Sta-Rite U-3 Installation Manual

STA-RITE U-3 SKIMMER

INSTALLATION, OPERATION & PARTS

Sta-Rite Pool/Spa Group

293 Wright Street, Delavan, WI 53115

International: 262-728-5551, FAX: [phone]
www.starite.com

Union City, TN • Delavan, WI • Mississauga, ON

© 2005, Sta-Rite Industries 39501-0028 (Rev. 3/25/05)

Blocking pump suction can cause pressure
surges and water hammer, which can damage pump or piping
and may cause flooding.

OPERATION

All Models:

Pump suction pulls water through skimmer. Water flow into
skimmer carries floating leaves, bugs, etc., into skimmer where
they are trapped in skimmer basket. (Dust, body oils, etc., go on
through to be removed by pool filter.) Floating weir in skimmer
opening enhances surface flow and skimming action. Model
Series 1403, 2403, 1404 and 2404 are NSF listed.

Water level: Keep pool, spa, or hot tub water level at least 1-1/2
to 2" above bottom of skimmer opening for proper operation.

Float Valve: Float valve protects pump from loss of prime if
skimmer clogs or flow through skimmer is restricted. Trimmer
valve plate on bottom of float valve balances flow between
skimmer and main drains.

Flow adjustment: Balance flow between skimmer and main drain.

A. Skimmers without float: Adjust shut-off valves in pump suc-

tion line from skimmer and pool main drain line. (See
Figure 1, below.)

B. Skimmers with float: If skimmer is equipped with float

valve, adjust trimmer plate on bottom of float. To reach
trimmer plate, remove cover, basket, and float valve (See
Figure 2, below). Swing trimmer plate to one side to
increase trimmer port size (more flow through skimmer, less
flow through main drains); reduce port size for less flow
through skimmer and more flow through main drains.

Sweeping pool: For installation without equalizer line, hold
weir up to starve skimmer of water and close float valve. This
directs all flow through main drains. To return to normal skim­ming operation, turn pump off 10-15 seconds, allowing skim­mer to fill and float valve to return to open position. Skimmer
will now operate normally as long as pool water level is high
enough to allow normal flow over weir.

Hazardous Suction.
Risk of hair or body
entrapment, drowning or
disembowelment.

Wall fitting on equalizer line must
be non-entrapping of hair or body
at flow rates upto 55 GPM.

NOTE: Skimmer is not equivalent
to a main drain. All pools, spas, and hot tubs must have at
least two main drains besides skimmer(s).

Save these instructions. Carefully read and follow all safety instructions in this manual.

Figure 1: Normal operation: float
valve open, check valve shut.

Figure 2: Equalizer operation; float
valve shut, check valve open.

Figure 3: Vacuuming pool; float and
check valves removed, equalizer (check
valve) port plugged.

Typical Public Pool Skimmer Installation with Equalizer Line Installed

Pool Vacuum
Hose

Vacuum
Plate

Float
Valve

Flow
Through
Skimmer

Check
Valve

Shut

Equalizer
Line

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

-

-

5

5

0

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5

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F

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T

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T

Open

To Pump
Suction

1023 0694

No Flow
Over
Weir

Check
Valve

Open

From
Equalizer
Outlet

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

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-

-

5

5

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N

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F

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T

T

I

T

T

Float
Valve

Shut

To Pump
Suction

1022 0694

Remove Check
Valve; Plug
Equalizer (or
Main Drain)
Port

Equalizer
Line

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

-

-

5

5

0

0

5

5

1

1

0

0

G

G

8

8

0

0

P

P

M

M

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E

T

T

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-

I

-

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S

A

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T

T

E

E

D

S

D

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S

S

U

U

C

C

T

T

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I

O

O

G

N

G

N

N

F

N

I

F

I

I

T

T

I

T

T

To Pump
Suction

1021 0694

2

Vacuuming pool (Figure 5): Remove cover, basket (and float
valve and check valve if skimmer has them). Plug equalizer inlet.
Replace basket and place vacuum plate on top of basket. Fill the
vacuum hose with water, bring it in over coping or through skim­mer throat, and attach the vacuum hose directly to the vacuum
plate. Follow instructions in vacuum attachment or filter owner’s
manual for vacuuming operation. After vacuuming, remove hose
and vacuum plate, unplug equalizer port, and reinstall check
valve, float, basket, and cover. Be sure cover is solidly in the
frame to prevent accidentally dislodging it. Fasten cover with
screws provided if children use pool.

Public pool models:

Check Valve (Public Pool Models): Check valve is threaded into

equalizer inlet port in skimmer. When closed, check valve pre­vents flow through equalizer line. If flow through skimmer decreas­es enough to let float valve drop, check valve opens to allow flow
to pump from main drain/equalizer line (which prevents starving
the pump).

Inspect equalizer regularly. During normal operation (with float
valve open) the skimmer check valve prevents detectable flow
through the equalizer wall fitting. There should be no flow
through the wall fitting unless the skimmer float valve is closed.
If you can feel suction into the equalizer wall fitting while the
float valve is in normal (or up) position, the check valve is leak­ing; replace it.

NOTICE: The skimmer check valve is factory pre-set and not
adjustable. If check valve appears worn or deteriorated, or if spring
tension is loose, do not try to fix it; replace the check valve.

Equalizer: If flow over weir is restricted, Float valve closes, diverting
pump suction to equalizer (or main drain) line and preventing loss
of prime in pump. Seal normally remains until pump stops, when
float valve will rise. If pump starts again before stoppage is cleared,
float will close again and remain closed until pump stops, blockage
is cleared, or pool water level returns to normal.

Hazardous Suction. Risk of hair or body entrapment,

drowning or disembowelment. Wall fitting on equalizer line must be

non-entrapping of hair or body at flow rates up to 55 GPM and must
conform to the requirements of ANSI/ASME A112.19.8M-1987
(Section 8.8.2). Install an 8011- Series non-entrapping suction fitting
on equalizer line.

No. 08655-0017 check valve is required when skimmer is
installed with equalizer. Check valve is not used when skimmer
is installed without equalizer.

NOTICE: The equalizer is an emergency bypass intended to pre­vent damage to the pump when pool water level is low or skim­mer basket is blocked. Do not allow flow through equalizer for
extended time periods.

MAINTENANCE

Weir: Periodically check weir for free operation. Replace if dam-

aged or worn.
Strainer Basket: Check strainer basket every few days for accu-

mulated leaves, debris, etc. Empty basket as required. Reset float
valve if it closed.

Float Valve: Periodically check that float valve is operating freely
and is not waterlogged. If necessary, tighten trimmer plate pivot
screw to maintain desired flow balance.

Check Valve (Public Pool Models): Inspect for wear or deteriora­tion. Make sure that screw is tight in check valve body. If you can
detect flow through equalizer with float valve open, replace check
valve.

Equalizer (Wall) Fittings: Periodically check that wall fittings are
correctly installed and that covers are tight to fittings.

Water Level: Maintain water level at least 1-1/2 to 2” above bot­tom of skimmer opening for proper operation. Adjust trimmer
plate if necessary. Make sure set screw is tight.

Winterizing: Drain pool until level is below skimmer inlet.
Remove cover, basket and float. Plug both bottom ports with stan­dard 1-1/2 or 2" pipe plugs. Cover skimmer to prevent rainwater
or snow accumulation.

Falling and tripping hazard. Skimmer grate may

deteriorate with prolonged use.

Cover must be flush with pool, spa, or hot tub deck level.

Skimmer is made of impact and weather resistant materials, but
extended use (5-10 years) may lead to reduced strength.
Regularly check condition of skimmer cover. Look for cracks,
chips, deterioration of plastic, etc. If any sign of damage or
deterioration is found in the cover, replace it.

Figure 4: Typical residential
installation without float valve.
Use with at least two main drains.

Figure 5: Typical residential installa­tion with float valve. Use with at least
two main drains.

From
Skimmer

Plug
Equalizer
Port

Adjust Shut-off
Valves to
Balance Flow

At least 4
times Pipe
Diameter

From
Pool
Main
Drains

To Pump
Suction

973 0694

Float

Adjust
Trimmer Plate
to Balance Flow

From
Pool
Main
Drains

Valve

To Pump
Suction

991 0694