Foo - inground pool

Anyone have any idea why the plumbing under the filter basket is full of sand? The pipe is full and clogged :(

Anyone have any idea why the plumbing under the filter basket is full of sand? The pipe is full and clogged :(


A bad connection, probably in the fitting directly under the collector.

http://www.poolcenter.com/_derived/parts_skimmer_hayward_sp1075.htm_txt_50_skimmer_hayward_sp1075.gif

Although this line goes to the pump, if it is badly busted, the wet sand would fill in the pipe. I have seen some cobble jobs on this connection. It is a fix that requires breaking the concrete around the skimmer, digging it up, (about 2' down) and repairing correctly the connection.

Here is a better pic:

http://www.caromal.co.uk/SKIMMER.gif

thanks for the info. That sounds expensive to fix.

thanks for the info. That sounds expensive to fix.


Not to bad. The problem is repairing the concrete to "as was" condition. It can be done in a day. Pool concrete decks are cheap and thin.

After looking at your drawing it was exactly how i pictured the filter working. Upon futher investigation one of the two plugs was not plummed to anything. The sand I felt was filler under the pool. There was never a second connection, no balance pipe. I put the plug back in and backwashed the pump and it seems to be working.

Hey Wfin2004 thanks.

I am sure i will have more problems. Dont go anywhere.

Not going anywhere... 'cept crazy maybe. By the way, most skimmer baskets I see have no balance pipe hooked up. It is something that is rarely done I suppose by the amount of calls we get regarding busted skimmers that only have one connection at the bottom. I thnk most guys doing the plumbing on these pools are cheap and inexperienced so you get what you pay for in the pool dept.

Not going anywhere... 'cept crazy maybe. By the way, most skimmer baskets I see have no balance pipe hooked up. It is something that is rarely done I suppose by the amount of calls we get regarding busted skimmers that only have one connection at the bottom. I thnk most guys doing the plumbing on these pools are cheap and inexperienced so you get what you pay for in the pool dept.

Thanks again, I was going to call around and see if I needed to have it hooked up. You just saved me more time.

Thanks again, I was going to call around and see if I needed to have it hooked up. You just saved me more time.


As you can see by the pic in post 3, a balancing pipe is a great idea. IF, your critical water level gets below the skimmer intake, then your pump will just suck air and a pump running dry is not a good thing. The balancing pipe maintains that this water is in the suction line and is discharged back into the pool. Fortunately most pool owners are diligent in their maintenance and never let the critical level drop to conditions that will cause damage. That is why you never see the scenario that it would cause. Glad to be of help.