Pool skimmers are placed in a swimming pool to help pull floating leaves, debris, bugs, toys, and other materials into baskets. Some swimming pools have more than one skimmer to ensure that the water gets cleaned effectively.
These skimmers require pool pumps to create the suction needed to circulate the water around. It is common to lose suction power, making the cleaning system ineffective.
What causes this issue, and how can you resolve the problems to increase suction in your pool skimmer?
Causes of Reduced Suction and Solution
Below are problems that can lead to low suction power in your pool skimmer and the solution.
1. Clogged Pool Skimmer
You might find that your pool skimmer has no suction due to clogging from various debris and trash. There are hundreds of things that can get stuck in the filtration system like leaves, toys, stones, and more.
Unclogging the skimmer requires you to get a garden hose and spraying water to loosen the trash. Your pool can regain its suction, and the water can circulate efficiently.
2. Low Water Level
Low water level or low PSI can also make your pool skimmer to lose suction power. That means you find more trash floating on the water, which makes it unsightly to swim.
You should ensure that the water level reaches at least half of the skimmer opening. The water will be sufficient to ensure that the pump primes without any problem, and the water pressure will not drop.
3. Clogged Skimmer Basket
A skimmer basket that is full of trash shuts the pipe between the pump and the skimmer. What that means is the water flowing to the pump gets reduced, and your facility experiences low PSI.
When the pump gets less water, it does less work that leads to reduced water pressure.
You can resolve this issue by cleaning the skimmer basket to remove leaves, bugs, rocks, and other material that might be clogged inside.
4. Clogged Strainer Basket
It is the same as a clogged skimmer basket. The issues are the same, and the solution is to clean it.
5. Clogged Filter
There will be less water flowing from the filter if it is clogged. That increases the water pressure around the filter.
The solution is to clean the cartridge filter by soaking it in a TSP solution to remove gunk and grease. Leave it to soak for about 12-hour and then transfer it to a muriatic acid and water solution (1:10).
Sand filters need to be backwashed and remember to change the sand after 5-7 years.
6. Clogged Impeller
Pool owners often overlook the issue of the clogged impeller. It is a problem that prevents the water from circulating effectively, meaning that it will not reach the skimmer.
The reduced suction reduces the water flowing via the pool pump.
You can resolve this clog by cleaning the impeller.
7. Suction Leak at Pump
The pump intake fitting, drain plug, and lid o-ring are typical sections that draw in air. A leak in the pump’s side can cause a lot of problems:
- A massive hole allows air to enter the system, and that makes the pump top lose prime.
- A small leak also allows air to enter the system and collect at the filter tank – this creates back pressure that reduces water flow.
The solution is to locate the suction leak and seal it.
8. Small Pump
You might have added accessories to your pool over the years, and that can make the pump to fail to function correctly. That can reduce suction.
The solution is to buy a replacement pump that meets the current needs.
The Bottom Line
You can learn how to adjust pool skimmer suction by following the manufacturer instructions and maintain your pool. Follow the above solutions to solve any skimmer suction problem.
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