How to use the Hayward 1082GV Skimmer to Main Drain Valve Assembley?

if you only have a skimmer and no valve to direct suction from the skimmer to he main drain, you will nee to down size your pump, i suggest a hayward 3/4 hp super two pump

You say that you can see a large flow through the pump cover but that water must be coming from the pool somehow. It must be coming through the main drain. If you turn the main drain off then the flow from the skimmer should increase considerably. If it doesn't the issue could be caused by a nearly plugged line between the skimmer basket and the pump. I have had similar symptoms and I started by using a drain jet device on a hose to force water backwards from the pump to the skimmer with the main drain valve turned off. I couldn't clear the plug so I had to dig the line up and found a bad area of the piping where it made a reduced pipe size 90 degree turn. Sycamore bark, leaves and twigs were stuck at that pinch point.

I hope this helps.

Valve off your skimmer(s) so only your floor drain(s) is open and set the valve to waste. Your pump should then drain the pool out the backwash line assuming nothing leaks and the valve effactively shuts off any skimmers.

John

Oh then you DO need help. To vacuum you don't need to change the valve setting on the filter, but if there is a valve on the intake selecting main drain/skimmer you can select skimmer only, but I usually only do this after I have the hose primed. . You attach the hose to the skimmer inlet. Usually there will be a round plate attched to the hose that fits into the skimmer ( you may have to remove the basket) If you don't have that round plate on the hose, then you can insert the hose driectly into the bottom of the skimmer. Before you attach the hose, connect it to the skimmer head on the pole. Submerge the head and hose. Allow to settle to bottom. Put all the hose into the pool. Take the other end and hold over the discharge back into the pool to fill the hose with water (prime) until air bubbles stop coming from vacuum head. Then hold your hand over the hose (to keep from loosing prime) and quickly attach to skimmer. You may hear some air, and the pump may stop pumping fully mommentairly untill it is pumping full water again. Now you can select the valve to divert all the flow from the skimmer

When backwashing or rinsing the same water is used as in filtering.(skimmer and main drain) so I don't think skimmer damage is the issue. Check if the pool water is low at the skimmer after the backwash cycle, Also check to see if the skimmer weir gate (flapper) is stuck in the upright position. I would suggest 2 main checks. Fill the pool higher than usual, back wash, ensure the pool water level is 1/2 way up the skimmer level and try again. Also, if your lines are valved right, shut off the skimmer during the filter cycle and see what happens. Lastly, the gasket on your multi-port valve may be bad.

you do need to set the filter valve to waste but you need to make sure the valve on the suction side of the pump is pulling water from the pool instead of the spa. Also, if you have a separate skimmer and main drain valve on the pool suction, make sure the skimmer valve is turned off. Otherwise, you will keep losing suction. If you don't have a separate skimmer and main drain valve, you may not be able to drain the pool with your equipment.

All valves should be open or 'on', the multiport valve (on the filter) should be set on 'filter'.

What do you mean by drain valves though?

I am assuming you have a three way valve in front of your pump that allows you to switch between main drain and skimmer. If so take the three way valve apart and check for any obstructions. Also the handle on the three ways are made to fit on the valve only one way. I have seen where the handle was put on the wrong way with some force. If the handle is on the wrong way and you open up the valve so you are drawing from both skimmer and main drain it is actually blocking off the port to the pump which would cause the pump to run dry and heat up.

Do not drain a vinyl liner pool mor than half way....ever... If you have a fiberglass, or gunite pool it is important to pull the hydrostatic plug under the main drain cover. If you live down a hill, or where there is a high water table, the water pressure underground can lift the empty pool out of the ground (more common in fiberglass pools). If you have a sand or DE filter switch the valve to waste. make sure that you have the skimmer turned off, and the pump is only sucking from the pool main drain (spa drain closed also), and turn the pump on. Make sure the waste hose is far enough away so you dont add any hydrostatic pressure.