Seminole/ Orange/Osceola....................................(407) 332-0078
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FLEX PIPE FAILURE

SWOLLEN and BUCKLED SKIMMER LINE SEGMENT

Buckled and collapsed pvc flex pipe PVC flexible pipe (flex line) is prone to swelling, buckling, and collapsing when prolongedly exposed to concentrated chlorine (i.e. chlorine tabs/pucks). Flex line can also collapse when plumbed-in as suction (vacuum) side piping (i.e. skimmer and vac-cleaner lines, and to a lesser extent, drain lines).

SWOLLEN FLEX LINE INTERIOR

Swollen pvc flex pipe interior This is a typical example (resembling arteriosclerosis) of the interior of a section of flex line (skimmer line exposed to chlorine tabs stored in the skimmer basket). Many pool plumbers apparently splice in a section of flex line (not externally visible) when plumbing into the skimmer--presumably to aid in aligning the pipes coming from the filter/pump during installation. Another reason to keep chlorine pucks/tabs out of skimmer basket involves the preservation of the grout/finish around the skimmer mouth. Prolonged exposure to (acidic) chlorine tabs eventually deteriorates the finish and grout adjacent to the skimmer opening in gunite pools (and liner & caulking in vinyl and fiberglass pools respectively).

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