Skimmer and Filter basket

[1-2-3 fingers up]

Is there a proper way the clean the baskets. Pump on /off, skimmer valve open are closed, skimmer first filter second. Be great if I knew the sequin and procedure. Thank You in advance

 

[PoolStored]

Turn the pump off, remove the skimmer basket and clean. Remove the pump basket and clean. Order doesn't matter.

 

[TinFoilHat]

I pull my skimmer basket whether the pump is on or off. The pump basket requires the pump to be off as does opening the DE filter if you have to. To backwash the DE filter you turn the pump off, move your valve, then turn the pump back on so you don't dead head the pump while moving the valve. Have replacement DE on hand if you are backwashing. If you use a skimmer sock (code word for hairnet) then you won't need to clean the pump basket very often.

 

[1-2-3 fingers up]

Skimmer sock? Never heard of that. is that something i should be using

 

[PoolStored]

Skimmer sock? Never heard of that. is that something i should be using

Use hairnets, they are disposable. Skimmers socks are a pain to clean.
Put the hairnet over the basket with the elastic around the outside of the skimmer and the hairnet IN the skimmer. You can put a rock in that is bigger than the suction line into the skimmer to hold it down.

Amazon.com

 

[ajw22]

I only pull the skimmer basket out with the pump off. The less debris going down the skimmer line and through the impeller, the better.

I usually reach into the skimmer basket with the pump on and scoop out debris in there. It is never perfect, but it is good enough as the skimmer basket will be full tomorrow, this time of the spring.

Once in a while, I turn off the pump and give everything a good cleaning, including opening the pump lids and cleaning out the pump baskets and skimmer baskets.

There is no right or wrong. Do what works best for you and your pool.

 

[phonedave]

I clean my skimmer frequently. I don't bother to turn off my pump if it is running at the time.

Clearly you have to turn off the pump of clean the pump basket. I only clean the pump basket when I see stuff in it (I don't get a lot of debris)

 

[EmilyOTR]

Use hairnets, they are disposable. Skimmers socks are a pain to clean.
Put the hairnet over the basket with the elastic around the outside of the skimmer and the hairnet IN the skimmer. You can put a rock in that is bigger than the suction line into the skimmer to hold it down.

Amazon.com

what's the point of this? I hear about it a lot but have never used it and I get a ton of junk in my skimmer because we have a huge oak tree hanging over our pool. but the basket by itself does fine...

 

[PoolStored]

To lower the amount of pollen debris etc getting to the filter. Increases the time between filter cleanings.

 

[phonedave]

what's the point of this? I hear about it a lot but have never used it and I get a ton of junk in my skimmer because we have a huge oak tree hanging over our pool. but the basket by itself does fine...

It depends on the average size of the junk. If you get a lot of pollen, or in some places cottonwood "Fluff" it will pass through the regular skimmer basket sized holes, and get into the filter. The skimmer socks lets the skimmers capture the small stuff. This lets you go longer between filter maintenance (backflush, clean, whatever), the downside is that if you do not keep up with cleaning the skimmer baskets, it will quickly clog them up.

 

[salty87]

what's the point of this? I hear about it a lot but have never used it and I get a ton of junk in my skimmer because we have a huge oak tree hanging over our pool. but the basket by itself does fine...

We have oak trees near our pool too. When they drop leaves & pollen pods twice a year it's a real chore keeping the pool clean since all that stuff not only drops into the pool but it also blows off the pool deck into the pool on windy days. Hair nets are very helpful. Even with nets I'll clean the pump filters after leaf/pollen session. They're due for a cleaning now in central TX.

To lower the amount of pollen debris etc getting to the filter. Increases the time between filter cleanings.

True, less filter cleaning but more basket emptying as the nets capture more debris than the basket without a net.