Results for "skimmer basket"

Equipment Easy 15 minutes 715 👍 0

How Does Pool Skimmer Basket Work? Complete Guide

Our pool's running great but I've got my cleaning tools laid out and want to master how this skimmer basket actually works before I accidentally break something. Specifically, I want to know the water flow dynamics and debris capture process that occurs when water enters the skimmer unit.

What is the step-by-step process of how debris gets trapped while maintaining proper water circulation to the pump? I'm looking for technical details about the basket's role in the overall filtration sequence and how it prevents larger contaminants from reaching downstream equipment.…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 779 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Vacuum Plate? Complete Setup Guide

Noticed my 20,000-gallon inground pool vacuum's been running without a vacuum plate and now I'm worried it's dangerous with kids swimming daily. My skimmer doesn't seem to have a separate vacuum port - just the main opening where the basket sits. I've been manually vacuuming by removing the basket and connecting my vacuum hose directly to the suction line, but I lose all skimming action during the process.

The pool stays pretty clean most of the time with my regular chemical balance (chlorine at 2.0 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 120 ppm), but I do need to vacuum weekly to pick up the fine debris that settles on the bottom. Would a vacuum plate help me maintain skimming while vacuuming, or is there another setup I should be considering for my skimmer configuration?…more

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Winterizing Medium 45 minutes 591 👍 1

Do You Remove Skimmer When Closing Pool? Step-by-Step Guide

I opened my weather app to see the first freeze hits this weekend and I'm staring at this skimmer wondering if I need to yank it out or leave it. I know I need to do something with the skimmers, but I'm getting conflicting advice online about what exactly needs to come out.

Do I need to physically remove the entire skimmer unit from the pool wall, or just certain components? I've heard about removing baskets and doors, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything that could get damaged over winter. Last thing I need is expensive repairs come spring after this disaster of a season.…more

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Winterizing Medium 30–45 minutes 36 👍 1

What Goes in Your Skimmer When Closing for Winter?

Found myself in a debate with a neighbor and now I'm second-guessing everything I thought I knew about winterizing my inground pool. We get legitimate hard freezes here — not just a few nights of light frost — and I want to make sure I'm not cracking my skimmer housing this year.

My neighbor swears by dropping a half-filled milk jug into the skimmer and calling it a day, but a guy at the pool store told me I really need antifreeze poured in there or my skimmer will crack no matter what. A friend who closed pools professionally said just blow the lines and plug it — no antifreeze needed. Now I've got three different opinions and I'm reading about Gizzmos, rubber expansion plugs, foam backer rod, and antifreeze on top of all of it.

After blowing out the skimmer line with a shop vac, what actually needs to go into the skimmer, in what order? Is the antifreeze genuinely necessary or is that the pool store upselling me? And does it matter whether I use a Gizzmo versus a rubber plug versus the milk jug trick?…more

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Above Ground Medium 2-4 hours 638 👍 0

Above Ground Pool Problems: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Our above ground pool faces the exact same maddening issues every single spring, and we're tired of getting ripped off by overpriced pool store "solutions. Between overpriced chemicals and costly service calls, I'm looking to become more self-sufficient with pool maintenance.

My pool seems to have different issues throughout the season - sometimes the water looks off, other times the pump isn't working right, and occasionally I notice problems with the liner or walls. Rather than guessing or getting upsold every time, I'd love a systematic way to figure out what's actually wrong so I can tackle these problems myself and save some money.…more

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Winterizing Easy 30 minutes 70 👍 0

Gizzmo vs Rubber Plug: Best Way to Winterize a Skimmer?

During every fall closing season, I find myself second-guessing the advice I get at the pool store. This year I'm closing my inground pool on my own for the first time, and the store recommended I pick up a Gizzmo for the skimmer. The thing is, my neighbor has been closing his pool for years using nothing more than a rubber plug and a jug of antifreeze poured into the skimmer basket — and his skimmer has never cracked.

So now I'm wondering: does a Gizzmo actually do something fundamentally different, or is it just a more expensive version of the same idea? And the guy at the store also mentioned keeping the skimmer cover plate on top. Is that step necessary if I already have the Gizzmo in place, or is that overkill?…more

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Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 1,098 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump Without Skimmer? Safe Solutions

Every pool owner seems to swear by replacement skimmer baskets, but I'm wondering if I'm about to waste money on this cracked assembly replacement? I have a 20,000 gallon inground pool with both a main drain and skimmer line feeding into the pump. The skimmer is currently letting air into the system and causing the pump to lose prime intermittently.

I'm wondering if I can temporarily close off the skimmer line completely and just run the pump using suction from the main drain until I can fix the skimmer properly. Will this provide adequate circulation for my pool size, and are there any risks I should be aware of? I'm concerned about whether the main drain alone can handle all the filtration needs and if this might cause any damage to my pump or affect water quality during this temporary period.…more

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Winterizing Medium 2–4 hours (full closing day, including water adjustment and line blow-out) 171 👍 1

How Far to Lower Water When Closing Your Pool

Three weeks ago my husband and I bought our first house with an inground vinyl pool, and now everyone is telling us we need to close it for winter — but nobody can agree on exactly what that means. We have a mesh safety cover, and I've gotten completely opposite advice about how much water to drain out before we put it on. One neighbor says drop it below the skimmer, another says below the returns, and my pool store guy shrugged and said we might not even need to lower it at all with a mesh cover?

I honestly have no idea what any of those terms even mean yet, or where those parts are on my pool. I'm afraid of draining too much and damaging the liner, or not draining enough and having pipes freeze and crack over the winter. Is there a standard answer here, or does it really depend on what type of cover you're using?

Also — a few people have mentioned that the rules are different for above-ground pools and solid covers, and now I'm even more confused. Can someone break this down in plain language for a complete first-timer?…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 357 👍 0

How Pool Skimmers Work: Complete Guide to Pool Circulation

About to drop serious cash on a new skimmer system for my 20,000 gallon inground pool, but I'm clueless about how these things actually work — am I getting ripped off? Sometimes I see leaves and oils getting pulled in, and there's a basket that I empty, but I'd love a complete explanation of what's happening from start to finish. Does the skimmer work differently depending on pump speed or water level?…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes to understand 726 👍 0

How Pool Skimmers Work: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Walked out to check my pool skimmer this morning and I'm staring at all these mysterious parts with zero clue how they work together. They keep pitching fancy skimmer upgrades and I don't even know how my current skimmer is supposed to work in the first place.

I see leaves and bugs floating on the surface and sometimes they get sucked into that rectangular opening, but other times debris just sits there. Is there something I should be doing differently, or is this normal? I'd rather understand the basics before these salespeople convince me I need to spend hundreds on upgrades.

Basically, what's the step-by-step process of how water and debris move through a skimmer system? I want to know if mine is working properly or if there's a DIY fix I can try first.…more

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Pump Problems Medium 45–90 minutes 98 👍 0

How to Fix a Clogged Pool Pump Impeller

My pool pump started making a grinding noise yesterday and the water flow through the skimmer has slowed to almost nothing — and we're hosting a big backyard pool party this Saturday. The filter pressure is reading lower than normal, which I've read can mean a clogged impeller. I pulled out the strainer basket and it had some debris in it, but even after cleaning it out the flow is still weak.

I'm pretty handy and would love to tackle this myself if it's doable without a pro. Can anyone walk me through how to actually get into the impeller and clear it out safely? I want to make sure I don't damage anything in the process — and I definitely need the pump running properly before the weekend.…more

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Product Ranking 5 compared

Best Solar Pool Skimmers

4.4 (8,400 reviews)

Maintenance Easy 15 minutes research, 5 minutes setup 52 👍 1

Are Solar Pool Skimmers Worth It? Honest Answer

Three large maple trees hang over my pool and I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle every single day of swim season. Bought a better net, upgraded to a wider wall skimmer basket, and even started running my pump longer hours — leaves are still plastering the surface faster than I can clear them. My pool filter is working overtime and I'm out there with the pole twice a day like it's a second job.

A neighbor mentioned she picked up one of those solar-powered floating skimmer robots and swears it changed her life. I've seen them advertised everywhere lately and part of me thinks it's just a gadget designed to take my money. Are these solar skimmers genuinely useful for a high-debris situation like mine, or are they more suited to pools with light surface litter? I don't want to drop real money on something that'll float helplessly while leaves laugh at it.…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 661 👍 0

How to Vacuum Pool Without a Skimmer - 4 Easy Methods

Before the pool season even starts, my skimmer cracks from freeze damage every single year, leaving me staring at a swampy disaster. I've been dumping shock and algaecide for weeks but I know I need to vacuum out all this debris and dead algae to actually win this battle.

The problem is my skimmer is completely shot and won't be replaced for another week. Is there any way to vacuum without using the skimmer? I'm willing to try anything at this point - manual methods, different equipment, whatever it takes. I just need to get this gunk out of my pool before it gets any worse!…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 494 👍 0

How to Prime Your Pool Pump: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Looked at my pool pump this morning and there's absolutely no water flowing through it even though it's running. The pump basket was completely dry when I opened it up, and now I'm getting no water flow when I turn it back on. I know I need to prime it somehow, but I want to make sure I do this right without damaging anything. What's the correct step-by-step process to get water flowing through the system again? I'm comfortable working with the equipment, just want to avoid any rookie mistakes.…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 631 👍 1

Can You Run Pool Pump Without Filter? Risks & Solutions

Somewhere between my husband questioning why our pool pump is running without a filter cartridge and my growing panic, I'm wondering if I'm actually damaging something. My filter cartridge is completely clogged and I need to replace it, but my kids are asking to swim this afternoon. I'm wondering if I can just run the pump without any filter for a few hours until I can get to the pool store.

I know this probably isn't ideal, but would it cause any serious damage to the pump or create unsafe water conditions? I don't want to risk my children's safety, but I also don't want to damage our equipment if there's a way to manage this temporarily.…more

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