POOL SKIMMERS 101: How To UNCLOG Your Pool Skimmer Line | Swim University
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- Your skimmer is your first line of defense when it comes to filtering out debris in your pool. And that means it’s easy to get a clogged-up skimmer line. So if you’re getting poor suction or you think your pool skimmer line is clogged, there are two ways to unclog your system: 1) Move the pool diverter valve (or Jandy valve) back and forth to open and close the skimmer valve; 2) Clear the blockage with a drain cleaning bladder like a Drain King. Before you troubleshoot, make sure it's indeed a clog in your skimmer line and not an air leak in your pump.
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⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to How To Unclog Your Pool Skimmer Line
00:37 - How Does A Pool Skimmer Work?
01:52 - How Do You Clean A Pool Skimmer?
02:35 - How Do You Know If Your Pool Skimmer Line Is Clogged?
04:08 - How To Unclog Your Pool Skimmer Line With The Diverter Valve
04:40 - How To Unclog Your Pool Skimmer Line With A Drain Cleaning Bladder
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We hope this helps you understand your skimmer and unclog your skimmer line! You can skip to 04:08 for two troubleshooting steps: moving the diverter valve back and forth or using a drain cleaning bladder (like Drain King) to unclog the line. And if there are other troubleshooting tips you've tried to unclog your skimmer, leave them in the comments below!
Thank you!!! My pump was clogged and I realized it was my filter socks which I had put on the OUTSIDE of the strainer baskets... OOPS! They both got sucked into the pump pipe and I was not able to maintain any pressure. A couple of turns back and forth on each of the skimmer valves and VOILA!!! Saved me an expensive call to a repair service.
Great video man and I got my issue fixed. I always do all my own pool work so when I got low pressure and all the usual things were in good shape, I found this. It was indeed the pump propeller clogged. Once I dislodged the debris and my fingers, all good. Kidding. I did turn it off, naturally. Fixed! Thanks.
This video was just what I needed. Took longer for me to watch the video that it did for me to check and clear the clogged lines! This was a life savor! Thank you!
Helped me fix my issue! I had to open and close my skimmer valve a few times, fill up the water level with a hose in the pool and that did the trick. Thank you so much!
I appreciate all your videos! Very informative and helped me a lot with my pool issues so far.
Thanks so much for these videos. Wish this one came up in my search when my pump wouldn’t prime. Turned out to be the skimmer door but took a service call to discover. Appreciate your info!
I've been trying all this, I think is time to buy the DCB. Thank you for your help.
Excellent, very clear advice on how to unclog a pool skimmer line!
Tried to unclog my skimmer line. Watched your video. Realized by valve had the skimmer line closed. Comment in shame to never forget it.
Well, it was an easy fix I guess!
Great information, have one of my skimmer lines not pulling in water as normal and this worked after a few sessions of running water in line alternating directions debris finally came out. Thanks 🙏
Ps
I also enjoy brew cabin , I am a home brewer as well and like the information from there as well
Thanks for this simple tutorial. I’m on it!
Extremely helpful thank you!!!!
Good to know.
Thx for the info!
Is it really important to shut off your pump when you change the flow of water out of your pump for example like back washing or filtering? I don't have a shut off switch I guess I just unplug it.
Great information
Very helpful
Great Info. THANK YOU !
Glad it was helpful!
Great information!
Excellent video👍
The perfect video we needed. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
My skimmer has no suction at all. I have no backwash option and don't know how to check to see if simmer line is clogged
Thank you, this was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much!
I'm on well water and now my level is below the skimmer, I shut the pump off so I wouldn't burn it out, my question is can you attach a hose to the skimmer so it can get water below the skimmer? I have a tanker coming in a week and don't want alge to grow
What size drain clean bladder should be used to clear blockage in a 28,000 gal pool?
Can the Drain King (bladder) break any of your pipes while inside ?
This video saved us at least $400 because that is the least the plumber would have charged us!!! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom.
If you aren't sure which line is the main drain and which is the skimmer, can you still put the drain bladder in the pump inlet and use it without damaging anything? If the skimmer is clogged, would pushing the blockage back towards the skimmer hurt anything? That way I'd be checking both the skimmer and main drain lines from the pump.
great info
Very helpful thank you
You're welcome!
Went to Lowe’s and got a drain cleaning bladder- line was unclogged on first attempt starting at pump and pushing back towards pool. Thanks for the tips!
Great! Glad it worked!
How long did it take for
The
Bladder to
Unclog the line?
Great explanation of the system, and all of the tips for trying to clear the clog were a good starting point. Unfortunately my system now has even less pressure at the skimmer and sweep intake. My pool sweep no longer moves (husband thought it was my sweep’s fault threw it in trash and ordered an expensive brand name, which likewise does not move). Went through steps again today, same results, except now the pump basket isn’t filling properly and the big cartridge filter gauge went from 10 to 30, so I have obviously made the problem worse. Please pm off while I research
Yikes! Did you ever come to a resolution to share here?
Clean your filter! If the pressure went up perhaps the filter got a lot of nasty stuff from the debris you dislodged and if the pressure is too high it'll slow down the flow. Good rule of thumb is to clean it when it reaches 20 or even 15 depending on your starting PSI when it's cleaned
while vacuuming the pool can i close the main and use only skimmer side to get more better result.?
Yes. That’s what I do.
@swim university , I have two lines leading to the filter with a Y connector , each with their own individual shut off valve. Assuming one comes from the skimmer, what’s the other one for? I don’t have a drain at the bottom of my pool nor any other skimmer. Original had suctions issues but closed one and now it’s all good.
Could the other be for a normally-closed vacuum attachment? Its hard to click open door/latch/portlet would be in the pool wall a few inches below water level.
Love your videos, you've taught me a lot and I appreciate your insights... But I have an interesting question. What if my pressure is so strong that I get swirls sucking air into my pump (coriolis effect)? I routinely use skimmer socks which dissipates it, but do you have any other ideas? 1 skimmer, 1 jet..
What kind of pool and pump do you have? I wonder if your pump model is too powerful for your pool.
@@SwimUniversity I have a 1.5 HP on an 18x33... I am planning on a second jet to increase circulation
I assume you have a good skimmer basket, also do you have a skimmer weir in the skimmer, also the socks are no good
What do you think about a Skimmer Sock?
Will it reduce my pool circulation?
I clean my skimmer baskets daily after work unless I come home after dark.
As long as you clean the skimmer sock too, it should be fine!
I have electronic valves, and unfortunately none of the lines are labeled, so I'm not sure which line is the main drain and which is the skimmer. I don't have a weir but a skim-a-round skimmer basket, and I noticed, there's no suction to pull it down, so I'm thinking the skimmer is clogged. I need help identifying the lines
When my jets are on, I can see the basket inside the area shown at 3:30 is filled with leaves. When I shut off the jets so I can open the lid and clean the basket, almost all of the leaves get sucked back out into the skimmer line. What do I do to clear the pipe of the leaves?
The leaves _should_ work their way up thru the skimmer pipes into the large basket before the pump. That pump basket needs periodic cleaning, too. It ought to be rare that large, loose, light debris like leaves and bugs would ever clog the pipes.
Thank you for sharing
I have 2 skimmers only 1 is sucking water any ideas please?
I have the same problem, I tried closing the drain valve and saw that the non-working skimmer furthest from the pump began to move and swirl some water, than when I opened the valve on the drain the skimmer went still again ? I tried to unclog the skimmer line with the garden hose with the inflatable balloon end device going in from the pump entrance and ran that for 10 minutes and did not notice anywhere the water was bubbling out which confused me ? I was sure all that water going in from the hose would come out somewhere I could see it , maybe from 1 or both of the skimmers since I had the drain valve closed and the water had no place to come out except the 2 skimmers ? If anyone has any advice for me I would love to hear it , thanks.
I have this same problem. I plugged the good line to get suction from the bad one, but no dice.
Helpful video. But I have a question about using the bladder in the pump pot. There are 2 holes. I don't know which one is which or which one to use. Can you explain it for me. Thanks
The hole closest to the pool is usually the line connected to the main drain. In my skimmer it is plugged. Your intake line is the hole furthest from the pool and is the one you use to vacuum the pool.
Check the best succion hole when the pump is on skimmer line... the bladder should be put in this hole and push the débris, but it works better putting the bladder in the pump when skimmer line is sélect because debris will be push in the other direction than they come, and will unclog easier.
Had a clog in the skimmer pipe..looked in there saw a leg... turns out it was a gopher.. fun stuff..Pulled it out with needle nose pliers. :)
Oh wow. THAT'S a new one 😳
Can not understand how he got into the skimmer line without trauma to the line?
@@_1ben Floated into the line when the pool was off.. basket floated up and it got sucked in. Was right at the top of it under the basket.
I also had two of them sucked into the pump basket when i opened the pool this summer.
Those darn frogs! A huge bullfrog met its demise and couldn’t make it!through…..
No help here. Have tried all of this, including drain cleaning by a plumber with very long “snake”. Today, I dug up pipe nearest to pump, cut it and tried to clear using the bladder. Get about 1/2 water pressure from skimmer to basket, none on reverse. What else can be done short of digging entire pipe up? Not an easy process as former owner filled area with red clay and gravel & of course, concrete deck. My thought is to expose pipe from pump to concrete, cut pipe and try to clear with bladder. Pool is from the early 80’s, so no telling how long pipe has been there! Help!!😊
Oh heck! This sounds so familiar! Trouble here is.. we now keep getting the “Well it’s summer madam so we’re too busy to clean out/dig out your blocked/broken skimmer line!” Just .. so unhelpful! We’ll have to have another few tries ! as this great video tells us! I hope yours is fixed now! Fingers crossed 🤞 for ours!
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In my skimmer BOTH of those holes at the bottom are open. Should this not be?
Same with my skimmer. My pool is vintage and doesn’t have the ability to switch between skimmer and main drain. I am having problems keeping my pool clean and FINALLY realized my main drain is plugged. I am going to try and get a plug like the one shown to block the suction side to the pump. I will then try using the bladder to clear the side leading to the main drain, then clear from the pump side. I may even run the pump to try to move the blockage if it’s stuck. Will update with results.