Fixing rusted things

[IceShadow]

How do I replace these fixtures starting to rust? Drain pool below them, remove, replace? Anything I need to watch for?

 

[Mdragger88]

Drain just below- buy some gaskets as well as new good stainless screws.
Are you planning on removing the skimmer faceplate & investigating? If so definitely get a gasket set for that. Also you may wanna get some of that pool putty to put around the light cable since you’re already going to be in there. I am not certain but it looks as if the rust on the light is on the niche not the fixture itself.
Replacing one can be tricky because of conduit etc.
You need to look at the installation process for your particular light.
It looks as if your liner is pulling out near the skimmer which could be allowing water to get where it shouldn’t contributing to the rust there.
If you can’t get it fully back in you may need to try some liner lock. Hopefully others will chime in soon with more pointers.

 

[ajw22]

I think it is your steel wall behind the fixture that is rusting and the rust is coming through the penetrations and showing on the fixture.

It is not the fixtures you need to fix but the wall behind it. That fix is likely when you replace the liner and see how bad your rust cancer is.

 

[IceShadow]

I think it is your steel wall behind the fixture that is rusting and the rust is coming through the penetrations and showing on the fixture.

It is not the fixtures you need to fix but the wall behind it. That fix is likely when you replace the liner and see how bad your rust cancer is.

I don’t believe there’s any steel behind the liner. It was all concrete and some padding. See below photo from 2019 when liner was replaced the year we moved in. The light is immediately below the diving board (covered by padding from before we taped it back into place).

 

[IceShadow]

It looks as if your liner is pulling out near the skimmer which could be allowing water to get where it shouldn’t contributing to the rust there.
If you can’t get it fully back in you may need to try some liner lock. Hopefully others will chime in soon with more pointers.

There’s a few spots the liner is out of place, but it hasn’t been enough that I’ve been concerned about it yet, from what I’ve seen.

The only metal that could be behind the skimmer plate to rust is the screws themselves.

 

[JamesW]

I don’t believe there’s any steel behind the liner.

Try a magnet.

 

[ajw22]

Try a magnet.

Three different fixtures do not all decide to rust. I think you may be surprised at the underlying construction of your pool.

And one of them is an almost all plastic skimmer showing rust along the edges.

 

[Newdude]

Do you have more pics ? The walls sure look like inidivual pieces in the pic you posted. Concrete would be a solid pour.

 

[JamesW]

The walls are probably galvanized steel (99.999% sure).

 

[IceShadow]

Do you have more pics ? The walls sure look like inidivual pieces in the pic you posted. Concrete would be a solid pour.

Sure.

Try a magnet.

….how are you guys right so often, I just don’t understand

Okay, so those are steel panels in my photos? Can they be replaced when the liner is? Is there anything I should do until then? The liner is 3 years old so it has a long time to go….

 

[JamesW]

You can't really replace the walls without a major construction project.

You can maybe paint them when you replace the liner.

Not much that you can do until you replace the liner.

Walls are either polymer or galvanized steel.

A magnet will not stick to polymer, so if a magnet sticks to the walls, the walls are galvanized steel.

 

[IceShadow]

You can't really replace the walls without a major construction project.

You can maybe paint them when you replace the liner.

Not much that you can do until you replace the liner.

Walls are either polymer or galvanized steel.

A magnet will not stick to polymer, so if a magnet sticks to the walls, the walls are galvanized steel.

Yes, magnet stuck. So I have rusting in the steel walls that’s leeching out around my light, skimmer plate, etc.? I guess I live with it?

Edit: that should probably be a period instead of a question mark at the end, given the “Not much that you can do until you replace the liner” bit

 

[Mdragger88]

Are you able to scrub it off the niche?

 

[IceShadow]

Are you able to scrub it off the niche?

It doesn't scrub off with a soft-bristle pool brush. Not sure what else to try with it right next to the liner.

 

[JamesW]

Vitamin C on a rag might work.

Or just sprinkle the vitamin C on the spot and let it sit there.

 

[IceShadow]

Vitamin C on a rag might work.

Or just sprinkle the vitamin C on the spot and let it sit there.

I'll give it a go.