Every time my pool pump shuts off, the skimmer float valve pops off the bottom of the skimmer, rendering it useless. I have to re-set it flush on the bottom of the skimmer. Do I need a new float valve? A new o-ring?
in-ground pool skimmer float valve issue
- Thread starter drummersdad
- Start date
drum,
Are you talking about a spaceship looking device? I think they are supposed to float.
If it is the kind I'm thinking about they "sink" when the water in the skimmer runs low and allows water in from the main drain (or pool port) so that your pump does not run dry.
If this is not what you are taking about, please post a couple of picks as has been suggested above.
What is it that you are trying to do?
Thanks for posting and Welcome to TFP...
Jim R.
Are you talking about a spaceship looking device? I think they are supposed to float.
If it is the kind I'm thinking about they "sink" when the water in the skimmer runs low and allows water in from the main drain (or pool port) so that your pump does not run dry.
If this is not what you are taking about, please post a couple of picks as has been suggested above.
What is it that you are trying to do?
Thanks for posting and Welcome to TFP...
Jim R.
jim...that's essentially it. the unit sits inside the skimmer on top of the drain to the pump and the suction from the pump keeps it firmly seated. My problem is that when the pump shuts off, the unit moves a little and is no longer firmly seated on the drain inside the skimmer.
drum,
In about half the pools I've seen, that float valve has been taken out and thrown away..
The pools don't seem to know the difference.
I'm not sure how to prevent it from moving.
What issue is the movement causing with your pool?
Jim R.
In about half the pools I've seen, that float valve has been taken out and thrown away..
The pools don't seem to know the difference.
I'm not sure how to prevent it from moving.
What issue is the movement causing with your pool?
Jim R.
drum,
In about half the pools I've seen, that float valve has been taken out and thrown away..
The pools don't seem to know the difference.
I'm not sure how to prevent it from moving.
What issue is the movement causing with your pool?
Jim R.[/QUOTE
Jim...I seem to get more action/suction through the skimmer when the
valve is properly seated over the suction port. I'll take a closer look at it.
drum,
I'm "assuming" that your main drain is plumbed into the bottom of the skimmer. Mostly done on older pools. If you are not sure, you can look under the skimmer basket with the float valve removed, you should see two holes neither of which will have a plug in it. With the pump running, one of the holes has suction and the other does not. Also, at the equipment pad, you would not have a valve that lets you select an input from the Main Drain.
I can't see in my head how the floating valve would "increase" the suction, but I might be missing something.
Do you have an operating Weir door on the Skimmer? Do you have one or two skimmers?
Jim R.
I'm "assuming" that your main drain is plumbed into the bottom of the skimmer. Mostly done on older pools. If you are not sure, you can look under the skimmer basket with the float valve removed, you should see two holes neither of which will have a plug in it. With the pump running, one of the holes has suction and the other does not. Also, at the equipment pad, you would not have a valve that lets you select an input from the Main Drain.
I can't see in my head how the floating valve would "increase" the suction, but I might be missing something.
Do you have an operating Weir door on the Skimmer? Do you have one or two skimmers?
Jim R.
I have the same skimmer float valve assembly but rarely use it. I keep it in the shed. Its purpose is two-fold. First, it has a small swing flap on the bottom that fine-tunes the ratio of suction between the Weir gate and the main drain. Second, it has an internal float in case your water level falls too low. In that situation, the internal float falls and keeps the pump from sucking air through the skimmer. The pump will only pull water from the main drain after that float is pulled down.
To get maximum surface skimming action, I put a 1.5" plastic plug loosely in the line at the bottom of the skimmer from the main drain so it then only pulls water through the skimmer. Only thread plug this in a turn or so. No need to tighten it up fully to the O-ring and risk getting it stuck there or cracking the threads. If you block the main drain as I have, you need to check that your pump is not pulling so hard that you get air sucked into the skimmer basket by accident.
I have auto-fill on my water level. I have no fear of the pump running dry due to evaporation so I leave out the valve entirely. I run a Navigator vacuum floor sweep which pulls water randomly from the bottom of the pool in favor of pulling water through the fixed main drain.
The only time I put that float valve in the skimmer is when I'm draining the pool below the skimmer height such as when I'm draining and refilling a lot of water to lower the calcium or CYA levels maybe once a year.
To get maximum surface skimming action, I put a 1.5" plastic plug loosely in the line at the bottom of the skimmer from the main drain so it then only pulls water through the skimmer. Only thread plug this in a turn or so. No need to tighten it up fully to the O-ring and risk getting it stuck there or cracking the threads. If you block the main drain as I have, you need to check that your pump is not pulling so hard that you get air sucked into the skimmer basket by accident.
I have auto-fill on my water level. I have no fear of the pump running dry due to evaporation so I leave out the valve entirely. I run a Navigator vacuum floor sweep which pulls water randomly from the bottom of the pool in favor of pulling water through the fixed main drain.
The only time I put that float valve in the skimmer is when I'm draining the pool below the skimmer height such as when I'm draining and refilling a lot of water to lower the calcium or CYA levels maybe once a year.
Jim...yep that's my pool. It's at least 31 years old. One skimmer, and an operating Weir door on the skimmer. When the float is squarely over the suction hole the flap on the bottom of the float is half open -- just as slickraft describes it below.
Drum,
Slick is a good example of the a lot of people who just take the valve out.
Sorry that I can't help you keep it in place.
I still can't see how it would help with increased skimming..
What is the actual differences you see with it installed and not installed?
Thanks,
Jim R.
Slick is a good example of the a lot of people who just take the valve out.
Sorry that I can't help you keep it in place.
I still can't see how it would help with increased skimming..
What is the actual differences you see with it installed and not installed?
Thanks,
Jim R.