Continuing from this thread
www.troublefreepool.com
Pool guy replaced all the wood and put in a new flat track. He went piece by piece, unhooking the liner, new wood, new track, pop the liner back in. Worked out pretty good.
The skimmers however have some problems. I understand the challenges of trying to replace a skimmer after a new liner has already been put in. Essentially lining up the existing holes on the face plate all while plumbing the pipes. Doesn't seem so easy.
Luckily the very old hayward wide skimmer still uses the same spacing for the new wide mouth style. Existing screw holes in the liner all lined up. Pool guy was having a hard time lining up the skimmer with the existing suction line. New skimmer does not sit as far back as the old one. Pool guy comes back the next day with flex pipe and says he is connecting the skimmer 1 to the suction line of skimmer 2 and vice versa for skimmer 2.
I thought this was a lazy attempt to fix the problem instead of digging out more dirt and trying to make the original connection. Nevertheless, I had to leave for the day while he worked. I returned to find the the skimmers were buried and he was done. I asked him if he pressure tested the pipes or checked for leaks and he said no pressure test and the water level was still way below the skimmer. I filled the pool back up and the skimmers were skimming.
Something didn't sit right with me so I decided to dig out both skimmers to check his work. I found both pipe plugs were installed on the underside of the skimmer as opposed to the inside (instructions show the the plug inside the skimmer but Im not sure if that matters?) AND each plug was dripping. Both plugs are taped and I turned each plug with a wrench but the drips did not stop. I think this is an easy fix with new tape so Ill try again tomorrow.
One skimmer has a slow drip from one of the 3 threaded sections in the picture but I cant isolate it. If the water is coming from the reducer I think I can tighten it but that will loosen the connection between the reducer and the male adapter. Not sure if that will work.
Pool guy used the 2" port with a reducer and plugged the 1.5" port. Looking at his plumbing work and the location of the 1.5" suction pipe, to me, it looks like there is a better way to plumb this. I know its tight down there but I can keep digging to expose more of the original pipe if I want to abandon his flex pipe work.
I dont know why he used the 2" port and reduced when he could have used the 1.5" port with a 90 street elbow into the flex. Even a 90 street elbow where he placed it into a regular 90 looks like it would go right into the existing suction line and eliminate the flex completely. I want to redo this plumbing so Im looking for options on how to do it.
Is it ideal to to plug the 2" port and use the 1.5 port into the existing suction line and eliminate the flex? Thats how the old skimmer was plumbed. Not sure if thats doable since its such a tight spot.
Cracked skimmer, compromised wood for liner track....what to do
I'm guessing my pool is roughly 35 years old (same age as the house) and has concrete pour for walls. New liner was installed last month which in hindsight, I should have waited. Nevertheless, liner was installed and afterwards I decided to have the pool patio remodeled with pavers. At the...
www.troublefreepool.com
Pool guy replaced all the wood and put in a new flat track. He went piece by piece, unhooking the liner, new wood, new track, pop the liner back in. Worked out pretty good.
The skimmers however have some problems. I understand the challenges of trying to replace a skimmer after a new liner has already been put in. Essentially lining up the existing holes on the face plate all while plumbing the pipes. Doesn't seem so easy.
Luckily the very old hayward wide skimmer still uses the same spacing for the new wide mouth style. Existing screw holes in the liner all lined up. Pool guy was having a hard time lining up the skimmer with the existing suction line. New skimmer does not sit as far back as the old one. Pool guy comes back the next day with flex pipe and says he is connecting the skimmer 1 to the suction line of skimmer 2 and vice versa for skimmer 2.
I thought this was a lazy attempt to fix the problem instead of digging out more dirt and trying to make the original connection. Nevertheless, I had to leave for the day while he worked. I returned to find the the skimmers were buried and he was done. I asked him if he pressure tested the pipes or checked for leaks and he said no pressure test and the water level was still way below the skimmer. I filled the pool back up and the skimmers were skimming.
Something didn't sit right with me so I decided to dig out both skimmers to check his work. I found both pipe plugs were installed on the underside of the skimmer as opposed to the inside (instructions show the the plug inside the skimmer but Im not sure if that matters?) AND each plug was dripping. Both plugs are taped and I turned each plug with a wrench but the drips did not stop. I think this is an easy fix with new tape so Ill try again tomorrow.
One skimmer has a slow drip from one of the 3 threaded sections in the picture but I cant isolate it. If the water is coming from the reducer I think I can tighten it but that will loosen the connection between the reducer and the male adapter. Not sure if that will work.
Pool guy used the 2" port with a reducer and plugged the 1.5" port. Looking at his plumbing work and the location of the 1.5" suction pipe, to me, it looks like there is a better way to plumb this. I know its tight down there but I can keep digging to expose more of the original pipe if I want to abandon his flex pipe work.
I dont know why he used the 2" port and reduced when he could have used the 1.5" port with a 90 street elbow into the flex. Even a 90 street elbow where he placed it into a regular 90 looks like it would go right into the existing suction line and eliminate the flex completely. I want to redo this plumbing so Im looking for options on how to do it.
Is it ideal to to plug the 2" port and use the 1.5 port into the existing suction line and eliminate the flex? Thats how the old skimmer was plumbed. Not sure if thats doable since its such a tight spot.
