HELP, was our skimmer set too low.

[Liz315]

Hi, so it looks like our skimmer was set too low. Is this a major issue? The waterline tile and coping was just done and I just went in to look and the tiles slope down into the skimmer instead of a 90 degree turn or slightly up.
I have no clue if it’s an issue or just cosmetic. The lid isn’t an issue because the pool wall is raised there so no concrete decking issues, but there is a metal piece exposed that looks like it was supposed to get mounted to something in the center of the opening now.
Question 1. Is will it not skim properly.
Question 2. Is how does it get fixed if it needs to be and will it compromise the pool structure to remove.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Liz,

It was set way too low.. When the water is half way up the waterline tile, the water should be in the middle of the skimmer.

Yours will be at the top of the skimmer. This means your skimmer will not actually "skim" as it should..

Your pool builder needs to rip out the skimmer and do it over. Period..

Let's get some other inputs... Calling @JamesW

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Liz315]

I found a photo from when they did the gunite and the skimmer looked fine. It looks like they actually added material to build the tile up to the tile line. My concern here is the slope allowed to go down as I’ve never seen it that way(not that that means much). I’m hoping that metal piece now that I see it again could be what holds the plastic flap?

 

[Liz315]

Oh no, thanks Jim. How bad of a fix is it? Will it comprise the shell? Can you rally some of your other trusted experts for advice prior to me calling them? I want to make sure I know what needs to be properly done to fix it.

 

[cowboycasey]

they raised your coping WAY to high and to compensate they raised your 6 inch tile WAY to high looks to be about 3 inches higher than needed... they need to tear the coping and tile off and put it on down where it is supposed to be...

You can tell in this picture where they filled in the bottom of the skimmer, that line is where the bottom of the 6 inch tile should be... As it stands now the bottom of the 6 inch tile is where your water line will be and you will see the complete 6 inch tile...

 

[Liz315]

So now that I am piecing this all together when the coping people were here they set the level line of the pool and they built the back wall where the skimmer is up a lot. That is probably the reason the skimmer is so low now.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Liz,

The coping and tile needs to be level, and of course, the same all around the pool.. Not sure if the skimmer was original set too low or if the coping guys set their coping too high.. Either way your pool builder needs to fix it.

Is the coping too high all the way around the pool or just on one end??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Liz315]

Just the back end I believe.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Calling @jimmythegreek

Got any input on this one?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

I don't think you need to remove the skimmer or the coping.

Remove the cement plug that was put in the bottom of the skimmer mouth. That opens up the skimmer to the correct height.

Add anther strip of water line tile as the water line will be halfway between the skimmer opening.

Whoever added that cement plug should be fired. He should have pointed out that your tile was not high enough. You used a subway tile that is horizontal and did not cover the entire skimmer opening. You need to use a larger tile or two courses of the subway tile.

You need waterline tile that covers the entire height of the skimmer mouth as shown on this pic. Fix the tile and everything should work.

 

[Liz315]

It’s not a subway tile it’s a 6x12 tile so if we add another coarse it will by a 12x12 waterline tile and the water will be 6” below the coping and we’d loose water height.

 

[ajw22]

The tile height does not set the water height. This picture tells the story. Halfway up the opening should be your water height. That got locked in when the skimmer size was selected and the pool shell built around it.

You can probably run the water level high around 2/3 up the skimmer opening to get yourself a few more inches.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Liz,

At this point we are all guessing because we have no idea if the shell is level or not... Or if the coping is level or not... etc.

You just need to get the pool builder involved... No matter what, the water level in relation to the tile needs to be level all the way around the pool. And, when the water is at the center line of the tile, it must also be in the middle of the Skimmer's Weir door...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

And, when the water is at the center line of the tile, it must also be in the middle of the Skimmer's Weir door...

Water level does not need to be at the center of the tile when it is the middle of the skimmer. Tile does need to cover the range that the water level can vary int he pool. Tile can extend deeper then the bottom of the skimmer.

Tile coverage is independent of the skimmer opening as long as the tile covers the range of the waterline possibility.

 

[Liz315]

So they make bigger skimmers? That are for a 12” waterline tile? Sorry I’m not following, not that that means anything since it’s my first pool and I’m learning as I go with the help of everyone here (huge thanks).
What about how when the tile/coping guy set the level line they had to build the back wall up some to get it level? That doesn’t have anything to do with it?
Sorry for my lack of knowledge.

 

[ajw22]

Skimmers come in different sizes. Find out what model number skimmer was used.

I don't know what the tile/coping guy did but the pic you posted looks like that is the way the skimmer mouth was after the gunite was applied. If there were any patches in that area joint lines would be visible.

 

[Liz315]

Thanks

 

[YippeeSkippy]

On one of those pics the entire skimmer lid behind the pool looks crooked. I don't know if I see that just because its not decked in yet but wanted to mention that.
Also- did they leave your weir door off or is it there? That's the door that flaps open and shut to keep debris in the skimmer basket when the pump is off.

Maddie

 

[ajw22]

Also- did they leave your weir door off or is it there? That's the door that flaps open and shut to keep debris in the skimmer basket when the pump is off.

Maddie

A plate is out over the mouth of the skimmer during construction to keep gunite out of it. After construction is completed the skimmer mouth is opened and the weir door installed.

 

[zea3]

It looks like someone built up the front of the skimmer opening to narrow it so they would only have to use 1 course of tile around the pool. They partially blocked the skimmer opening where the actual plastic skimmer body begins. You can see the edges of the plastic skimmer on the top and sides but the bottom is covered by tile. The opening they covered in tile is shallow at the pool wall and becomes deeper where the actual skimmer begins. Maddie, it looks like the weir door has been removed. There's no way it can function properly the way the skimmer is currently set up. If it is left as is I don't think you will have adequet skimmer action to keep the surface clean, and I'm not convinced that the filled in skimmer opening won't leak when all is said and done.

I have no idea why they thought this was a good idea. Maybe they didn't order enough tile for two courses, or they ordered the wrong size, or they were supposed to set it vertically instead of horizontally.
Liz, tile is always below the coping. The coping is the top edge of the pool just under the deck. Waterline tile should be partially submerged when the pool is full. There are different sized tiles, but most pools have around 2-4" of tile below the waterline. Just to make sure there is no confusion, when we refer to waterline during a build, it how high the water should be when the pool is full. Actual waterline is the height of the water and will fluctuate with evaporation, rainfall, ect.