Hello 1st Issue Every year it got harder and harder to tighten the screws to the skimmer cover and this year it still kept leaking! What is the fix? They have the new covers that just fit in with no screws and the instructions say to keep checking it? I probably need a new gasket but even the new gaskets are hard to tighten up. However this year a heard about Pool lube! So I picked some up for $10 and bingo! I can still use the old gasket and not get a cramp in my hand from trying to tighten the screws too hard!! 2nd issue The pool filter return plug. I had a nice screw on cap with a cork gasket, it would just screw over the threads that the eye and ring used. Just remove the eye and ring and screw on the cap. I lost it. :-( So I went to a few pool supply store and all they had was: 1. The rubber plug with the wing nut Or 2. The threaded plug with O-Ring No matter which one you use, you must remove the treaded piece that the plastic o ring screws on with a special removal tool! Of course I tried removing this piece with the tool and I could not budge it! So I asked the lady about the simple eye ball jet cover cap that just screws on like the original one I lost? She said the store did not get them this year! Therefore I just got a couple from the Internet! Now I think I know why the stores do not have them! There is no cork gasket, so when I screwed it on, it leaked! Drip drip drip! Ahrgg!! So I cut a round 1/8” piece of high temp silicone and used the pool lube! Screwed the cap on and Bingo No Leaks!! Anyone else have these problems!!
We've never used a skimmer hole cover. We always drain to below that level and insert one of those plastic bottle things in there to prevent ice damage. And the return hole gets a rubber bung.
Here is a video on the new skimmer plug cover that has no screws, does it hold? Also the filter screw in plug that I could not use because I could not unscrew the piece with the tool so this plug can screw in.
Well it was not over yet! That white skimmer gasket was so old and brittle the pool lube could not save it. It still leaked just a little bit! So it came off in pieces and I lubed up a bee one and cranked that in and Bingo no leaks!
We have had our 24' round above ground pool here in Michigan for 10 years. I have tried the skimmer covers with poor results. The safest and easiest way to winterize (just my opinion) is to drop the water level below both skimmer and the return. Leave your hose attached to the return to drain off rain and snow melt. Just remove it from the pump and let any water drain away. You only have to refill a foot or so next season,
We have had our 24' round above ground pool here in Michigan for 10 years. I have tried the skimmer covers with poor results. The safest and easiest way to winterize (just my opinion) is to drop the water level below both skimmer and the return. Leave your hose attached to the return to drain off rain and snow melt. Just remove it from the pump and let any water drain away. You only have to refill a foot or so next season,
A second thought. We are on well water, so there is no added cost to refill the pool. If you have to pay for refill water, I understand why you might not want to lower your water level.
I dont know if I hated helping to close or open our in ground pool growing up. I think it was opening. I always got the task of fishing out any dead critters and cleaning the nasty cover. That was a half day process to meet my dad's approval.
