about 1/2 way up the skimmer box.
vortex without skimmer basket
- Thread starter raidermanz
- Start date
R,
Your pump should not be able suck all the water out of the skimmer unless your weir door is stuck up.
What kind of pump do you have?
Thanks,
Jim R.
Your pump should not be able suck all the water out of the skimmer unless your weir door is stuck up.
What kind of pump do you have?
Thanks,
Jim R.
Well, not sure what kind of pump, and I'm not sure what a weir door is.....lol. First time pool owner, and my skimmer just has a basket and a hole in the bottom. When I remove the basket, a vortex forms after about 30 seconds. I will try to get my pump spec when I get home. Sorry for not being much help.
- Apr 10, 2018
- 5,204
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45
Also check water level. It should be halfway between top and bottom of the skimmer mouth.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,873
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
The weir door is the flappy thing that closes when the pump is off to prevent debris from coming back out of the skimmer & into the pool.
- Apr 10, 2018
- 5,204
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45
The weir door is the flap at the skimmer mouth that floats up and down. If stuck in the up position, it will restrict water flow.
EDIT...Looks like I lost another typing challenge to @Mdragger88
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,873
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
- May 23, 2015
- 24,472
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
All skimmers have a limit to how much water can flow through them. When the flow rate is too high the level can drop and circulation can develop. It’s not cavitation that your hearing, it’s air being pulled into the suction line and causing the pump to lose prime.
Your pump speed is too high or you are pulling too much on the skimmer.
Is the the only suction source on the pump the skimmer? Do you have a main drain? Are they separately controlled at the equipment?
Your pump speed is too high or you are pulling too much on the skimmer.
Is the the only suction source on the pump the skimmer? Do you have a main drain? Are they separately controlled at the equipment?
When we had a single speed pump it would suck a vortex in the skimmer when the basket was removed. I bought a spare basket so i would just swap them out when one needed cleaning. That way I didn't have to worry about the vortex issue.
Thanks for the information. I think there are a combination of things working here. The original pump system had a drain connection and a skimmer, the drain has long since been sealed up, so it is just the skimmer at this point. I would assume that this makes the pump a bit oversized for that single conduit. Also, I believe my water level was a little low. I added about an inch of water, and it does seem like it was needed. It still vortexes when the basket is removed for more than a minute or so, but I don't keep it out too long.
Thanks again everyone!
Thanks again everyone!
Of course! You don't want the pump accidentally sucking in something that the basket would catch.
If you remove the skimmer basket, the pump should be "off"