Skimmer plug got sucked through and is stuck

[CanuckPool]

Thank god there are smart people in this world!!

[ScottsdaleSwim]

No kidding!
Great ideas...and thanks for playing devils advocate.
Definitely a knot in the middle. Didn't even cross my mind.

I can't wait to try it. In the meantime we're trying to keep her pool algae free with cya levels at 200-300 perhaps more.

Then I'll be off to the "stain" board.

Thanks again.

[doggie]

Here, the pool service company charges 75.00 for a service call. One thing is for sure, we'd have saved ALOT of money if we had just called him first thing this spring when our filter pressure was low. Instead we tried the 'do it yourself' method, and made things way worse. We ended up with all sorts of problems and set us back about 3 weeks until the pool was useable.

IMHO, I'd think about calling an expert in and let him deal with that.

But good luck either way.

[waste]

How come I miss all the fun ones when they are first posted??
I would have to say that the odds of getting it all the way through the line to the pump are astronomicly low ! The way to get it back in reach (though not out, yet) is to apply lots o pressure/ volume to the pipe ie, one of the vac/ blowers the 'pros' use to set liners and blow lines. This should get it back up to the threads (but on the wrong side of them). Once you can reach it, loosen the wingnut (ie, decompress the plug) - do not remove the wingnut, it's your best grip on the plug. If you want to keep blowing on the line, you can, but you should be able to pull it out with vice grips. (Although some of the other advice already given might make an easier job of it)
The biggest problem I can see is aplying the pressure only to the skimmer line, though CarlD's answer covers hacking into the pipes (the connectors he was talking about are called Fernco's or 'no hub couplings' and should be available at any decently stocked hardware store). If you are going to cut the pipes at the filter system, install a valve on each line before reconnecting them. As it will be Sat before you 'do battle' with it again, you've got plenty of time to plan your strategy. If I can be of further assistence, or if what I've said leaves more questions than it answers, I'll check this post daily. Good Luck!!

[ScottsdaleSwim]

I talked to a guy today that says he uses a drain king that attaches to a garden hose to create pressure in the line. I guess he gets golf balls stuck in his skimmer line often. No skimmer basket? No idea...Not really sure that will be enough but that will be the first go. Then we'll try the rope method.

doggie- I thought about calling a "professional". I have to at least try first...
It's hard to know if the "professional" will even know what he/she is talking about. If I had a referral then I would consider it a little more but I have little faith in the pool company's in my area.

I'll keep you posted for sure.

I have a ton of other questions about the equipment for her pool.

[ScottsdaleSwim]

So- we tried the drain king last night. Didn't work. I think because the plug isn't completely plugging the pipe..it lets too much water by to build up pressure. Even putting a tennis ball over the suction hole doesn't create enough pressure.

We're hesitant to use the rope method now because we don't want to turn the pump on. The pressure from the pump might pull the plug closer to the pump or wedge it even tighter.

A thin coat hanger type wire won't even pass the plug because we can't see into the stinkin' pipe.

We dug to the line where it 90's to go to the pump last night. Today we'll cut it just before the 90 so we can have a straight shot at it. We'll use something rigid to cram into the pipe like 1" pvc.
We'll lubricate the pipe from the skimmer hole to the plug.
Any ideas on a type of lubricant? Something heavy that will sink and then I'll use a plugged piece of hose to push it to the plug.

My friend that's helping is a pipe fitter so he's doing everything he can without cutting the kook deck...
because that's gonna be a mess.

The good thing is- Once we get it out, we're already down to the spa and pop up jet pipes that don't work so if there's something stuck in a couple of them we can fix it while we're in there.

[ScottsdaleSwim]

while attempting to push a wire line and pvc to the skimmer in an effort to free the plug we found that we were hitting something hard where we thought the plug was. I think it must have been a "T" or something. maybe where it "T"s to the drain. Who the hell knows.
Anyway, we knew it wasn't rubber. SO we had already cut the line and thought perhaps the plug was between the cut and the pump. We stuck fish tap (heavy wire) in the pipe and attempted to guide it towards the pump.
It only went a few inches. We quickly cut another section and found the plug.
TOTAL LUCK. Because when your skimmer sucks something in..how the heck are you supposed to know where it is in the line?? Luckily it was where we were able to dig and super close to the first cut. I can't imagine it being wedged in the pipe under the cool deck.
I swear I will never use one of those compression plugs again. The wingnut was plastic btw and I think it failed.

Thanks for all of the ideas!
Carl D- you were so right, Cut it out! We're just lucky enough that we didn't have to cut the deck.

Now on to the other problems...