Is it a broken underground pipe or cloogged up

[hzz]

My guess is that you have a blockage in the pipe between the skimmer and the pump.

If you have a plumber's snake you can try to free it up.

Another thing that may work is called a "drain king". You can get it at Home Depot.You hook it up to your garden hose then place it in to the hole in the bottom of the skimmer.Turn the water on and it blasts water through the pipe with a pulsating or hammering action to try to dislodge the clog.

Worth a try,anyway.

[thepoolman1]

The "Drain King" idea is good. The "plumber's snake" is bad. You might get it past one of the elbows in the plumbing, but if you get it past a second it most likely would become stuck. On occasion I have see the broken end of one stuck in a skimmer port waiting to rust away so that it can be removed.

Plumbers and drain cleaning companies use these to clear drain lines with large curves in the pipes. They are generally referred to as "sweep 90's," similar to what electricians use when piping with pvc conduit. Pool plumbing uses very sharp 90-degree elbows that will not allow a "snake" through very well.

Use the Drain King so that it pushes the clog back toward the pool. The other way will cause the clog to pack even harder and become even more stuck.