Rust around skimmer.

[superdave5599]

Realized a source of the iron I had in my water last year!

Seems like something maybe wasn't sealed properly when the liner was replaced a few years ago (prior to me owning the house).

I'm guessing that supposedly, I could just remove the screws surrounding the skimmer frame. However, I'm concerned about them being rusted in place, and me just opening a can of worms! (It would probably be like the second to last screw, too.)

So instead, I'm thinking my best bet, to avoid further rust getting into the pool water, is to clean it up with some vitamin C as best I can, and run a bead of caulk around the outer edge of the frame, and then a big fat bead on the inside edge of the skimmer where the metal pool sides are slightly exposed inside the skimmer opening.

Any thoughts on this plan? Recommendations on caulk (or other material to use)?

I can't imagine this really hurting anything even if it didn't work. But I would certainly like to make the odds that it works, as good as they can be!

 

[ajw22]

“Caulking” around the inside and outside of the skimmer may prevent its use on the next liner replacement. Although with that amount of rusting you may be looking at pool wall replacement around the skimmer anyway.

I am not sure what you expect the caulking to accomplish. It is not going to stop the rusting of the pool wall now that it started.

If it makes you feel better then do it. And begin saving for a major pool repair.

 

[superdave5599]

Goal is to stop/slow it from progressing by stopping water from continually contacting the metal frame, as well as allowing iron to continue to dissolve into the water. (I had to remove iron stains at the end of last season.)

The whole skimmer is a bit ratty, so I don't mind the idea of replacing at least some of it when the liner eventually needs replaced.

 

[Newdude]

Goal is to stop/slow it from progressing by stopping water from continually contacting the metal frame, as well as allowing iron to continue to dissolve into the water. (I had to remove iron stains at the end of last season.)

Search above for repacing the skimmer gaskets. Many have done it successfully. It won't cure the rusting walls but it won't accelerate it either.