How To Install Skimmer In New Pool Liner

How to Install a New Aboveground Pool Skimmer

How is your skimmer looking this yr? Every bit you head on out to the backyard this leap, you may exist surprised at what you observe.

Skimmers can crack even in the mildest of winters. Or, if you are planning on a new liner you may want a nice new skimmer box to get forth with it.

Skimmer replacement is easy, you lot only need to know what type you take. Most  skimmers have a manufacturer proper name and model number molded on them. In one case you have that data, you tin search for information technology at In The Swim or phone call one of our friendly representatives to assistance place your aboveground skimmer and place the order for you.

Once you have received your new skimmer you lot may be shocked to find in that location are no instructions in the box. I estimate they look that yous still have your original owner's transmission of the pool. But if you do non have that, the procedure is adequately easy.

I replaced my own skimmer when we changed out the liner on our 24-foot round pool. Brainstorm when the pool is almost total with water, an inch or two from the bottom of the skimmer. Stop filling the puddle until the skimmer(due south) and return fitting(s) are in place.

I had a friend assist me with replacing my skimmer. She was on the outside of the pool while I took the chilly plunge into the freshly filled cold water to work from inside the pool. Trust me, I was nervous to make that kickoff cutting of make new pool liner, simply information technology turned out simply fine. I followed some skimmer replacement tips my coworkers gave me.

Replacing an Aboveground Pool Skimmer

1. Before replacing the liner, we removed the old skimmer and gaskets from the wall completely, and cleaned upwardly both sides of the wall by scraping off a little rust and calcium. For bad rust, sand the area and apply a rust-proof paint and allow to dry.
2. Be sure the water is close to the bottom of the skimmer before you begin. If you cutting into the liner also soon, the liner may stretch more than and crusade a hole in your new pool liner.
3. The skimmer comes with two gaskets. I glued the safety gasket in position onto the face up of the skimmer, using some silicone. So, my outside-of-the-pool helper held the skimmer and gasket up to the skimmer opening.
4. I inserted the two screws that secure the skimmer to the wall. Usually there are ii circular headed screws that are tightened downwards first. After finding the screw hole, through the vinyl with my finger, I pushed the screw through the vinyl and tightened with a large Phillips screwdriver.
5. Next, I placed the faceplate over the skimmer hole, with the thinner newspaper gasket on the pool side. I establish each hole by feeling through the vinyl and running the SS apartment head screws through with a long #3 Phillips screwdriver. And then I got out of that cold pool! Don't tighten all the way until all the screws are in place. Then go back and tighten all the screws as tight as you can until you hear the plastic faceplate brainstorm to creak!
6. Next, nosotros installed the skimmer weir and basket and threaded in the hose adapter into the bottom, using Teflon tape. I connected the skimmer hose to the adapter with a clamp.
7. Final step: Using a razor knife, I advisedly leaned over the wall and cut out the rectangle of vinyl within of the skimmer faceplate. We saved this piece equally patching fabric.

Calculation a 2nd Skimmer to Your Aboveground Pool

For those of you that have trees around your puddle, a second skimmer will help to keep your pool cleaner. Or maybe you want to upgrade from the standard size aboveground skimmer, to the Broad Oral cavity Skimmer shown left.

To tackle this job, you'll demand a new aboveground puddle skimmer, plenty pipe or hose to achieve to the puddle pump and a few plumbing fittings to connect the new skimmer line into the pump.

The all-time tool to cutting the wall may be a 4-inch grinder, but you can too use a reciprocating saw with a fine molar blade, or a jig saw tin can also exist used. Cut from outside the puddle wall.

1. Decide where to put the new skimmer. Since the pipe volition have to connect to the pump, the length of the run of pipe is the first consideration. Adding another skimmer on the same side of the puddle volition have a shorter run of pipe but may be too close to the existing skimmer to have a real impact. Too consider the location of the return line(s) and the direction they flow. A skimmer located as well shut to a rushing return line won't be able to draw in many leaves, as the current may push them by the skimmer too quickly.
2. Lower the h2o in the pool. Lower to a betoken below the bottom of the skimmer, of form – merely non too low, go on at least vi inches of h2o above the floor. This will keep the weight of the h2o on the walls and on the liner. When vinyl lined pools are tuckered too far, weak walls may collapse inwards, or the liner will relax, pull away from the wall, shrink somewhat and develop wrinkles.
3. Pull the liner away from the wall. If yous accept a beaded liner that fits into a track, pull upwards and out on the liner to remove it from the track in this area. If yous take an overlap liner, you lot may demand to remove i or more of the top rails to gain access to the liner clips. Next, identify a shallow cardboard box or sturdy cereal boxes betwixt the liner and the wall to keep the pool liner away from the area of the wall that will be cutting out (with a very precipitous power tool).
4. Cut the wall. Well, measure first and marking the cut lines with permanent marking. On most skimmers, you will cut four times, ii sides, acme and lesser. Use a 4-inch grinder with a diamond blade cutting wheel. Cutting on the outside of the pool, not on the inside, wet side. Use cracking care with a grinder; they are hard to handle and can quickly lop off a finger! Use hearing and heart protection and wear a pair of heavy gloves, long pants and work boots.
5. Drill the screw holes. Again, measure out showtime before drilling, or use the faceplate of the skimmer as a template to mark the holes. Use a steel carbide drill flake of chosen size and after drilling the first hole, make sure that the screws will fit through before drilling the remaining holes. Make sure that the cardboard box is still in place to protect the liner from the sharp and hot drill fleck.
6. Screw the skimmer onto the pool. A gasket may be used on the back side of the wall, or not in some cases. If you desire to use a gasket, you can make your own from a cereal box, using a razor knife to cut the proper size, and a hole punch to brand the screw holes. Tightly screw the screws into the skimmer through the wall as tight as you can. You may need to remove the liner a bit farther out from the pool wall to position the screwdriver properly. Exist careful if using an electric drill (around water) non to drop information technology in the pool. I like to use a large, long screwdriver that properly fits the spiral head, twisting very tightly.
7. Replace the liner into the track. Or over the wall for overlap liners. Reassemble any top track, clips, screws, etc.
8. Refill the pool to normal level. It'south of import to fill the puddle earlier continuing, as the added water may stretch the liner vertically. Cut the liner for the skimmer opening or screwing on the faceplate earlier refilling the pool could result in stretched holes and a leaking skimmer.
9. Screw on the faceplate. With included gaskets that come with new aboveground skimmers. Once more, it's very of import to utilise a proper size, long handled screwdriver that you lot can really torque. A #2 Phillips head is usually best for skimmer screws. Crank these screws every bit tightly as y'all can, using a star pattern to apply equal force per unit area. Spiral them down until you hear the plastic creak and groan, or crack merely a little.
10. Cut out the liner. The liner textile inside of the faceplate. Use a razor knife to cut out forth the inside of the frame (faceplate). Salvage this piece of vinyl as hereafter liner patch textile.

Oh, did I forget about connecting the skimmer to the pump? You may want to practice this function as pace No. 8.5 – before the pool water enters the skimmer and pours onto the ground. If yous already have 1 skimmer, you may want to use a iii-way valve, like a Jandy valve, to command both skimmers with one valve. Alternatively, you can use separate ii-way valves on each line.

Leaking Aboveground Pool Skimmers

If you take discovered yous have a leak at the skimmer you may not have to replace the whole skimmer.

If the leak is between the skimmer and the wall, you can showtime try to clean up the wall and replace the condom gasket to see if that solves your problem.

If the leak is from a crack in the housing of the skimmer, you lot may be able to repair it with pool putty or silicone, if yous'd rather not supplant the entire skimmer.

I have to say it'south an easy job,replacing a pool skimmer. Nosotros were washed in nether 30 minutes. Information technology took me longer to write this post than information technology did to actually install the new skimmer! Visit our Hayward aboveground pool skimmers page and brand your plans today!

Relish your pool!

Sheryl Sollis
InTheSwim Staff Blogger

Source: https://blog.intheswim.com/aboveground-pool-skimmer-replacement/

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