Why do you use skimmer socks?

[eqbob]

Asking a question for understanding....

Why do people put stuff like a hair net or skimmer sock into the skimmer baskets? I'm not understanding how putting something else into the water flow system provides a benefit. So the sock or hairnet fills up instead of the basket. What do they do differently that is a benefit?

 

[duraleigh]

The folks who use them feel the skimmer socks are easier to keep clean than their filters. It doesn't work for everyone but I tend to agree.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

So much of what is filtered in your pool is minute small schmutz like pollen. If you catch it before it gets to the filter, you save the filter from excess dirtying and required backflushing to clear it out.

Also those of us with pine tree needles know how they can slip through the small slots of the skimmer basket, so we're protecting the pump from them or from potential clogs in our pipes.

 

[Pooldoctor]

Just a warning about skimmer socks. If there is a lot of pollen in the air, check often, I know from fact once they get truly coated in pollen snot they can stop water flow.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Just a warning about skimmer socks. If there is a lot of pollen in the air, check often, I know from fact once they get truly coated in pollen snot they can stop water flow.

Oh yes...at that time of year we have to clean them out daily for sure!

 

[eqbob]

Oh yes...at that time of year we have to clean them out daily for sure!

An interesting conundrum. Use hair nets to prevent the smallest stuff reaching the filter but if you don't clean them often enough they will actually stop water flow which would seem to be a worse problem than a dirty filter?

Appreciate the answers!

 

[MarianParoo]

Checking them is easy-peasy. I admire my pool at least once a day and checking the skimmer socks is no big deal.

I particularly love them because the last thing I want to do is backwash my filter. I only use rainwater for my fill (except once every few years) because my fill water is metal-rich. Skimmer socks help me maintain my water levels by keeping my filter cleaner.