Main Drain Clogged on Old Pool

[vinper]

does your main drain tie into the bottom of the skimmer?

[sharpaaa]

Thanks for the replies.
The main drain and skimmer are separate until just before they get to the pump. Each has a ball shut-off valve after they enter the pump house, then join.
Do you think a snake could go through the ball vales and 90° elbows?

[Bosco390]

I have had good success with using Pressure Drain Openers... have used one on both 1 1/2" pvc pipe and 2". They are soft rubber bulbs that hook up to the garden hose, are put into the pipe, and then water is turned on causing them to expand inside the pipe, and then remove clog by trapped pressure. I would think one would easily fit through the open ball valve into the pvc. Worth a try, and very inexpensive... they've never let me down.

[sharpaaa]

Thanks. I would have thought that would work, also. I did use one of those (this one is called a Drain King). It did it's thing, made the pulsing sound, expanding and releasing. I let the hose run for 20 minutes with no success. That's when I got the idea that maybe there was a check valve in the line somewhere. But it could also just be pollen and fir needles caked up. Lots of fir tree branches over the pool. If pollen sits on the bottom of the pool for more than about 5 days, our robot-vacuum won't even get it off. I have to used the stainless-steel brush on it. So I know that pollen can stick and harden.