Deck Drains into Skimmer.

[miked60]

After six years of installing our pool 31' X 8' and spa 8' x 8', I was hosing down the decking and noticed a foul smell coming from the skimmer. I lifted the lid a noticed a pvc pipe outlet flush with the wall just above the basket. All the drainage from the decking was going to into the skimmer. I called the builder and he said that was an overflow and I need to clean out the deck drains. All deck drains are to lead to the gutter with a sump pump in the front yard to help push things along. I am not sure if the sump pump is working, clogged, or broken. The builder could not help with any diagram of where is the sump pump was located. I'll have to search and dig it up. I hired a power jet company, but I am not sure if that did the trick. I noticed other drains in the garden bedding after the fact, and they are clogged. When jetting out the decking drains, black disgusting water was going into the skimmer. Is it common to have an overflow pipe going to the skimmer or was I a victim of lazy unprofessionals looking for short cut for everything I wash off my decking including dog urine, etc... goes into the skimmer?

[Teapot1]

All skimmers should have an overflow plumbed to prevent winter and some summer over filling. Yours sounds crazy and yes some PB are idiots