Yes, you absolutely need a pool skimmer - it's essential equipment that removes surface debris and maintains proper water circulation. Skimmers are required by most building codes and without them, your pool would quickly become dirty and potentially unsafe.
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Yes, you absolutely need a pool skimmer. Pool skimmers are essential equipment required by most building codes and serve critical functions that cannot be effectively replaced by other methods. They remove surface debris, maintain proper water circulation, and are integral to your pool's filtration system.
Pool skimmers serve multiple critical functions that make them indispensable for proper pool operation:
Skimmers continuously remove leaves, insects, oils, sunscreen, and other floating debris from the water surface. This prevents debris from sinking to the bottom where it becomes much harder to remove and can stain your pool surfaces. Without skimmers, you'd need to manually net debris constantly throughout the day.
Skimmers create the primary suction point for your pool's circulation system. They pull water from the surface through your filter and pump system, ensuring proper turnover rates. Most pools are designed to circulate all water 2-3 times per day, and skimmers are essential for achieving this circulation pattern.
Proper skimmer operation helps distribute chemicals evenly throughout the pool. As water flows through the skimmer, it carries treated water from your chemical feeder or salt water generator throughout the pool, preventing dead zones where algae can develop.
Most building codes require skimmers for several important reasons:
Most residential pools use built-in skimmers installed during construction. These connect directly to your pump and filter system through underground plumbing. Standard residential pools typically need one skimmer per 400-500 square feet of pool surface area.
Robotic skimmers like the Solar Breeze or Betta SE can supplement built-in skimmers but cannot replace them entirely. These devices are helpful for extra surface cleaning but don't provide the circulation function of built-in skimmers.
Above-ground pools use hanging skimmers that attach to the pool wall. While different in design, they serve the same essential functions as in-ground skimmers.
Operating a pool without functioning skimmers creates serious problems:
To keep skimmers functioning properly:
While skimmers cannot be eliminated, you can supplement them with:
Installing skimmers during pool construction is relatively inexpensive compared to retrofitting. New skimmer installation in existing pools can cost $1,500-3,000 per skimmer including plumbing modifications. However, this cost is essential for proper pool operation and is required by most codes.
Never attempt to operate your pool without functioning skimmers. Some pool owners try to compensate with manual cleaning or robotic devices, but these cannot replace the circulation and continuous debris removal that skimmers provide. Always repair or replace malfunctioning skimmers immediately to prevent water quality problems and potential equipment damage.
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