In this article, we’re talking about the latter. How they work, how to keep them clean and running properly, and how to troubleshoot them when things go wrong. Let’s dive in!

What are Pool Skimmers?

Pool skimmers are like little buckets built into the side of the pool. They hold skimmer baskets, which perform a similar function to the handheld leaf skimmer, keeping leaves and debris from entering your pump and filter.

These are usually rectangular-shaped and are placed around the pool, toward the tops of the walls. The water level usually covers about the bottom half of the skimmers.

They’re most often made of white plastic, and some have a door called a weir over the front that opens and closes according to the water level and movement.

What Do Pool Skimmers Do?

Pool skimmers are the starting point of pool circulation and act as a gateway to your pool’s filtration system.

Your pool pump sucks water into the skimmers. As the water passes through the skimmer basket, it’s cleared of larger debris that would cause a blockage if it made it all the way to your pump or filter.

It also allows the filter to do its job of pulling the smaller contaminants out so the water that makes its way back into your pool through the returns is cleaner.

The skimmer also helps keep your pump and filter in tip-top shape by ensuring the water that passes through them is clear of things that could cause major problems for that expensive equipment.

Pool Skimmers Keep The Water Surface Clean

The more people who swim, the more sunscreen, makeup, shampoo, soap, and other non-living contaminants are left in the water. To help your filter out, you can increase your skimmer basket’s effectiveness by covering it with pantyhose. The finely knit fabric will catch some of the smaller debris that would normally tax your filter.

Think putting pantyhose on your skimmer is kinda weird? We get it. Luckily for you, there’s something made exactly for that purpose: pool skimmer filter socks. They’ll do the same thing, but look more pool-like so you won’t have to answer any awkward questions from your friends.

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01/27/2023 03:56 pm GMT

A Place For Adding Chlorine Tablets

You could spend a little money and buy a floating chlorine dispenser. Or you could just add a few chlorine tablets directly to your skimmer basket.

The advantage here is that because water is pulled through the skimmer, it will run over the tablets, dissolving them more quickly than if they were just floating around the pool. This means a higher concentration of chlorine in your water, which translates to cleaner, more sanitary water.

NOTE: Just make sure you remove the partially dissolved tablets from the pool skimmer when your pump isn’t running to keep the highly chlorinated water from sitting in one place, possibly damaging equipment.

Better yet, invest in an automatic chlorinator. A chlorinator is the most efficient and safest way to add chlorine to your pool.

Our Top Pick

Hayward Automatic Pool Chlorinator (Inline)

This automatic chlorinator is perfect for the pool owner who hates fussing with chlorine tablets. With its dial control valve, you can easily adjust the chlorine level depending on your pool's size.

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Manual Pool Vacuuming

It’s great if you have an automatic pool cleaner, but there will be times when you’ll need to manually vacuum your pool. When that happens, you can put your pool’s circulation system to work.

Once you have your vacuum put together, you can insert the vacuum hose into the skimmer’s suction hole, or use a skimmer vacuum plate, and the water will be forced through the pool’s filter system as you vacuum, resulting in cleaner, clearer water.

Want to learn how to vacuum your pool manually? Click here.

When to Clean Your Pool Skimmer

Clean out your pool skimmer at least once a week. The basket catches all the debris that falls into your pool. The longer it sits in the pool, the higher the probability it’ll start to break up and then decay, and then you’ll have tiny, nasty bits floating around in your water.

Also, if you don’t skim debris off the water surface fast enough, the debris will sink to the bottom. This can cause staining and other water issues. So it’s important to keep debris out of your pool water at all times.

If you have a lot of trees in your backyard, if it’s been windy, you’ve had storms, or if any other condition exists that gives you a reason to believe your skimmer may fill up with debris pretty quickly, you’ll want to check it more often.

How to Clean Your Pool Skimmer

All you have to do is take the cover off the skimmer, reach in and pull the basket out, and discard whatever is in the basket. Then put it back in the skimmer, replace the cover, and you’re done.

If the basket looks dingy, or it’s caught some particularly yucky things (dead bugs, anyone?), you can give it a spray with the hose before replacing it. If you feel it needs to be cleaned further than that, a mild multi-purpose spray will do the trick.

Important: Make sure you rinse the cleaner off completely, or you may end up with foamy bubbles in your pool water, and a bigger problem than you started with.

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How to Unclog a Pool Skimmer Line

There are a few signs it might be clogged:

Your pool pump is pulsing or unusually loud and the pressure is low.

If water is surging or pulsing in your pump, this may be a sign of a clogged pipe. But first, you have to rule out other potential problems, like air leaks. Check the o-ring on your pump lid. Then check to see if the impeller inside your pump is clogged. Be sure the pump is off when you check this. And if you need help troubleshooting your pump, be sure to check our other videos. It may also be time to backwash or clean your filter if you haven’t done that in a while. If you have just cleaned your filter, that may have caused an air pocket to form. Remove the pump lid and basket and stick a hose inside to fill up the line with water.

Your water intake into your pump is slow even if the skimmer basket is empty.

If water is slowly coming into your pool pump, check the skimmer door to make sure it isn’t stuck. Also, make sure your pool’s water level is halfway up the skimmer. If the skimmer door and water level look good, you may have a clog in your skimmer line.

To find out which pipe is blocked, run your pool pump and check each line one at a time. You can do this by using your pool diverter valve, aka a Jandy Valve. Switch the valve between the skimmers and the main drain lines.

If one line has low pressure or your pump loses suction, that means it’s clogged with an air pocket or debris. As you test these lines, be sure to always leave one line open. You never want to run your pump with all of the intake valves closed and no water flowing.

1. Try Moving The Pool Diverter Valve Back And Forth

Opening and closing the pool diverter valve while the pump is running may dislodge whatever is blocking your skimmer line. Shimmy the diverter valve back and forth between the lines for several seconds each time.

After several rounds of opening and closing the skimmer valve, you may remove the air pocket or dislodge the debris into the pump strainer basket. As we said, be sure to always leave one line open during this process so there’s water flowing to your pump as it runs.

2. Clear The Blockage With A Drain Cleaning Bladder

Drain cleaning bladders attach to your garden hose and are then inserted into the clogged line. When the hose is turned on, the bladder expands and pushes pressurized water down the pipe.

Water-Powered Drain Cleaner Bladder

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First, shut off your pump completely. Make sure your diverter valve is turned to the skimmer line.
Then, remove your skimmer basket. Insert the hose with the bladder attachment into the suction hole of your skimmer. Push it in as far as it will go.

When you turn on the hose, the bladder will expand while it’s in the pipe. That pressurized water will push any debris and air to the pump.

If that doesn’t work, try using the drain cleaning bladder in the pump. Make sure the pump is still off and the diverter valve is set to the skimmer line. Remove the pump basket and insert the hose with the bladder into the pump’s intake pipe that flows back towards the pool. This will force pressurized water back into the skimmer. Keep an eye out for debris that blows back to the skimmer.

You will also want to use the bladder in the pump if you have a clog in your main drain line. Just make sure the diverter valve is turned to the main drain when you do this.

If nothing else works, it might be time to call a professional to come to unclog your lines. But don’t give up right away: it can take several rounds of diverting water or using the bladder to unclog your lines.

The Skimmer in Winter

Whether you’re closing an inground pool or winterizing an above ground pool, you won’t want to skip the skimmer prep, or you could open your pool to a bit of a mess next season.

For an inground pool, once you’ve blown out the lines, you’ll need to insert a rubber plug or an ice compensator like a Gizzmo into your skimmer to keep it closed and prevent anything from sneaking into your filtration system over the winter.

Same goes for an above ground pool, but in that case, depending on the type of skimmer you have, you may be able to just install a cover over it.

Either way, make sure you take care of your skimmer so it can keep taking care of your pool when you open it back up.

Gizzmo Skimmer Ice Compensator

$14.87

Screws into the bottom of the skimmer to absorb the expansion of winter freeze-up and is perfect for big, deep skimmers.

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01/28/2023 12:58 am GMT

Skim Your Way to a Cleaner, Healthier Pool

From keeping your pool’s circulation going, to helping clean your pool, pool skimmers are one of the most unassuming yet important parts of your swimming pool. Keep the skimmers clean and clear of debris, and half the work of keeping your pool clear is done.

Remember they also play an important role in closing your pool each winter. Skip that one little step, and you could have a big job waiting for you in the spring. Knowing just how important they are and how to care for them means your pool skimmers will do their job for you for years to come.

If you need more help maintaining your pool throughout the season, grab our FREE Pool Care Cheat Sheet. And subscribe to our YouTube channel for more pool maintenance tutorials throughout the season.

Happy Swimming!

The post Pool Skimmers 101: How to Clean and Troubleshooting Tips appeared first on Swim University®.

Pool jets are what keep water moving in a pool. Without that pool circulation, the water would quickly grow algae, collect dirt, and not be anything you wanted to swim in. Want to keep your pool clean and swimmable? Keep that water moving.

The Power of Pool Jets

When you look at them, they don’t seem like much. Just little plastic openings in the pool walls, releasing water back into the pool once it’s gone through the filtration system. But pool jets are so much more than that.

Sure, they put the water back into the pool. But those pool return jets also help distribute chemicals through the water. Chlorine wouldn’t do much good if it all sat in one spot. The rest of the pool would be dirty and unsanitary.

Also, as the jets return water to the pool, they keep the water level above the skimmer. This is the only way the water can enter the skimmer, and be pushed through the filter. If the pool jets aren’t working, guess what? The water’s dirty. Simple as that.

How Does Pool Circulation Work?

The pool water isn’t going to spontaneously move. You need equipment to make it happen.

Water Flows Out of the Pool

Every pool should be equipped with a pump and a filter, at the very least. The pump sucks in the water from the pool via the skimmer, the rectangular port with the flap door in the pool wall.

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Water Flows Through the Pump and Filter

Once the water is sucked out the pool by the pump, it passes through the pump and into the filter. The filter cleans the water by removing debris and contaminants. Some filters even remove the smallest contaminants at the molecular level.

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01/27/2023 11:44 pm GMT

Water Flows Back into the Pool

After it passes through the filter, the water is pushed through the pool jets, which are all those little round holes in the pool wall. Most pools have multiple jets, and some even have multiple skimmers.

In order to create pool circulation, you need to be able to direct the water flow. To do this, pool return jets should be multi-directional, meaning you can adjust them. If the jets in your pool aren’t adjustable, get new jet fittings that are.

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How To Improve Pool Circulation

It’s good practice to point your return jets in a direction that will circulate the water in your pool.

If your pool only has one jet, point the jet toward the skimmer and downward. This will circulate the water, and push the water at the bottom of the pool to the surface.

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Watch for Dead Areas

Spots in your pool that have poor circulation are called dead areas. Some commons spots include:

• behind the ladder(s);
• in and around pool steps;
• all cracks, corners, and crevices; and
• underneath the skimmer(s).

Sometimes these dead areas are unavoidable. You can do your best to point your return jets to improve these areas, but you may just have to take care of these areas manually. This is why it’s important to always have a pool brush handy.

Brush the Pool

This is a major part of pool circulation. Every pool is going to have a few dead spots, so practicing good circulation also includes brushing your pool. You should brush your pool often—at least once a week.

Brushing dead areas, as well as the rest of the pool, helps to break up debris or microorganisms like algae. It gets these uninvited guests into the water, instead of clinging to other parts of your pool, so that your filter will be able to filter them out.

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Heavy Duty Round Pool Brush

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Determine Your Pool’s Turnover Rate

The turnover rate is the amount of time it takes to circulate all the water in your pool through the filtration system. It’s not necessary to know the rate for a home swimming pool, but you can certainly do the math if you want to. If you don’t want to calculate it, just make sure you:

• run the pump and filter 8 to 10 hours a day;
• keep the skimmer and pump basket(s) clear of debris;
• angle the return jet(s) to push the pool water in a circular motion;
• point at least one jet toward the bottom of the pool; and
• brush the pool at least once a week and hit all the dead areas.

Follow the Three C’s

My 3 C’s of pool care include: cleaning, circulation and chemicals. Read these posts to understand how to keep your pool clean and healthy all season long:

• How to Keep Your Pool Clean
• Basic Pool Chemistry 101
• Parts of a Pool: Essential Knowledge for Pool Care
  

Happy Swimming!

The post Pool Jets and the Importance of Pool Circulation appeared first on Swim University®.

But before you just turn it on, walk away, and forget about it, you do want to consider a few important factors into account like circulation, chemical balancing, and cost. Especially cost. Because this is one of those parts of pool care that, if you get it wrong, can cost you quite a bit of money.

The “How Long to Run a Pool Pump” Dilemma

The ideal answer to this question is all day, every day, all year, all the time, forever.

And then go out and get three more jobs because your electric bill is going to be ridiculous if you do that.

So while that would be ideal, it’s not practical, or even completely necessary. The key is to understand your pool pump’s purpose, the type of pump you have (or could have), and how best to take advantage of its features.

What Does a Pool Pump Do?

If the water in your pool didn’t move, it would quickly become a stagnant swamp, host to algae and all kinds of other yucky stuff. One of the most important factors in keeping your pool clean and swimmable is pool circulation. And that is generated by the pump, which is the first component of your pool’s filtration system.

The pool pump pulls water in, and then pushes it out through the filter. No matter what kind of filter you have, it only works if water moves through it. That’s how the filter is able to capture debris and bacteria.

To keep all the water in the pool clean and clear, it must run through the filter system at least once a day. This is called the turnover rate.

You can skip this whole process by investing in the pool care video course and finally master pool water chemistry and maintenance for good! It’s time to take control of your pool and save a ton of money in the process.

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How to Calculate Turnover Rate For Your Pool

First, if you don’t already know it, you’ll need to calculate your pool’s volume. If you’re not sure how to do this, you can use our pool calculator to figure it out:

Pool Volume Calculator Click on your pool shape to calculate the volume of water.

Rectangle

Round

Get Pool Volume

Get Pool Volume

Once you have your pool’s volume, divide it by eight to determine the number of gallons per hour (GPH) that need to be pumped.

Most pool pumps go by gallons per minute rather than GPH, though. So to get that number, divide the GPH by 60 to determine how many gallons per minute (GPM) need to be pumped for full turnover.

So your formulae will be:

Total Pool Volume ÷ 8 = GPH

GPH ÷ 60 = GPM

Choose the Right Pool Pump

This part’s easy once you have all the numbers. Simply find one that pumps at least the same GPM as is required for your pool. If the one you choose pumps a little more than you need, that’s fine. Just don’t go below your required GPM.

This will ensure your pump will run at the appropriate rate to turn over your pool’s water in one eight-hour period.

When Should You Run Your Pool Pump?

Just as important as how long to run a pool pump is when to run it. Sure, you need to run it for at least eight hours. But is that consecutive hours? Daylight? Nighttime? What are we talking about here?

Running Your Pool Pump During Non-Peak Hours

Did you know the rate you pay for electricity changes throughout the day? It’s based on what electric providers call peak hours, meaning when more people are using more power, and putting more strain on the grid.

Peak hours vary from location to location. For example, in warmer climates, peak hours most likely correlate to when people have their air-conditioning cranked, maybe late afternoon or early evening when people are getting home from work and turning up the A/C.

All it takes is a call to your provider to find out the peak hours where you live. Once you know that, try to schedule your pool pump run time around those hours to keep your cost lower.

You can make this really easy on yourself by using a programmable pool timer to turn the pump on and off at the right times.

Running Your Pool From Sunrise to Sunset

It may seem logical to have the pump running during the day, while people are swimming in it, so the water stays clean. And that’s a good thought. But consider a couple of other things too.

Those non-peak hours your utility has may be at night, especially if you live in a warm climate where people are more likely to run their air-conditioning during the day.

Also, running your pump is usually necessary after you’ve added chemicals to your pool. In order to get the chemicals dispersed throughout the water, it has to be moving. Otherwise, you may end up with super-sanitized spots and pockets of not-so-clean water, and that’s not the kind of Marco Polo you want to play.

But there’s one chemical that needs to be added at night, or at least at dusk: pool shock. Add it during the day, and the sun will just burn most of it off, reducing its effectiveness.

So when you shock your pool, you’ll definitely want to run your pump at night, and for a minimum of eight hours to fully distribute the shock.

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Calcium Hypochlorite Pool Shock (Cal-Hypo Shock)

This fast-acting, quick-dissolving swimming pool shock from DryTec kills bacteria, controls algae, and destroys organic contaminants in pools. It comes in easy-to-use 1-pound bags.

Use the entire contents of the bag when opened. If any granules settle to the bottom of the pool use brush to disperse them. Add the right dosage of this product during evening hours while the filter pump is running.

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Run Your Pool Pump For Non-Consecutive Hours

Yes, you want to run your pool pump for at least eight hours every day to complete at least one turnover cycle. But that doesn’t mean it has to be eight hours straight.

Again, refer to those non-peak utility hours. Working around those, you can run your pump for two hours here, seven hours there, and then three hours there. As long as it runs for at least 8 hours in every 24-hour period, you’re covered.

Our Top Pick

Pentair SuperFlo Variable Speed Pool Pump

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This pool pump has a really simple digital control panel with 3 programmable speeds. And it's extremely quiet thanks to the enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) motor.

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01/28/2023 01:33 am GMT

What’s The Best Pool Pump Type?

Aside from time of day and non-peak utility hours, how long to run a pool pump also depends on the type of pump you have.

Horsepower

It’s only logical, but it may be something you hadn’t considered. The more powerful your pool pump is—the more horsepower it has—the faster it will turn the water over, which means you can run it less often and for shorter periods of time.

But this is also dependent upon the size of your filter and the filtration system’s pipes. A too-powerful pump can be too much for a small filter. Also, a one-horsepower pump will work more slowly, but if your system uses three-inch pipes, it can accommodate a three-horsepower pump, which will work more quickly.

But there’s another but. Three horsepower can be too much if you have a small pool, and it will only waste energy and cost you more money. Be sure to get a pump that isn’t too powerful for your filtration system, but is powerful enough to turn over your pool’s volume at an adequate rate to hit that magic GPM number you need.

Single, Dual, or Variable Speed

If you have a single-speed pool pump, we recommend you upgrade to at least a dual-speed. You’ll get more efficiency and faster turnover. If you’re going to buy a new pump, we highly recommend you get a dual-speed or better. In addition to the energy savings and better efficiency, some states, such as California and Arizona, actually prohibit the installation of new single-speed pool pumps.

But to really get all the benefits from your investment, we recommend choosing a variable-speed pool pump. They consume less power, help turnover and filtering go more quickly, and you may even be able to get a utility rebate for using one. They also run at lower revolutions per minute (RPM) than single- and dual-speed pumps, so they’re quieter.

Yes, they’re also more expensive. But they’re a long-term investment in your pool’s efficiency and maintenance.

Our Upgrade Pick

Pentair IntelliFlo Variable Speed Pool Pump

For bigger inground pools needing a 3 horsepower motor. Built-in control panel with 8 programmable speed settings and a timer. Best for pool owners looking to save money on their energy bills.

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Is Your Pool Pump Running? You’d Better Catch It!

Have you been letting your pool pump run 24/7? Stop the insanity! Now you can look forward to a lower electric bill and turn some lights back on. Or if you haven’t been running it enough, you can look forward to a cleaner pool now that it’s circulating more often.

And the next time you and your neighbor debate how long to run a pool pump, you’ll be armed with good information. Now if you could just get him to trim that tree limb that keep dropping leaves into your pool …

Happy Swimming!

The post How Long Should I Run My Pool Pump Every Day? appeared first on Swim University®.

But what happens if you need to divert water from one place to another? Or you need to make sure water doesn’t flow backward into the pool, putting back all the nasty stuff that was sucked out to be filtered? That’s where pool valves come in. Managing your pool’s water flow is a matter of understanding the different types of valves, and then properly using them at the right times.

What are Pool Valves?

You already know how important pool circulation is to keeping the water clean and swimmable. If pool water didn’t move, it couldn’t go through a filter where all kinds of dirt and debris is removed. It wouldn’t flow through the heater to be warmed before being sent back into the pool.

All that water moves out of and back into the pool through pipes. Pool valves control the direction of water flow, not just in and out of the pool, but in and out of your pool equipment as well.

For example, you want the pool water to enter the filter, and then be expelled in the right direction to continue its path through the plumbing and back to the pool. If the water moved backward through the filter, you’d get a lot of dirt, debris, and bacteria sent back into the pool. This is why you backwash a pool filter to clean it.

Pool valves make sure the water keeps moving in the direction it’s supposed to. As far as how it moves and why, that depends on they type of valve.

Pool Valve Types

Among all the equipment and pipes connected to your pool, you’ll find four types of pool valves that help keep water flowing the right way.

Multiport Valves

A multiport valve is usually found on the filter. It allows you to direct water through the filter to either clean the water, rinse or backwash the filter, or expel water to waste, which is helpful when you want to, say, vacuum your pool.

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You can also recirculate water without filtering it if, say, you’re using a flocculant to clear a cloudy pool. It also allows you to close the valves, which you may do when you clear the lines to open your pool. And there’s a winter setting to prevent water from getting into the lines where it can freeze and cause damage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPtfSFACM

Diverter Pool Valves

Exactly as the name suggests, diverter pool valves let you divert or redirect the water flow from one part of the plumbing system to another. You’ll find two types of diverter valves available:

2-way valves: These control the water flow to or from just one port. They can turn the flow completely, completely off, and partially on or off. They’re controlled by a handle that turns 90 degrees.

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3-way valves: These have one port on each end, and one port in the middle. They allow you to partially or fully turn on or off water flow through either end port, but not through the center port. They’re controlled by a handle that turns 180 degrees.

This type of valve would be used to, for example, partially or fully turn the skimmer or the drain on or off, through one port or the other. But because the center port doesn’t close, you could not divert water flowing to the pump.

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Diverter valves are available with or without unions. If you have one with unions, you can repair or replace the valve without having to cut it from the plumbing pipe.

Check Valves

Whenever you turn the pump off, it’s important to prevent water from flowing backward. This is what check pool valves do. They’re important in numerous situations and for a variety of equipment.

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Automatic Chlorinators:
If you use either a salt chlorine generator or an automatic pool chlorinator, it should be the last piece of equipment water flows through before going back into the pool.

This is because chlorine generators release concentrated chlorine, which is then diluted in the pool water. If the water were allowed to flow backward after you turn off the pump, that concentrated chlorine could damage your other pool equipment.

To prevent this, you must install a check valve between the chlorinator and the piece of equipment that precedes it, which will be either the filter or heater.

This will ensure that, when you shut off the pump for any reason, water will not flow between the chlorinator and any other equipment, in either direction, thereby protecting your filter and heater from the concentrated chlorine they’re not meant to handle.

Hot Tubs:
If you have a spa connected to your pool, you’ll notice that the water level in the hot tub is higher than the pool’s water level. When you turn off the spa pump, you want to ensure that the water levels in both areas remain consistent, meaning you don’t want the hot tub to drain into the pool, throwing off your water chemistry in both places.

A check valve keeps this from happening by keeping the spa water where it belongs.

Water Features:
If you have any kind of fountain or other water feature in your pool, the feature draws water from the pool to function. But it’s likely that it also draws directly from a contained reservoir. Installing a check valve in the water feature’s feed line will keep that reservoir from draining back into the pool when the feature is turned off.

Solar Heating:
If you’re using a standard pool heater or heat pump, you don’t need to worry about this part because you likely have a diverter valve between the heater and the pool return.

But if you’re using a solar pool heater, you’ll need to install a check valve in the pipe that leads to the solar panels.

These panels must be continuously filled with water in order for the water to capture the sun’s heat, and maintain the pool temperature. Usually, the solar panels are installed on a home’s roof to best capture the sun, putting them at least eight feet above the pool pump.

This means that whenever the pump is shut off, the water would obey the laws of gravity, and flow backwards in the pipe, away from the panels and back toward the pump and the pool. Putting a check valve on that pipe prevents this backflow.

Valve Actuators

We’ve got automatic chlorinators, automatic timers, and all kinds of other automation going on with a pool, right? So why not automate the valves, too? That’s what valve actuators do.

Rather than having to walk over to your pool equipment area and manually turn diverter valve handles to control water flow, you can install valve actuators on top of the diverter valves, and wire the actuators to your pool’s control box.

Then, when you want to redirect water flow for any reason, all you have to do is push a button, and the actuator automatically moves the valve handle. Valve actuators will also allow you to turn on your connected hot tub or water features, all with the push of a button. Pretty cool, huh?

How to Replace Pool Valves

Just like anything else you use, pool valves are not indestructible and don’t last forever. At some point, you’ll need to either repair or replace one or more valves.

And if your pool has been around since before the mid ’80s? It’s time to do this now. Pool valves have improved a lot over the past 35 years.

Take Control of Your Pool’s Water Flow

Of all the equipment and devices you use to maintain your pool, it’s amazing that a few little plastic pieces can have such an effect on your pool’s function and health.

Don’t underestimate the value or necessity of pool valves to make sure the plumbing functions the way it should, and your pool water stays clean and sparkling.

Happy Swimming!

The post Get to Know Your Pool Valves appeared first on Swim University®.

Educating yourself about every part of your pool—even the parts you don’t see—can help you take better care of it, and can save you money in repairs.

The Importance of Pool Plumbing

It can be easy to forget about the pool parts you never see, including the pool plumbing. The pipes underground, the parts hidden behind the pool walls, and even parts submerged in the deep end that you never see unless you’re diving for quarters.

The plumbing is just one part of your pool’s anatomy, but an extremely important part. It’s just as important as the human body’s heart and circulation system. Without them, nothing else works.

Swimming Pool Plumbing Diagram

It’s one thing to learn the names of your pool’s parts. Learning where they’re all located and how they connect to each other will give you an even better understanding of how your pool plumbing works. That, in turn, will help you know how to care for your pool better.

The next step is to learn the role each part plays in your pool’s circulation and health.

Pool Plumbing Components

No part of a pool circulation system is any more important than another. They all do something different, and all play a critical role in keeping water moving into and out of your pool to help keep it clean, healthy, and swimmable.

Skimmer

This is a space on the inner wall of your pool where water enters the pool plumbing system. Your pool may have more than one skimmer, depending on its size.

Inside the skimmer is a basket that collects larger debris like leaves, twigs, and bugs from entering the plumbing lines.

A skimmer will sometimes have a door—called a weir or floating weir—that is pushed inward when water passes through it. Otherwise, it stays shut to help keep debris from collecting in the skimmer basket and getting into the plumbing.

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Suction Lines

Once the water has passed through the skimmer basked, it enters a suction line. This is basically a plumbing pipe, usually made from PVC. The entry point is connected to the skimmer, and the endpoint is connected to the pump.

Pump

Pool water doesn’t just move through the suction lines on its own. When the pool pump is on, it creates suction power, which moves water through the suction line, drawing it from the skimmer into the pump.

Think of the pump as the heart of your pool. It draws water in and then expels it into the filter through a continuation of the suction line.

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Important: One of the worst things for a pool pump is for it to run dry. It’s made to have water in it, and when the water is either too low or not present at all, the pump can be damaged. The best way to avoid this is to ensure your pool’s water level is high enough to continually enter the skimmer, while also not completely covering the skimmer.

Filter

Pool water leaves the pump and enters the filter to be cleaned. Depending on the type of pool filter you have, it may remove everything from larger debris like leaf litter and bugs to hair and bacteria.

Return Lines

Now that the water is clean, it can go back into the pool through the return lines. Again, these are simply pipes made of PVC that extend from the filter to the pool returns.

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Return

You may have also heard these called jets or return jets. They’re small openings around the pool wall through which the now-cleaned water reenters the pool. You’ll want the wall returns facing in such a way that they continually circulate the pool water.

For example, imagine standing on one side of your pool, the shallow end to your left, the deep end to your right. Let’s say the returns are on the wall opposite you, and the skimmer is on the side where you’re standing.

You’d point all the wall jets to the right, toward the deep end. This would move the water in one direction, and force it around to the skimmer, creating literal pool circulation.

The return jets in the shallow end should each face a different direction to keep water from stagnating over the steps.

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Main Drain

Every inground pool has a main drain at the bottom of the deep end. Depending on the size of your pool, there may be more than one main drain.

Important: It’s never a good idea to completely drain your pool. Removing the water pressure from the pool walls can cause all kinds of damage, from cracking to the entire pool literally popping out of the ground.

If your pool needs to be drained for cleaning, repair, or painting, we highly recommend consulting a professional to avoid damaging or ruining your pool.

Water

Bet you didn’t think about this, did you? But it’s true. Water is an essential part of every pool plumbing system. Without it, the pump won’t work properly, the filter will dry out, and you’ll break something when you try to dive into the deep end.

Seriously, keeping the right amount of water in your pool is essential for the plumbing system to function properly.

When the weather’s hot, watch for the water the level to decrease due to evaporation. When it’s rainy, watch for the level to increase to the point where it covers the skimmers and interferes with the plumbing and circulation.

And always remember that the water isn’t just what you swim in. It’s a big part of what keeps your pool and all its equipment and systems running smoothly.

You’ve Cracked the Pool Plumbing Code!

Properly caring for your pool entails a lot more than just testing the water and adding chemicals. Keeping your pool plumbing system in mind will help you maintain your clean, sparkling pool, and extend your equipment’s longevity.

Happy Swimming!

The post Get to Know Your Pool Plumbing appeared first on Swim University®.

Anyway, the point is, many more people have pools in their back yards these days, but you still may not have the budget to build natural rock waterfalls and lush tropical landscapes. But what you and a lot of other pool owners can do to liven things up is install pool fountains. You’ll even get some tangible benefits from it.

Pool Fountains Are Attainable

When we talk about these features, we don’t mean you have to have a stone mason come out and craft something to rival the Fontaine des Mers.

We mean small pool fountains you can easily install in your inground or even above ground pool.

Benefits of Pool Fountains

Sure, they look nice. But they’re also functional in ways you may not expect.

They Cool Your Pool

Literally. Part of the reason we like to swim in the summer is to cool off on those hot days. If your pool has warmed up a little too much, it can feel more like you’re in a bathtub. One way to cool a pool down is through aeration, and you’ll get that from a fountain.

When the pool water is sprayed into the air, oxygen is introduced to all the tiny droplets. This cools them down. When they fall back into the pool, they bring that cooler temperature with them. Run a fountain long enough, and you can see a drop in temperature from 2 to 4 degrees.

Now imagine how much cooler your pool might be if you had two or three pool fountains running.

They Circulate the Pool Water

You know pool circulation is essential to distributing water chemicals, moving pool water through the filtration system, and preventing yucky things from growing in stagnant water.

You also know this is your pump’s primary function. But add a pool fountain, and you get even more circulation. This is another instance where multiple pool fountains can be beneficial.

And by the way, your pump needs to be in good working order for your fountain to run.

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They Relieve Stress

Though we’re land-dwelling beings, humans love the water. There’s something so soothing about listening to waves break on a beach. Pool fountains may not provide that same level of sound, but they can still reduce stress.

You may already suspect this from personal experience. But it’s documented that listening to water sounds has a stress-reducing effect for many people. Swimming is already one way to lower stress. Add a fountain to your pool, and increase that benefit even more.

They’re Fun!

Why do kids like to splash around in a pool? Because it’s fun! Seeing the water spray into the air, looking for that momentary rainbow—it’s half the fun of being in the pool.

Pool fountains create some of that fun, and can possibly even keep a rainbow around for a little longer than one splash could.

They’re Nice to Look At

Have you ever walked through a town or city and stopped to admire a fountain you discovered along the way? They’re just pretty. Pool fountains you install may not be masterpiece sculptures, but a fanned water spray is just as beautiful to watch.

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Types of Pool Fountains

Most of the pool fountains you’ll find are powered by the pool’s own circulation system, and you’ll find two basic types on the market. One attaches to the side of the pool; the other floats.

Poolside Fountain

First, you’ll attach an adapter to a return jet, so the water that would normally be pushed back into the pool will go through the fountain instead. Then you’ll attach a pipe to the adapter. Finally, the fountain nozzle is attached to the pipe, and voilà! You have a poolside fountain.

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Floating Fountain

For this type, you’ll also attach an adapter to a return jet, but instead of a pipe, you’ll attach a hose to that adapter. The hose runs through the water, and is connected to the fountain nozzle. The fountain will float on the water’s surface. This type is usually weighted to keep it upright and from floating around the pool.

Some of these pool fountains come with a clear hose so it doesn’t interfere with your pool’s aesthetic.

Fun Fountain Features

As if the beautiful spray of water weren’t enough! You can get pool fountains that do double duty with other features.

Lights

You can run a pool fountain at night, but you won’t get the full experience if you can’t see it very well. Solution? Get one that has integrated lights. Some models offer multicolored lights, which can set a fun mood for an evening pool party.

Patterns

OK, so it won’t exactly be the fountain show at the Bellagio. But you can get pool fountains that give you more than one option.

Usually, they’ll have an adjustable nozzle (or multiple nozzles) that allow you to direct the spray in different directions, and at different strengths.

Customize your fountain to your personal taste, and add your own theme song, if you want. It’s your back yard. Who’s going to stop you?

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Who Says Beautiful Can’t Be Functional?

A clean, cared-for pool is already beautiful. But why not add a little pizzazz with a couple of pool fountains? Your pool will be cooler, and let’s face it, so will you.

All it takes is choosing the one you like, and then a little time to install it. And while you may not actually be at the Bellagio, you sure can feel like it in your own back yard.

Happy Swimming!

The post 5 Benefits of Installing a Pool Fountain appeared first on Swim University®.