My pool is only around 11 years old and I found a leak at the throat of my skimmer. I know I can try to use the 2 part epoxy to fix it, but I'm wondering at what point should I consider replacing the skimmer? Won't the new one eventually shift and leak like the old one?
Skimmer leak patch or replace
- Thread starter Jarker
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Thanks for the reply. Here's a few shots of the skimmer and the area of the sidewalk it's in. I know the epoxy putty isn't a permanent fix, but with how much that section has shifted I just don't know how long the new skimmer will last in there either.
Attachments
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I'm not sure where the crack is. It's hard to tell from my DIY dye test too. I'm losing a lot of water and had a leak test company check it, they recommended re-grouting the throat or replacement.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
The skimmer is pulling away from the pool. I would put it around where the skimmer meets the pool
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Where has a section shifted?
Why do you say you found a leak in the throat of the skimmer?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I would just apply it along the joint where the skimmer (white part) meets the pool (grout line). probably along the bottom as well. I can get them to re-grout which would most likely leak again in a year, but is it worth the cost of replacing if there's no guarantee it won't keep shifting.
Attachments
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I see no indication that your skimmer pulled away. If it did there would be a crack in the deck or coping where the pool and deck shifted.
If you put epoxy on those surfaces then grout will never hold onto the epoxy after.
If you can mix epoxy, then you can mix grout.
Drop the water below the skimmer. Clean up the joint area very well. Mix grout in a plastic cup and apply it to the joint area. Let it cure for 24 hours before adding water to the pool and running the pump.
e-zpatch.com
If you put epoxy on those surfaces then grout will never hold onto the epoxy after.
If you can mix epoxy, then you can mix grout.
Drop the water below the skimmer. Clean up the joint area very well. Mix grout in a plastic cup and apply it to the joint area. Let it cure for 24 hours before adding water to the pool and running the pump.
E-Z Patch® 4 (White) Pool Tile Grout Repair
E-Z Patch® 4 (White) Pool Tile Grout Repair is our above water mixture. Grout repair products and tile grout repair.
e-zpatch.com
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I see no indication that your skimmer pulled away. If it did there would be a crack in the deck or coping where the pool and deck shifted.
If you put epoxy on those surfaces then grout will never hold onto the epoxy after.
If you can mix epoxy, then you can mix grout.
Drop the water below the skimmer. Clean up the joint area very well. Mix grout in a plastic cup and apply it to the joint area. Let it cure for 24 hours before adding water to the pool and running the pump.
e-zpatch.com
www.troublefreepool.com
If you put epoxy on those surfaces then grout will never hold onto the epoxy after.
If you can mix epoxy, then you can mix grout.
Drop the water below the skimmer. Clean up the joint area very well. Mix grout in a plastic cup and apply it to the joint area. Let it cure for 24 hours before adding water to the pool and running the pump.
E-Z Patch® 4 (White) Pool Tile Grout Repair
E-Z Patch® 4 (White) Pool Tile Grout Repair is our above water mixture. Grout repair products and tile grout repair.
e-zpatch.com
Waterline Tile Installation - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
I wouldn't grout over the epoxy, the company doing the repair would have to the work you described. In my first picture, there are two giant cracks in the sidewalk around the skimmer. We had a concrete company repair/level that section about 5 years ago
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Can you explain that differently?
Are these red lines the cracks?
The red cracks don't pull in the direction to pull the skimmer from the pool.
I would expect to find a crack near the green line showing things moved in the direction of the green arrows.
yes, you're correct. the red lines are cracks that were repaired. Wouldn't the shifting sidewalk cause problems with the skimmer?
To my previous comment: I wouldn't epoxy and then grout. I can either epoxy, re-grout, or replace the skimmer. If I went with re-grouting as a the option, I would just hire someone to do as you said drop the water below the skimmer, clean up the joint, and apply grout.
Sounds like you're saying that since there aren't cracks in that area you marked in green, it's just a grout issue?
To my previous comment: I wouldn't epoxy and then grout. I can either epoxy, re-grout, or replace the skimmer. If I went with re-grouting as a the option, I would just hire someone to do as you said drop the water below the skimmer, clean up the joint, and apply grout.
Sounds like you're saying that since there aren't cracks in that area you marked in green, it's just a grout issue?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,062
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Not with the cracks in the direction they are in. Those cracks look like typical concrete stress cracks.
If you put epoxy on the skimmer's mouth, it will get on the tile. When you eventually replace the skimmer, that will cause problems with grouting that area.
Like I said, if you can mix epoxy, then you can mix grout. I don't know why you feel you can do epoxy and need to hire someone to put grout on the same area.
I see no signs of the skimmer moving from the pool. No cracks show movement, the skimmer has not shifted relative to the concrete hole, and openings are not visible at the skimmer's mouth.
It looks like you just have worn grout around the edge of the skimmer mouth interface.