It seems the default water lever is just barely above the bottom of the skimmer. Within a few days or a week at most after adding water, the water level is too low and the pump is sucking air. If I add water, the water level drops very quickly back to the default level, then remains there for a week at most. I suspect the overflow is the pipe sticking up just above ground level just outside the lanai, but I have no idea how it works or how the water level could be raised. Thought I'd ask here before I try to DIY blindly. TIA for any help.

1. Just a bit of advice for after you get this problem solved. I've had an inground pool for 30 years (don't have a default water lever)
   Do some research on the internet before purchasing pool chemicals, the pool places will rob you blind. You can purchase every chemical (except Tri-Chlorine) used in pool maintenance Bottled and sold for a different purpose. When you buy the same chemical bottled for a purpose other than swimming pools you will pay so-o-o-o much less. $2.97 instead of $19.99. I learned this the hard way by paying pool specialist to come out and when I saw what they used instead of what they sold in their stores. I then did some research on all the other chemicals and have found a cheaper alternative for everything except the Tri-Chlorine. Don't let them talk you into using calcium chloride because you then have to purchase stablizers and de-clouding products. All of this is mfg. together in the Tri-Chlorine and makes for 5 minutes work 2 or 3 times a week, just put it into your skimmer basket and it's disbursed when you pool is running so there is no need for an automatic chlorinator. I just hate to see how the pool companies continue to rape folks of their money. We have saved thousands of dollars over the years.
   Good Luck!
2. Fill pool up until water level is half way up on skimmer. Turn pump on and watch the drain pipe of the filter, there should be no water coming out, if so you have a bad filter switching valve. letting water bypass into the drain. Under the cap of this valve, there is a flat rubber seal cut out around the ports of the inner valve segments. This seal can be replaced.
3. The company that installed it should come out and adjust it and show you what to do should be under warranty.

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It seems the default water lever is just barely above the bottom of the skimmer. Within a few days or a week at most after adding water, the water level is too low and the pump is sucking air. If I add water, the water level drops very quickly back to the default level, then remains there for a week at most. I suspect the overflow is the pipe sticking up just above ground level just outside the lanai, but I have no idea how it works or how the water level could be raised. Thought I'd ask here before I try to DIY blindly. TIA for any help.

1. It's a little odd that anyone would put an "overflow" line into a pool, unless perhaps it's an indoor pool and there may be a possibility of flooding due to an absent minded owner leaving the fill water on. Even in that case, most builders will instead use a fill valve with a timer or if an automatic fill valve is used, they are adjustable to the water height you need. They work almost like a toilet tank's fill valve.
   If for some strange reason they did add some line running from the pool , to outside the pool, that is meant to equalize the height between the top of the pipe you mention and the height of the water, it will be passive equalizing. Does it on it's own.
   All you'd need to do is to add a little more pipe, using a coupling, to raise the height it's equalizing at. Measure how much higher up the skimmer you want the max water level to be and add that much pipe.
   I'd be making sure that line is actually what you think it's for first though. If you have an integrated spa on that pool, it could be the air line for it. Look around the pool walls for any unexplained openings that may be covered by a weir or just a bare opening that serves no puropse. Use a shop vac to blow down that pipe outside the lanai and have someone inside tell you if they see bubbles. Depending on the length of run, it may take upwards of 30 seconds or so to see. Unfortunately, if it does turn out to be exactly that, an overflow, you may dislodge some debris in the pipe and send it into the pool. Nothing a quick vac job can't fix.
2. Call a pool place and ask them.
3. pool service technician / builder

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