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ohnoyoudidnt

(1,858 posts)
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 11:46 PM Jun 2014

Is anyone here familiar with pool maintenance?

I added a shock treatment powder to my pool into the skimmer. I must have dumped the powder in too fast because now the line is clogged. I tried using a drain cleaning bladder but the balloon popped. Any ideas on how to fix this?

I also tried a snake but it won't go in very far. There may be an L fitting that it can't get past, idk.

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Is anyone here familiar with pool maintenance? (Original Post) ohnoyoudidnt Jun 2014 OP
I have a pool maintenaince Co. Come over once a week to take care of it. OffWithTheirHeads Jun 2014 #1
wow. I pay $80 a month. But my guy is currently unavailable. ohnoyoudidnt Jun 2014 #2
what kind of skimmer do you have? TorchTheWitch Jun 2014 #3
I figured it out. ohnoyoudidnt Jul 2014 #4
ok, good TorchTheWitch Jul 2014 #5
 

OffWithTheirHeads

(10,337 posts)
1. I have a pool maintenaince Co. Come over once a week to take care of it.
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 11:56 PM
Jun 2014

Costs me $10.00 per week for them and I don't have enough spare time to figure out my pool.

ohnoyoudidnt

(1,858 posts)
2. wow. I pay $80 a month. But my guy is currently unavailable.
Sat Jun 28, 2014, 12:02 AM
Jun 2014

I'm trying to learn on my own, but this is completely new to me. I'm not even sure what the various valves near the pump, filter, and heater do.

TorchTheWitch

(11,065 posts)
3. what kind of skimmer do you have?
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 02:59 AM
Jun 2014

Are you talking about a skimmer that's part of the filter, the kind that go around the pool by themselves or what?

Any time I've ever put in chlorine or pool shock I've just flung it right into the water in small amounts all over the pool, and then after it's had the chance to dissolve put on the filter.

I've never heard of shocking a pool by putting the chemicals through the skimmer. The skimmer - whichever kind it is - is for keeping crud like bugs, bits of trees, leaves, etc. from getting into the filter system. I would never put any chemicals either powder or liquid through the skimmer since that's not what it's for. Power chemicals normally just get tossed into the pool all over in small amounts by broadcasting it around, and most liquid chemicals are supposed to be diluted in a bucket of pool water first. Did the instructions for the shock treatment actually say to put it in the skimmer? That seems really odd to me since it's too easy to get blocked up just as what happened to you. Powder chemicals can take a long time to really dissolve, so I wouldn't know why no matter how slowly it's poured in it would go through a skimmer. I mean, the whole point to a skimmer is to keep out bitty bits of things from the filter or harsh chemicals in concentration that might damage filter parts.

I think your skimmer might be shot unless there's some way you can figure out how to add enough water through it to melt down the clumps of powder. Since there seems to be a clump somewhere preventing water getting past it is there a way to add water where the clump is and let it sit and dissolve it? If that works to get rid of the blockage then flush a LOT of water from the pool to get out any concentrated bits of chemicals.

In future, don't put any chemicals through the skimmer. Always read the directions on packages of any pool chemicals. Powder chemicals should go directly into the pool by broadcasting it around all over the pool while the filter is OFF then the filter turned on once the powder has at least mostly dissolved, and normally liquid chemicals are diluted in a bucket of water taken right out of the pool then dumped back into the pool. No chemicals in concentration whether powder or liquid should be going through the filter since they can cause damage to filter parts, and automatic skimmers that are part of the filter system or the type that float around the pool shouldn't have chemicals put in them either. Chemicals in concentration should never be going through the filter system, and for automatic skimmers that float around the pool shouldn't have chemicals going through them for the same reason.

I really hope that bits of undissolved powder hasn't gotten into the whole filter system or the whole filter may suffer as well. DON'T run the filter until the powder is dissolved and flushed out. You really don't want bits of undissolved powder bits going through the whole filter system.

ohnoyoudidnt

(1,858 posts)
4. I figured it out.
Tue Jul 1, 2014, 08:55 PM
Jul 2014

It's a skimmer that goes into the filter. The problem was my ignorance on how the valves work, but I have them all figured out now. I assumed it was drawing from the skimmer and suction port for the vacuum, but my pool guy left the valve in the position that draws only from the vacuum port. So there was no clog. I found a good message board for pool maintenance. I have the basics of pool chemistry down now too. I think I'm just going to take care of it myself and save the $80 a month.

Thank you for your reply and advice.

TorchTheWitch

(11,065 posts)
5. ok, good
Wed Jul 2, 2014, 01:04 AM
Jul 2014

$80 is a lot per month. It's not hard to do once you know how, just can be a bit time consuming with vacuuming. You should be fine doing it yourself if you have the time.

Good to know there's a handy forum for help and info. Don't know why I didn't think of that. That's probably what I love the most about the internet... you can find out just about anything about anything.




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