yes in order for the pump to work the water has to be over it
Regardless of the position of any tiles on the pool wall The water level should be about 3 or 4 inches / 75-100mm above the top of the skimmer vein before the skimmer basket or at such a level that it does not suck air through the skimmer. of you have a suction side floating pool skimmer you can let it get as high as you like and as long as it is sealed properly as low as you like.
It won't work as a skimmer if your water level is above the skimmer. If you watch how the skimmer works, the water is pulled in over the skimmer door and it won't "skim" the floating debris off the surface of the water if the water level covers the entire opening, your skimmer will just suck in water that is below the surface. If you keep the water level so it's at least below the opening an inch or so, you should be o.k. If you've recently had alot of rain, you may need to drain some water out of the pool so your skimmers function properly.
I don't know why your skimmer is doing what its doing, However you can lwer the water level in your pool by vacuuming to waste OS backwashing.
you can back wash the pool and drain to proper level Throw a pool party with lots of energetic kids.
The best way would be to unplug the swimming pool filter, open the drain valve on your pool filter turn the pump back on and drop the water level to the desired level about 2 inches above the skimmer.
No you just have to get the water level below the skimmer after that you should have no trouble making repairs.
18000
could be , is the water level above the skimmer/s / are the skimmer baskets clean/? pump may have just lost it's prime. fill pump with water replace lid and restart.
Could be the water level of the pool is too low. Top up with the hose into the skimmer basket.
The water level needs to be maintained at the middle of the skimmer opening or center of the tile line.
Attempting to obtain step by step diagrams connecting an above ground pool to a sand filter.
Not necessarily When this happens you could get a water tank to take up the water until later when the pool needs topping up. putting a floating pool skimmer in would mean that skimming would always be maintained properly regardless of water levels.