If you don't use a skimmer sock do you just have to backwash your sand filter more frequently or does the sand filter not catch this stuff?
Skimmer sock - all the time or just occassionally?
- Thread starter Kathy3232
- Start date
I was using the skimmer sock and having to clean it daily or more. I now am using a little DE in my sand filter- maybe I am catching not quite as much as the skimmer sock, but those socks get nasty and if you forget a day...what a mess. During really high pollen season, I go back to the skimmer sock to double up. But so far I am content that the DE is doing more or less the same thing. The water is beautiful all the time. I have a big sand filter, so it has never actually gotten enough of a pressure rise to require backwashing. I just do it right after we have vacuumed up a lot of pollen or fine dirt to get it out of the system. And then of course add a cup of fresh DE back in again.
Okay - let me show my ignorance - why use skimmer socks at all? Sounds like an extra layer of complication and it sounds like everyone finds value in using them but I don't get it.
With regular water chem level maintenance our water is always as crystal clear as we could imagine. Our Hayward C-900 in-line filter cartridge has seemed to be all we have needed with our AGP for over 20 years.
Our Hayward "Super Pump" has a very powerful suction for water and I would think that fine nylon would impede water flow through our skimmer.
I know our AGP filtration system is non-standard and maybe that's the answer to our question but we sincerely want to know why anyone would need to implement this extra filtration step with their pool??
Thanks
Jim
With regular water chem level maintenance our water is always as crystal clear as we could imagine. Our Hayward C-900 in-line filter cartridge has seemed to be all we have needed with our AGP for over 20 years.
Our Hayward "Super Pump" has a very powerful suction for water and I would think that fine nylon would impede water flow through our skimmer.
I know our AGP filtration system is non-standard and maybe that's the answer to our question but we sincerely want to know why anyone would need to implement this extra filtration step with their pool??
Thanks
Jim
Don't knock it till you try it. 
Cartridge filters tend to filter smaller particles better than sand filters, it's often recommended for the sand filters to use the skimmer socks to reduce the frequency of backwashing, which requires water replacement which can affect water chemistry. Its easier to clean out a skimmer sock than take apart a cart filter for frequent cleaning, so it's sort of a shortcut or temporary bandaid. Perhaps if you have a rather lardge cartridge frequent cleaning is not an issue for your pool.
Cartridge filters tend to filter smaller particles better than sand filters, it's often recommended for the sand filters to use the skimmer socks to reduce the frequency of backwashing, which requires water replacement which can affect water chemistry. Its easier to clean out a skimmer sock than take apart a cart filter for frequent cleaning, so it's sort of a shortcut or temporary bandaid. Perhaps if you have a rather lardge cartridge frequent cleaning is not an issue for your pool.
The reason I put up with the extra step of cleaning the skimmer sock is because I have a lot of landscaping/vegetation surrounding my pool, and I'm hoping the extra layer of filtration will make cleaning the filter easier in the future. It almost has to judging from the Crud I rinse from the sock daily.
I've accumulated about 10 socks now. I just take out the nasty one, turn it inside-out and lay it aside somewhere to dry (when dry, I slap all the dried nasties off and then machine wash it), and pop a clean sock back in. Takes about one minute!
When all the socks are dirty, I zip them into the small laundry bag and wash them in hot water and let them dry naturally.
When all the socks are dirty, I zip them into the small laundry bag and wash them in hot water and let them dry naturally.
I don't think Jim is putting down the use of skimmer socks, nor is he bragging on his pool or anything like that! He's simply stating that his pool is consistently clear and sincerely asking if the socks are all they're cracked up to be. And the answer is "absolutely YES"!
Jim, I'd think you'd be surprised if you tried one in your skimmer. See what you find after sweeping your pool and leave the pump on for a little while :-D We have a problem with pollen, but our water is always crystal clear. But give it a day or two and check that sock....I think you'd be surprised. I will say, though, that since we began using our robotic, with the fine bag, all the stuff that used to get caught in the sock now gets caught in the bot's bag and I find very little in the sock - it takes a few more days now...
Jim, I'd think you'd be surprised if you tried one in your skimmer. See what you find after sweeping your pool and leave the pump on for a little while :-D We have a problem with pollen, but our water is always crystal clear. But give it a day or two and check that sock....I think you'd be surprised. I will say, though, that since we began using our robotic, with the fine bag, all the stuff that used to get caught in the sock now gets caught in the bot's bag and I find very little in the sock - it takes a few more days now...
OK. now I feel stupid. Do you put the sock/knee hi on the inside of the basket or the outside? If I put it on the outside of the basket I am afraid the suction will pull it into the hose and jam up the pump, but when I put it on the inside of the basket it doesn't look right. Please help since I have had some problems with my pump impeller jamming up with crud and small particles of whatever.
Thanks
Thanks
reebok
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reebok
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yeah, the basket is upside down and the skimmer sock is hanging out of it. you wrap it around the outside to keep it in place and the sock is on the inside.
Cherie said:
Cherie,
I have to say this to anyone not using a sock...I have been pulling daily an eigth inch layer of dirt and crud off of my sock...It is almost like the dry lint you get from cleaning your clothes dryer filter....It just peels right off wet or dry. It is nasty. I then think about how much of that would be getting trapped in my filter, and how often this spring I would have to clean my filter. That is why I use it. Besides...There is so much pollen and cotton floating in the air...I just assume clean it out now then to have to clean the filter out later on.
Don't feel stupid...er, don't feel like you're the only stupid one! :lol: I was putting my sock on the outside of the basket.Carneymom said:
Um, I think I'll correct that when I get home... Carneymom said:
I am having the same problem. When I put it over top of my skimmer basket, it sort of remains flat over the top. Is that normal, or do I need to find larger skimmer socks? Do they even come in different sizes?
Thanks!
OK, here are two better pictures of how a skimmer sock fits on the skimmer basket:
This is a new skimmer sock, so it does pull tight across the opening of the basket when you put it on; however, when the pump starts pulling water through the sock, it'll pull it down against the basket, and over time, the sock will stretch to where it's not tight across the opening at all.
This is a new skimmer sock, so it does pull tight across the opening of the basket when you put it on; however, when the pump starts pulling water through the sock, it'll pull it down against the basket, and over time, the sock will stretch to where it's not tight across the opening at all.
Good job Mike! I was a bit confused when I saw your first pic too and assumed you must have some fancy smancy skimmer basket - couldn't tell it was hanging upside-down :|