Question...At the pool store, where we just got our pool, had it installed in August about midway, and we live in E TN, they said we do not have to drop the water level down if we use that skimmer compensator is that true??? Thanks!!

Welcome to TFP!

Using a compensator (we tend to call them gizzmos, but that is a brand name) is sufficient if you aren't too far North. The compensator absorbs the expansion of the ice and the skimmer is protected. However, I prefer to have additional layers of protection, ie lower the water level in addition to using a compensator. It is always possible for something to go wrong, and I would rather have the pool be protected even when something goes wrong.