Pool Vacuum Losing Suction? Try a Hayward Skim-Vac Plate (SP1106)
Most of the time, a pool vacuum that keeps losing suction has nothing wrong with the vacuum itself. The problem is usually where the hose connects at the skimmer, and a Hayward SP1106 Skim-Vac plate fixes it for a lot less than a service call.
We hear this one at the counter all summer. Someone starts vacuuming, gets five good minutes, then the suction fades and the vacuum head just drags along doing nothing. Before you blame the pump, look at your skimmer setup.
Why does my pool vacuum keep losing suction?
The most common cause is debris getting pulled straight into the pump strainer basket. When you plug the vacuum hose directly into the skimmer port, everything you vacuum bypasses the skimmer basket and lands in the pump basket instead. That little basket fills fast, flow drops, and your suction dies.
Other usual suspects include:
- Air leaking in at the hose connection because the hose doesn't seal well in the skimmer port
- A vacuum hose that wasn't fully primed, so trapped air keeps breaking the suction
- A dirty filter or a pump basket that was already half full when you started
- Leaves or acorns clogging the line partway down
Notice a pattern. Almost all of it comes back to debris going where it shouldn't, or air getting in where it shouldn't.
What does the Hayward SP1106 Skim-Vac plate actually do?
The SP1106 is a plate that sits on top of your skimmer basket. Your vacuum hose connects to the fitting on the plate instead of plugging into the port at the bottom of the skimmer. That one change means everything you vacuum gets caught in the skimmer basket first, before it ever reaches your pump.
When the basket fills up, you lift it out, dump it, drop it back in, and keep going. No shutting off the pump, no opening the pump lid, no re-priming the system. That's the part people love once they try it. Vacuuming stops being a stop-and-start chore.
The plate also gives the hose a proper sealed connection, which cuts out the air leaks you get when a hose cuff sits loose in the skimmer port.
How to use the SP1106 Skim-Vac plate
Setup takes about two minutes. Here's the routine:
- Empty the skimmer basket and put it back in place
- Fill your vacuum hose with water to push out the air (hold it against a return jet until bubbles stop coming up from the vacuum head)
- Connect the hose to the fitting on the SP1106 plate while everything is still underwater
- Set the plate down over the skimmer basket so it seats flat
- Vacuum as usual, and empty the skimmer basket whenever suction starts to drop
Priming the hose first matters. If you skip it, the air in the hose hits your pump all at once and you'll lose prime before you even start.
Is the SP1106 compatible with my skimmer?
The Hayward SP1106 is the Deluxe Skim-Vac model sized for 1-1/2 inch vacuum hoses, and it's built to fit Hayward's common residential skimmers. If you have a Hayward skimmer on an inground or above ground pool and a standard 1-1/2 inch hose, this is the plate you want. If you're running a different skimmer brand or an odd basket shape, check the fit first or ask us before ordering.
Still losing suction with a Skim-Vac plate?
If the SP1106 is seated properly and you're still fighting weak suction, run through this list:
- Check the pump strainer basket and clean it out
- Backwash or rinse your filter, since a dirty filter chokes flow for everything
- Inspect the vacuum hose for cracks or pinholes, especially near the cuffs
- Make sure your suction valves are set so the skimmer line is getting full flow
If flow is weak even with a clean filter and clean baskets, the problem may be in the pump itself, and that's a different conversation. But nine times out of ten, the fix for vacuum suction problems costs a lot less than a new pump.
The bottom line on the Hayward SP1106
A vacuum that won't hold suction is one of the most common complaints we get, and the SP1106 Skim-Vac plate is the simplest answer for most pools with a Hayward skimmer. It keeps debris out of your pump, seals the hose connection, and lets you empty the basket without killing the pump every time.
Not sure this is the right part for your problem? Reach out and we will help you figure out exactly what you need before you spend money on the wrong thing.