Main Drain to Skimmer Valve Ratio

[myeag]

I would like to set my MD / Skimmer valve to an optimum ratio. Right now I believe it’s set at 100% MD / 50% Skimmer but not quite sure. I would appreciate any input.

 

[PoolStored]

90% skimmer, 10% MD

Set the right handle to not quite 3 oclock.

 

[proavia]

Do you have two skimmers?
Interesting you have two pipes marked as Main Drain. Usually, even though you may have two drain covers on the pool floor, they are plumbed together and only one pipe for main drain is at the equipmemt pad.

Usually the valves should be set to pull at least 70% (or more) from the skimmers to maximize skimming the pool surfafe and capturing debris before it settles to the pool floor. For a pool without an IFCS, probably 80%-90% skimmer would work best.

 

[Jimrahbe]

M,

The labels do not look right to me either..

It would be pretty stupid to plumb two skimmers together on the same line at the equipment pad..

As a test, I suggest that you turn the handle of the pipe marked "skimmers" so that it points straight up.. In theory, this should shut off both skimmers.. Then go look at each skimmer and see if they are working or not..

Please tell us what you find.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[myeag]

Do you have two skimmers?
Interesting you have two pipes marked as Main Drain. Usually, even though you may have two drain covers on the pool floor, they are plumbed together and only one pipe for main drain is at the equipmemt pad.

Usually the valves should be set to pull at least 70% (or more) from the skimmers to maximize skimming the pool surfafe and capturing debris before it settles to the pool floor. For a pool without an IFCS, probably 80%-90% skimmer would work best.

Yes. One pipe for two skimmers and each floor drain has its own plumbing. BTW, I thought it was one MD pipe and the skimmers were separately plumbed until recently when I had a VS pump installed. I’m still not totally convinced this is the case but I went with what the pump installer said since he was working with pool installer when I had the pool installed.

I guess I am confused on how to get these valves positioned to where the skimmers are pulling more and the MD pulling less. I know that the ‘OFF’ is pointing to the gate but that’s about it.

 

[myeag]

M,

The labels do not look right to me either..

It would be pretty stupid to plumb two skimmers together on the same line at the equipment pad..

As a test, I suggest that you turn the handle of the pipe marked "skimmers" so that it points straight up.. In theory, this should shut off both skimmers.. Then go look at each skimmer and see if they are working or not..

Please tell us what you find.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I never thought about doing this but you are correct. Both skimmers are off and the pump is pulling 100% from the MD. Now, I can move on to to actually adjusting the valve.

 

[Jimrahbe]

M,

Did you just change the labels on the pipes???

Assuming your above pic is correct, you want to do the following...

1. Set the handle of the West skimmer to straight down. This will turn the skimmer on at 100%
2. Set the handle of the East skimmer to the 2:30 position.. This will close off most of the main drain and open the East skimmer as much as you can with this valve set up.

The above is all you really need to do.. but... If you want to get picky...

The skimmer nearest to the equipment pad will always get the most suction.. The skimmer farthest away will get less suction... You can try to make the suction to each skimmer the same by reducing the suction to the near skimmer and opening the far skimmer as much as possible.. You can do this by taking out the skimmer baskets and just by feeling the amount of suction at easy skimmer and then try to balance them as much as possible.. Not at all required, just something that can be done.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[myeag]

M,

Did you just change the labels on the pipes???

Assuming your above pic is correct, you want to do the following...

1. Set the handle of the West skimmer to straight down. This will turn the skimmer on at 100%
2. Set the handle of the East skimmer to the 2:30 position.. This will close off most of the main drain and open the East skimmer as much as you can with this valve set up.

The above is all you really need to do.. but... If you want to get picky...

The skimmer nearest to the equipment pad will always get the most suction.. The skimmer farthest away will get less suction... You can try to make the suction to each skimmer the same by reducing the suction to the near skimmer and opening the far skimmer as much as possible.. You can do this by taking out the skimmer baskets and just by feeling the amount of suction at easy skimmer and then try to balance them as much as possible.. Not at all required, just something that can be done.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yes. I did what you earlier suggested and you were correct so I relabeled the pipes. Now I can adjust. Thanks

 

[proavia]

On a new pool, having each main drain plumbed separately back to the pad and being individually controlled by its own Jandy valve may not be code or VGB compliant.

Having each skimmer plumbed separately back to the pad is much better as you can adjust each skimmer separately to maximize skimming.