My PB closed my pool for me. We blew out the lines and filled with antifreeze. He put plugs in the skimmers and I then installed gizmos. This was 2 weeks ago. I just opened both skimmers and now we have about an inch or so of water in each skimmer. It hasn’t rained a bit so I’m guessing the skimmer plugs aren’t water tight. Should I be concerned? Should I add more antifreeze to the skimmer?
Water in skimmers after closing
- Thread starter alvindo
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,028
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You could, sure. You could also place some cut-up pool noodles or a half full plastic jug in there to help displace any water that might accumulate over the winter. Regardless of where the moisture came from, the skimmer can get water in there anyways from rain, snow, etc. The Gizmos should help, but the noodles or jug can be additional insurance.
As for the original issue of how water got in there with no rain, if you suspect a bad plug seal, you could suck-out the water and "possibly" remove the plug(s) to inspect or reinsert. But first - If it's a dedicated suction line from skimmer to bad, there should be no water at all in that line. But if the skimmer is dual-plumbed with one portion (line) going to a main drain, then water may be lifting up from that hole (hole closest to the pool usually). If you remove that plug, it could be problematic. You might break the water-air lock and water might just keep coming up defeating the purpose of the closing of that line. Let's ask @Newdude to be sure.
+1. Lets see a pic of the skimmer and water level in regards to it
Even if the plugs were loose/defective, water wouldn't rise above the water level in the pool. (Assuming it's below the skimmers). Is the water level about at that inch in the bottom of the skimmer ?
Do you have sprinklers? Or maybe it's just been a big daily temp difference lately and it's condensation.
I don't like antifreeze in an open skimmer. Any rain or pool water that rises (with a mesh cover) will just wash it into the pool. It's pretty much feel good only.
Stuffing the mouth and main area with noodles will not hurt and provides insurance just in case.
Even if the plugs were loose/defective, water wouldn't rise above the water level in the pool. (Assuming it's below the skimmers). Is the water level about at that inch in the bottom of the skimmer ?
Do you have sprinklers? Or maybe it's just been a big daily temp difference lately and it's condensation.
I don't like antifreeze in an open skimmer. Any rain or pool water that rises (with a mesh cover) will just wash it into the pool. It's pretty much feel good only.
Stuffing the mouth and main area with noodles will not hurt and provides insurance just in case.
Thanks to both of you. I’m traveling today, but I’ll post pics tomorrow. The water level is above the bottom of the skimmer to support the autocover. The skimmers have plugs on them but I feel like a small amount of water is leaking through them. I would say at a rate of about a half a cup per day. It’s not much but it’s adding up and now I have about 8 inches of water in each skimmer. Again, pics to come and I appreciate your help.
Ok so it's probably coming in from the main drain pipe. The pipe to the equipment pad was empty with no chance of refilling the skimmer as is. The drain pipe on the other hand is holding back pool water.
It could be as easy as the plug not making a tight seal in the pipe. The people who closed your pool need to come fix it. If that pipe is threaded, you could build an extension with a valve to be able to seal it under pressure. A member built this when trying to winterize their similar setup.
I'm going to blow-out my pool lines via the skimmer. Questions.
My method in the past has been to screw 2" pipe into the skimmer and main drain threads. If I put my cyclone blower directly into the skimmer to blowout the lines, should the filter and pump be plugged or unplugged while blowing? It seems I should keep things plugged to make sure the water is...
www.troublefreepool.com
Also, can you clarify your 1st post comment that the pool company plugged the skimmers and then you added gizmos ? That's ok on the equipment pad leg because it was empty, but if you pulled the drain leg plug you broke the air lock and it should have spewed out right then and there.
My skimmers are plumbed separately from my main drains.
The pool builder plugged the skimmers and blew the skimmer lines. I put the gizmos in the day after to avoid rainwater and snow melt from getting into the lines. When I say they plugged the skimmers, I meant the skimmer mouth where the weir door was. There was no plug on the skimmer drain pipe to the pump. That’s why I added the gizmos.
The pool builder plugged the skimmers and blew the skimmer lines. I put the gizmos in the day after to avoid rainwater and snow melt from getting into the lines. When I say they plugged the skimmers, I meant the skimmer mouth where the weir door was. There was no plug on the skimmer drain pipe to the pump. That’s why I added the gizmos.
Ok. Now we are getting somewhere. 
You have skimmer covers / aquadoors that leak. Yes it's technically a plug, but misleading to us to call it that.
I couldn't understand how they had such terrible reviews until I tried one on a 17 year old pool. The skimmer was warped from years of UV and no longer level, plum or square but the plate was dead on square. The thick rubber gasket on it couldn't overcome the difference and water filled the skimmer in a matter of hours.
the leaky plate will still help keep the skimmer a seperate entity from the main ice rink if it all freezes. That's helpful when the ice rink shifts as it melts and it can yank on the skimmer. It probably won't hurt anything but if you can stop the possibility.....
Stuff the whole skimmer full of cut up noodles and you should be good to go.
You have skimmer covers / aquadoors that leak. Yes it's technically a plug, but misleading to us to call it that.
I couldn't understand how they had such terrible reviews until I tried one on a 17 year old pool. The skimmer was warped from years of UV and no longer level, plum or square but the plate was dead on square. The thick rubber gasket on it couldn't overcome the difference and water filled the skimmer in a matter of hours.
the leaky plate will still help keep the skimmer a seperate entity from the main ice rink if it all freezes. That's helpful when the ice rink shifts as it melts and it can yank on the skimmer. It probably won't hurt anything but if you can stop the possibility.....
Stuff the whole skimmer full of cut up noodles and you should be good to go.
I just had my own Eureka moment, yes I should have been more clear about what I called a plug. The pool builder put skimmer doors on the skimmers, blew out the lines, and then filled the lines with antifreeze. He didn’t actually plug the skimmer lines to the pump. I put the gizmos in there the day after they closed. Then we started getting water in the skimmers from, I’m presuming, the skimmer doors.
I just sucked the water out and stuffed them full of cut up noodles. Thanks again to both of you.
I just sucked the water out and stuffed them full of cut up noodles. Thanks again to both of you.