Float Valve Assembly and your Pool Skimmer
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- Опубликовано: 2 янв 2015
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There have been some questions about this device inside of the skimmer. I thought I would film the Float Valve Assembly or Equalizer Assembly so that you would get a better idea of what exactly it is for. It is referred to often as, "that UFO looking thing in my skimmer."
It does serve a few purposes and the video covers this in detail. In a nutshell it is a safety device to prevent your pump from burning out if the water gets low or the skimmer basket gets clogged with debris. It also can act as a regulator to lessen the skimmer suction and to have the main drain operating while the pool is running.
It was good to film this in the Winter when all my pools are destroyed by the winds and rain so you can see the need for the float valve as the skimmer gets full of debris. I was freezing out there this week as the temp was around 33 degrees each day.
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THANK YOU!! Great thorough explanation and demo!
I learned more about my pool's plumbing from this video than from 10 others, combined. Thank you!
Thanks for all your help and all you do.....
Great video, thank you so much for posting.
Good teaching, we're learning a lot here - thanks.
Just purchased a home with a pool and learning the ropes of maintenance. My pump has a single inlet and I'm missing this floating valve in my skimmer, thanks for the upload!
Gee! I think I was putting on the valve upside down! I always learn something new every time I watch your videos!!
Are all skimmer valves the same size? Please.
Thanks for the quick reply. I bought 1 and installed it already just in case.
Steve C iurt
I have 2 skimmers and one float valve. Is that enough or each skimmer needs a float? I learnt a lot from your videos on how to maintain my pool. Thanks for the great work.
Great video. Is that how also you would drain your pool by closing the skimmer flap? And let the bottom drain do all the drainage?
Your the BEST!
Thank you.
My pool is 18 months old with a Pentair Bermuda Gunite Skimmer. Does installing a diverter valve increase or decrease the amount of suction in the skimmer if the diverter valve is not engaged or closed due to low water level. I have a caged Florida pool that stays very clean. I use a skimmer sock that I change every few days. Also what is you opinion re skimmer socks here? BTW, your videos are a fantastic help. I have seen many and am a subscriber.
good video
I’ve tried to explain this system to my wife. 16 years with a pool. Took me 5 years to understand what that device was doing. The control door on the bottom is fragile due to the suction exerted against its single screw point. This attachment will fail over a short period. I’ve “Gerry-rigged” replacement doors from sheet metal and plexiglass because replacement control doors don’t appear available, and new valve assemblies can approach $40 (I’m looking at you, Leslie). I’ve replaced the weir door simply because it broke. Today, I understood how the pool cleaning system could work, and now, I’m annoyed I left the pool cleaning equipment at my Mom’s house in Palms Springs when we sold it 8 years ago. Regardless, we’ll Done..
I have an older skimmer with a single hole in the bottom. The drain from the pool bottom meets up with the line to the pump under the skimmer. Any issue using one of these instead of the tube diverter that plugs into the hole in the bottom?
When I close the opening on this float with the lid I should be getting 50/50 skimmer and main drain, however when I switch the pump Valve to main drain I get no suction / pressure. Can you please explain why that is?
Does anyone know how to tell what size o-ring goes with my American standard skimmer float valve? The one that is there is stretched out. Just bought the house. Local pool store doesn't know.
Hey Dave, I have an older skimmer with a 1/4" tongue down the side off the basket area. The tongue fits into a groove on the diverter, which has three notches in it. The choice of notch selects the mix between two skimmers. Notch 1, 100%skimmer 1: Notch 2, 50/50, etc. Choosing a notch affects the position of a small float valve, over the suction line. Have you ever seen.a skimmer like this? I'm trying to find a replacement divsrfer. The 7" gasket on the bottom is shot. I can send a picture if that helps
Thanks Mike
Send me a photo
Living near Montreal, Canada and this device is unknown from every pool store. Only place sold is on amazon.
So what's the recommended position for the restricter flap on the bottom of the float - half and half? As I understand it more closed for floor drain suction, more open for a stronger skimmer current?
Typically 1/2 open is good.
The o ring is missing on mine. Obviously I have to get 1, but does it have a big impact on performance without it?
It won't have a good seal without the o-ring. The o-ring is pretty vital.
I have an old Anthony 1 tube diverted valve. You just turn it to regulate from basket to main drain. It's stuck. Any ideas how to turn it? Pool supply tool 126 shows for removal.
Yes, they sell a removal tool. I would try to use that to turn it. It probably is totally calcified on there.
So should the float valve automatically open and close during the course of daily filtration? Something maybe the pump triggers? I find I have to lift it up manually when the float disc gets sucked to the down position. Could it be related to low water level?
Check the skimmer weir gate. Maybe it gets blocked and the water runs low at some point during the day. It is triggered by low water.
@@SPL Gotcha - thx!
Why do old pools not have this mine broke and I got rid of it. Do I need to install a new one?
I have a customer that has one that is stuck in the skimmer well beyond belief (earth movement?) you have any ideas of a way to pry it out? with the equipment OFF i can put my fingers in the assembly opening area but wont budge at all
Odd. Try grabbing it with a pair of channel locks and pulling up on it. You might hove to jut rip it out of there in pieces. It is not one solid piece so you can break it out if needed.
Thanks for the feedback, its a Monday pool so I'll give it the old college try
My local pool company told me this is not needed and I could take it out and plug the hole for the main drain. Should I put it back or were they right?
Depends. If you have an autofill then chances are you won't need it.
I have 2 skimmers. One of them is main draining, I don't know another one and it doesn't work now. Can u tell me why? Thanks
So you are asking why only one skimmer is activating the main drain?
I have the same setup with 2 holes at the bottom as in the video. I noticed I wasn't getting any suction when my pool got cloudy. I removed the float assembly and I have plenty of suction w/o in place. I thought the float might be defective so I replaced it. Even with the new one in place I still have no suction. Any Ideas? Thanks
Strange problem. I would just run the pool without it in the skimmer for now.
Richard Houck you ever figure it out? my pool does same thing the plate sucks down and completely stops flow. if I take plate out it works great.
Hello. If I have a side port vacuum system that vacuums frequently is the main drain function even needed? I also have autofill. But my skimmer was plumbed together with the MD. 1 pipe to the pump
Main drain not needed.
You use that on the tank o-ring ?
Yes. Much cleaner than Magic Lube and from what I am learning after using it for the last 6 years is that is makes the o-rings last a really long time. An expert told me the Silicone massages the rubber - whatever that means ;). Out of 90 or so filters I do every 6 months I only change maybe 3-4 O-rings. It is also great for the 2000 series tanks as those lids can be murder to get back on. Most of the pool guys that go to my SCP use it now. One can can do a number of filters. Great for stem o-rings but I still use Magic Lube for the pump lid o-rings and Jandy Valve O-rings.
I just got a Hayward SP1082fv. It says “front” on it. How should this be searTed in the skimmer, in other words, where is the front?
There is no front or back. Just set it in and you are fine
Hi again David, I' am having issues with my diverter valve float randomly dropping and only sucking from the main drain, which causes the pump to cavitate despite being sized properly. I have the gate set halfway open to equalize the suction between the skimmer and main drain suction, but I don't know why the float will just randomly drop and only suck from the main drain.
Water level is correct, and none of the suction lines are clogged. What should I do or try?
It could be the weir gate not letting water in when the pump starts or with a VS pump changes speeds. Check the weir gate.
@@SPLWe don’t have a weir gate in our skimmer, we also have a skim doctor 2.0 as well. But just randomly the valve will drop and suck from the main drain, and I always have to go out there and move the suction valve to spa mode then back to pool mode for it to equalize again, then say 20 minutes later, the valve will drop again.
Once I put the Float Valve, the skimmer does not skim at all even though I leave the Float Value's door open due to the suction pressure from the pump. The floating stub always pulled down and clog the whole on the bottom so that pump cannot suck the water through skimmer. What should I do?
You may need to leave it out at this point -sounds like it is broken in some way.
Can you tell me the name of the spray lube you use for the filter tank 0-ring?
Thanks
Here is the one I use and SCP carries it so it should be in their system. I haven't had to purchase it retail but I have heard Sears carries it in their stores. A little pricey on amazon.com as SCP sells it for about $4.00 a can. www.amazon.com/Products-606-Penetrating-12-Ounce-Aerosol/dp/B00DF216EY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1420337887&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=boss+silicone+lube+spray
the float valve you pulled out was missing the diverter plate.
Have a question not sure you will see this in time. I am in texas and we are in a deep freeze. My pool has been running non stop for days in freeze protection .
Problem now , my water level is falling below skimmer and all my water lines are frozen and I cannot add water. My skimmers and main drain appear to be on the same line so if I close the skimmer it starves the pump of water . It’s a matter of time before the skimmer will just be sucking air. Can you think of anything I can do?
Put your manual vacuum/pool hose in the pool with the vacuum head attached. In the skimmer line. Then tilt vacuum head up off the pool floor to insure good flow. If that makes sense. Like when you go to vacuum your pool.
@@SPL that is a great idea . I normally vacuum with side suction but did not think about plugging into the skimmer too. Your the best!
@@SPL thank you so much for tip. It’s working great ! Put vacuum hoses in both skimmers and have them secured in water pump getting plenty of water .
@Mp Newhart Great!
Why would I want to close the valve 50% or 75% ? The main drain doesn't seem to be as effective..?
I don't like these either. They are a good safety feature but the main drain is ineffective.
Yes but I found this. When I turn on sheer it works. I guess that is for sheer
My skimmer suction is soooo powerful it slams the float closed regardless of setting. Am I missing something?
I've seen that with a handful of pools. I wonder if the manufacture has a solution.
How do you know what size?
The skimmer lid should have a brand on it. Pentair for example. Then you know it is a Pentair skimmer and you would order the Pentair version.
please support me why there is a 2 ways connection at the skimmer plumping why not only one for the suction from the skimmer side only and the water from the main drain to be connected to the pump by pipes at the pump room
Yes, they used to plumb it that way. But to save on plumbing they now connect the two at the skimmer.
@@SPL Thanks and totally appreciated
@@SPL
Dear I found some skimmers with two holes but one of them is already closed is there any benefit from it (as the second one at that blog.poolcenter.com/article.aspx?articleid=6327)
What if u dont have a o ring in the bottom of the skimmer
It won't have a proper water seal if the pool water runs low and the main drain activates and tries to turn the skimmer off.
I dont think I have ever seen the main drain plumed into the skimmer. 1 hole is always closed.
Very common in CA.
Absolutely ridiculous way to plumb a pool, I have an old Jacuzzi Model W skimmer and it is plumbed the same way (one suction hole in the skimmer with another hole to the main drain) Instead of that float valve there is a plate (vacuum plate) that drops in with a hole in the top. It has never worked properly and produces extremely little suction from the MD. Barely anything gets sucked up. Complete crap system, I want to bust up the concrete on around that area of the pool decking one day and run a separate suction line to the pump shack as it should be!