Leaking Skimmer Help Please

[Eamonn]

Hi

After filling my pool up to half way up the skimmer it has dropped back down again to more or less the bottom of the skimmer in less than 24 hours (and has stopped there for another 24 hours) also the grass to the left of it was absolutely soaking.

Also when I tried to activate the skimmer (when the water was at the half way mark) the pump was drawing in a lot of air and if I left it to long would loose prime altogether.

I was wondering how I would go about removing the front of the skimmer and the rest of it if necessary as this would seem a strong possibility of where the leak is...

I also ordered some "fix a leak" today in case the leak is going to be akward to find...

All help highly appreciated as always..

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[Glan]

Hi Eamonn,
Not sure I can see from your photo's, but is the skimmer pot, where the basket sits full of water?.
If it is, then the leak is on the wide mouth extension inside the skimmer, where the skimmer widens. This joint can be sealed with some silicone, this link will take you to our pool repair products.

http://www.ukpoolstore.co.uk/acatalog/swimming-pool-repair-products.html

If your pot is empty, which I suspect from your description of air being sucked in when the pump is running, then it will indicate your skimmer line is cracked, or a joint has popped underground. The soggy grass will be your first dig point.!!!!!

Usually in my experience, the leaks are near the skimmer, the bottle of fix a leak may or may not plug the hole, it sounds to me that you have a serious leak if your pool dropped 3-4 inches in 24 hours.

My bet is that you need to dig!

Hope this helps

ATB

Glan

[Eamonn]

Hi Eamonn,
Not sure I can see from your photo's, but is the skimmer pot, where the basket sits full of water?.
If it is, then the leak is on the wide mouth extension inside the skimmer, where the skimmer widens. This joint can be sealed with some silicone, this link will take you to our pool repair products.

http://www.ukpoolstore.co.uk/acatalog/swimming-pool-repair-products.html

If your pot is empty, which I suspect from your description of air being sucked in when the pump is running, then it will indicate your skimmer line is cracked, or a joint has popped underground. The soggy grass will be your first dig point.!!!!!

Usually in my experience, the leaks are near the skimmer, the bottle of fix a leak may or may not plug the hole, it sounds to me that you have a serious leak if your pool dropped 3-4 inches in 24 hours.

My bet is that you need to dig!

Hope this helps

ATB

Glan

Thanks for the great advice.... the skimmer pot (from memory) is just full enough that the Floating Collar Weir (hope I am calling it the right name) just about floats...I guess I will start by having a look at the wide mouth extension...then try the fix a leak...and then if all else fails...start digging as you suggest...

btw I dont suppose you would know if or when the fix a leak will be sent out to me ???

[Eamonn]

Thanks for the great advice.... the skimmer pot (from memory) is just full enough that the Floating Collar Weir (hope I am calling it the right name) just about floats...I guess I will start by having a look at the wide mouth extension...then try the fix a leak...and then if all else fails...start digging as you suggest...

btw I dont suppose you would know if or when the fix a leak will be sent out to me ???

http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/DSC00368.JPG

Seems you were right Glan...there is a large crack just where you said it would be...

I just ordered the silicone that you suggested and the fix a leak has just arrived...so I guess I could use that after as well...if not...I guess its gonna have to be a new skimmer.

[Glan]

Hi Eamonn,
Wow that is the biggest split I have ever seen in a skimmer - that looks like classic frost damage whilst the pool was full of water during the winter.

You may be able to do a temporary repair with silicone, as this section of the skimmer only has to maintain head of water pressure, but you will have to replace the skimmer at the end of the season.

Good shot of the split by the way!

ATB

Glan

[Eamonn]

Hi Glan

I also ordered the Pratley Putty after seeing how big the crack was....would you suggest using this instead of the silicone or use them both togeather or just the silicone ??

Also am I right in thinking my vac hose will plug into that skimmer...if so the connector (a certikin yellow swivel one) seems to big to go into the opening after you take the basket out of the skimmer...

Thanks

Eamonn

[Eamonn]

OK I fixed the crack with pratley putty and have not lost any water in 24 hours...the bad news is...the skimmer is still sucking a lot of air....I have added the fix a leak and am just waiting the required 48 hours to see if this will solve the problem.

http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/DSC00400.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/DSC00407.JPG

[Certikin]

It sounds like you still have air intake on the skimmer that is affecting the pump.
With regards to the Vac Hose, I take it your using a hosetail with it and you are screwing the hosetail into the bottom of the skimmer. Then the white end of the Vac Hose will fit onto that fitting. Make sure you fill your vac hose with water prior to connecting it to your skimmer, the easiest way to do this is to hold one end over the inlet while the pump is running.
Hope that helps

Certikin

[Eamonn]

It sounds like you still have air intake on the skimmer that is affecting the pump.
With regards to the Vac Hose, I take it your using a hosetail with it and you are screwing the hosetail into the bottom of the skimmer. Then the white end of the Vac Hose will fit onto that fitting. Make sure you fill your vac hose with water prior to connecting it to your skimmer, the easiest way to do this is to hold one end over the inlet while the pump is running.
Hope that helps

Certikin

Thanks for your help....

Other than a leak in the suction line... any other ideas where I might look for the cause of the pump sucking about 50 % air ??

I managed to attach the vac connector into the skimmer (had to remove a swinging white cap thing that was partly in the way) but even after priming the hose with water as you suggest..it still ended up sucking air...even after a dozen attempts...I think this is of course due to the original problem with the skimmer though (maybe a leaking suction line).

[Glan]

Hi Eamonn,
I think you are right with regard to the suction line, the more pressure you put on the line by loading it when you use the vac hose, will cause the air to be more easily dragged in through the crack in your pipe. The only other possibility is that you have an o ring missing on the skimmer line valve, or that you need to re p.t.f.e the threaded joints before the pump. I assume that the pump doesn't draw air when the skimmer line is closed?
ATB
G