Skimmer Corrosion

[wowens]

2023 season we took up concrete, had professionally installed new skimmer and new liner and a salt system added to our inground 18 x 36 pool.
It was all completed, but the end of the season and we closed the pool.
I had always been told you didn’t need to do any work with the saltwater pool and I’m learning much differently.
The pics show what this has done to our skimmer. Keep in mind it is all completely brand new and should be looking perfect.
What needs to be done?

 

[Bperry]

2023 season we took up concrete, had professionally installed new skimmer and new liner and a salt system added to our inground 18 x 36 pool.
It was all completed, but the end of the season and we closed the pool.
I had always been told you didn’t need to do any work with the saltwater pool and I’m learning much differently.
The pics show what this has done to our skimmer. Keep in mind it is all completely brand new and should be looking perfect.
What needs to be done?

Saltwater chlorine pool is less work than liquid chlorine but you still need to test and maintain it. If that’s a brand new liner and skimmer, it has been leaking and has putty applied to try and seal it.

How are you testing the water and what are have the pH test results been like?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Wow!!!

I really doubt that what you are seeing has anything to do with the fact that you now have a saltwater pool...

I don't know much about liner pools, but that does not look 'professional' to me..

Let's see if @1poolman1 has any inputs..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Mdragger88]

It looks like it has been leaking a while causing the pool wall around it to rust- water causes metal to rust whether it has salt in it or not.
That doesn’t look like a professional skimmer repair. Ideally there should be no putty/silicone visible like that. Looks like they knew it was leaking.
No chlorination method is set it & forget it.
Regular testing should be done & recommended levels maintained no matter how you chlorinate.
Pool Care Basics

 

[ajw22]

Have you called back those “professionals “ and asked them why you have rusting around the skimmers they installed?

Looks to me like they did not use high quality stainless steel screws that may be rusting or they did not properly waterproof between the skimmer and the pool walls.

 

[wowens]

Saltwater chlorine pool is less work than liquid chlorine but you still need to test and maintain it. If that’s a brand new liner and skimmer, it has been leaking and has putty applied to try and seal it.

How are you testing the water and what are have the pH test results been like?

They came when we were not home and put the putty on to try and cover the rust and it looks even worse.
Water has never looked bad so we went a very long time without testing. We are just now figuring that out. One place said pH too high and we put a cup of lower pH in it and two days later another place said it was too low. It’s such a hassle. I wanted it filled in instead of fixed and here we are with me being the one to try and figure this out. :/

 

[Bperry]

They came when we were not home and put the putty on to try and cover the rust and it looks even worse.
Water has never looked bad so we went a very long time without testing. We are just now figuring that out. One place said pH too high and we put a cup of lower pH in it and two days later another place said it was too low. It’s such a hassle. I wanted it filled in instead of fixed and here we are with me being the one to try and figure this out. :/

I would not let them back on the property again unless it’s to apologize for how poor of a job they did and to fix it properly.

If you’re going to keep the pool, you need to test it yourself least once a week, preferably a few times a week during the spring and summer months. We can help you do it with one of the recommended test kits and if you stay away from those pool “professionals” that wrecked the skimmer

 

[wowens]

Have you called back those “professionals “ and asked them why you have rusting around the skimmers they installed?

Looks to me like they did not use high quality stainless steel screws that may be rusting or they did not properly waterproof between the skimmer and the pool walls.

Yes, I’ve been getting the runaround for over 2 months. Being told that because it’s an old pool it’s a different skimmer fit and there’s nothing they can do about it etc. etc..

But I’ve also gone elsewhere willing to pay to have it repaired and still silence.

 

[1poolman1]

2023 season we took up concrete, had professionally installed new skimmer and new liner and a salt system added to our inground 18 x 36 pool.
It was all completed, but the end of the season and we closed the pool.
I had always been told you didn’t need to do any work with the saltwater pool and I’m learning much differently.
The pics show what this has done to our skimmer. Keep in mind it is all completely brand new and should be looking perfect.
What needs to be done?

Inground, 34 year old, metal walled, vinyl liner pool. Rust appears to have come from behind. Perhaps poor installation. Missing gasket? Virtually every pool that has ever had chlorine in it is a "saltwater" pool.