The easiest, and cheapest way is to turn the suction valves off to everything but the suspected skimmer, if your pump bowl stays full of water, it is fine, if it automatically looses suction, then you have either a break or a blockage. Put a plumbers helper in the suction side of your pump pot and blow whatever blockage you have towards the skimmer. A snake will not work here because your skimmer actually has vacuum (negative) pressure unlike a sewer line,which is not a pressurized line. tritonunderwater.com
one way is to close all the valves going to the pump but that skimmer one...does the pump run dry ..or even strain for water..is there a vortect in the skimmer...good luck
It would be easier to replace with a floating skimmer Check poolrite dragonfly
First of all you cut the concrete 2 paralell cuts from pool edge toward the pool equipment, jack hammer out concrete remove old skimmer and coping , plaster, etc, trench out from skimmer location to exist skimmer/drain line,set new skimmer in place plumbin to old skimmer line pour concrete around base of skimmer to set in place, wrap 1/2" rebar drilled and epoxyed into exist pool gunite, build form around skimmer and rebar, pour form with rapid set mortar, pour final layer of finish concrete, replace coping repair plaster and voila you r done
Is the skimmer plastic? Does it have a black bottom? If so, there is a kit for this. Check out black bottom skimmer repair - search.
Check out this link: http://www.poolsinc.com/pd_hy1082.html The parts list is typical. Floating skimmer parts http://www.skimmeronline.com/webcontent14.htm
You can buy a devise called a Jeanie Jet and it connects to your water hose. Take the lid off your pump and insert it into the front of the pump going back to the skimmer. You then turn on the water and it should blow out the line and unclog it. What comes out of that line will come out into the skimmer so watch for it.
Add thru the skimmer box
In order to vacuumn the pool you must first put in the vacuum and the hose. You can siphon the air out of the hose by putting it in front of the return to dispace all air in the hose line. Then turn off the pump. Insert the end of the vacuum line either into the port at the bottom of the skimmer in the pool or remove the skimmer basket and insert it in the bottom of the skimmer. Then after the line is secure, turn on the pump motor. Your vacuum should be ready to use (manually) or run automatically if you have an automatic pool cleaner such as an Aquabug. If you have a slimline skimmer there is a port located just below the skimmer door it is used for the vac hose. After connecting the hose you put your skimmer lid down inside of skimmer and then you can turn on pump. By doing it this way you can let skimmer basket catch all large debries. This saves on having to backwash so much.
try a shop vack drain the pond/pool down to the bottom of the front of the skimmer then turn the pump for 25 sec till you see the water drop in the line let it dry a bit then shop vack it
Depends how the pool was plummed. If you have a dedicated main drain line, or you share a main drain line and a skimmer line. Both are suction lines to the pump,meaning they will go into the front of the pump. If you have several valves on the front of the pump, and hopefully they are labeled you could try to shut all of them except the main drain and use what is called a drain king. It hooks to a waterhose and swells inside the pipe forcing water in the opposite direction. If you dont have any valves on the front of the pump ,chances are you share suction with the skimmer. check the inside bottom of the skimmer. Main drain may be plummed to skimmer bottom.
The water level needs to be maintained at the middle of the skimmer opening or center of the tile line.
Google Aladdin pool equipment ( Lilly Pad skimmer)
You only use the skimmer/s