Your skimmer has two holes to give your pool builder plumbing flexibility, balancing suction between the skimmer and the main floor drain.
PLUMBING • The skimmer has two 2” ports for plumbing. The rear port should connect to the pool suction. The front port may be used as an equalizer line or connect to the pool main drain. If the front port is not used it should be plugged.
Combination Inground Pool Skimmers
Combination Skimmers, or Combo Skimmers, as I like to call them, have the main drain tied into the front hole of the skimmer, on the pool side, and the back hole, or the deck side hole is connected to the pipe that runs back to the pump.
skimmers have 2 ports at the bottom. one is the actual suction to the pump, the other is sometimes connected to the main drain to equalize the water should your pool water level drop below the skimmer opening. you can get a cap for it to make it look pretty, but usually it is just plugged up when they shoot the shell.
You connect your vacuum hose to the suction port or the designated vacuum hole in the skimmer. If your skimmer has multiple holes, only the one pulling water toward the filter has suction. Never plug the vacuum hose directly into the hole; instead, use a vacuum plate placed over your skimmer basket to trap debris.
Most pool skimmers come with two ports in the bottom. The rear port, the one farthest away from the pool is the suction line that goes to your pump. The front port is sometimes plugged, hooked up to the bottom drain, or to an equalizer port.
With time the sand in your filtration system will break down into smaller particles and get out into the pool. These small particles will have no problem going through the filtration system and in the end, get mixed with dirt. This could be a reason your pool gets dirty even after you have vacuumed it.
Does a copper pipe in the pool skimmer help the water chemistry? - There is absolutely no value in adding a copper pipe to your pool skimmer. Yes it is true that copper is a natural algicide but as applied to a swimming pool a piece of pipe is orders of magnitude too small for the application.
A cowboy pool (also known as a stock tank pool) is a large, galvanized metal livestock watering tank that has been repurposed into an above-ground swimming or soaking pool. They offer an affordable, stylish, and low-maintenance alternative to traditional in-ground pools.
Your pool skimmer valve should generally be open during normal everyday operation to allow the pump to pull water from the surface and filter out debris. For most systems, this means having the skimmer valve fully open, while the main drain is half-open to balance circulation.
Generally speaking, pools lose approximately 1/4” of water per day on average, though this can vary due to factors like wind, temperature, humidity and of course, the pool's total surface area.
To plug a pool skimmer hole, insert a threaded pipe plug (or a rubber expansion plug) into the port at the bottom of the skimmer, or place a snap-on skimmer faceplate cover over the skimmer mouth. This temporarily stops the flow of water for maintenance or winterizing.
The skimmer in a pool serves the function of collecting the floating oils, make-up, hair products, soaps, suntan lotions and other (floating) human runoff... without a skimmer these oils would build up on the surface of the water which would look bad and make for a poor swimming experience.
To get more suction from your pool skimmer, clean the skimmer basket and pump strainer first. Next, check your filter—if the pressure is 8–10 PSI above normal, clean or backwash it. Finally, adjust your pool valves (skimmer/main drain) to route maximum flow to the skimmer.
Common pool leak areas typically fall into three categories: structural damage (like liner tears or shell cracks), plumbing failures (return lines, skimmers), and fixture joints (pool lights and main drains). Checking vulnerable spots can help identify where your pool is losing water.
Pool pumps typically last 8 to 12 years, but premature failure usually stems from overheating, water leaks, or debris blockages. Common culprits include a failing motor (often due to worn bearings), electrical shorts, dry running caused by air leaks, and impeller damage from clogged debris.
Knowing how to tell if a valve is ON or OFF is a simple skill that can make a big difference in an emergency. ✔️ ON: The handle is in line with the pipe. ❌ OFF: The handle forms a “T” with the pipe. You'll most often find ball (or lever) valves at your main water shut-off - and they both operate the same way.
Your skimmer is working properly if it actively pulls floating debris into its basket and generates a noticeable current at the surface. It is normal for it to miss some debris on the first pass, but it should gradually clear floating leaves and insects.
In general, it's a good idea to vacuum your pool once a week. You should also vacuum your swimming pool any time you notice large amounts of debris, dirt, or leaves on the floor of the pool (for example, your pool may need vacuuming after a heavy storm).
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) acts as a natural buffer that raises both your pool's total alkalinity and its pH. It prevents severe pH fluctuations (known as "pH bounce"), clears cloudy water, prevents equipment corrosion, and helps your chlorine sanitize more effectively.
Adding vinegar (acetic acid) to a pool temporarily lowers the water's pH and helps dissolve calcium buildup. However, it is a weak acid. Because you need massive quantities to adjust pool chemistry, it introduces organic sugars that can feed bacteria and algae.
TexPool (the Texas Local Government Investment Pool) is the oldest and largest government investment pool in Texas. It allows local entities (like cities, counties, and school districts) to pool their public funds together to achieve higher returns, maintain liquidity, and ensure safety of principal.
High copper levels can also cause staining on pool surfaces and equipment. Copper can deposit on pool walls, floors, and fittings, leaving unsightly blue or green stains.
To kill pool algae quickly (usually within 24–48 hours), you need to super-chlorinate the water and manually remove the dead spores.
A pool treated with copper sulfate prohibits swimming for 24 to 48 hours after application.