Pool skimmers: what are they and how are they used?

Trash can turn swimming into a nightmare, which is why forward-thinking owners prefer to take care of purchasing skimmers for an outdoor or indoor pool in advance. Step-by-step instructions for installing such a device are attached by the manufacturer, with its help you can easily cope with the task. How to understand what it is, why it is needed, what are the main differences between mounted and floating skimmers - in search of answers to these questions, it is worth considering this useful device in more detail.

Cleaning the water in the pool is a serious, difficult task, but it is precisely this measure that allows you to keep the liquid in the bath in optimal condition without much expense. With the help of a skimmer, you can collect surface debris: insects, leaves, branches, hair that fall into the bowl. It is especially important to use such equipment for open, outdoor structures - inflatable and frame ones, in which even when using an awning it is not possible to achieve a sufficiently high level of water purity.

Large particles of debris remain in the filter. Further, the purified water is fed back to the system through the circulation hose, heats up and enters the pool bowl. Conventional skimmers do not have additional devices for injecting fluid flow. It moves inside the tank under the influence of air currents, which is why in open pools the device is installed on the leeward side.

All pool water purification systems can be divided into 2 categories: overflow and submersible (or built-in). Each of them has its own advantages. You can understand how a skimmer differs from an overflow device using a simple comparison. It will show how different the principle of the cleaning system can be.

Overflow is a stationary type filtration system that is used in indoor swimming pools. It consists of a tray and water intake elements laid along the perimeter of the tank. With an increase in the level of liquid (usually when people are bathing), the surface layers of water enter the overflow, are cleaned and filtered.

Skimmers also have their own characteristics. Many people point to their obvious advantages.

1. Multi-step approach to the cleaning process. The filtration quality is significantly higher than in the case of other types of such equipment.
2. Possibility of self-assembly. In most cases, the job can be completed in less than 1 hour.
3. Convenience of calculation. 1 skimmer is installed on an area of ​​25 sq. m. The number of devices increases in proportion to the size of the reservoir.
4. Ease of storage. For the winter, skimmers are simply put away for storage along with the pool in which they were standing.
5. Continuous and high-quality collection of large waste without human intervention. You do not need to manually clean the bowl with a net.
6. Possibility of easy bookmarking of chemistry. The device provides opportunities for a successful and effective dosage of chemicals.
7. Interaction with a hydro vacuum cleaner. It can be used to improve the quality of filtration, to inject additional water flow.

The skimmer has a fairly simple device and principle of operation. Basically, it is a mechanical filtration system with a plastic or metal tank, connected by a pipeline, through which water circulates and flows back into the bowl.

In the sidewall of the structure there is a window in which a floating type damper is installed. It is through it that water enters the inside of the tank. The damper stratifies the liquid passing through it, separating the clogged from the clean, preventing it from mixing, acting on the principle of a slotted spoon.

All skimmers can be categorized according to their material of construction. The most common option is plastic, it is made from PVC or polyurethane, as well as other chemically neutral polymers.

In addition, all skimmers can be categorized according to their particular design.

Designed for use in frame and inflatable pools, they fully meet the expectations of users. These devices are compact and have the most simple design. They are designed for a relatively small displacement, can be used where there is no possibility of a stationary attachment of the accessory in the walls of the pool, for example, if it was not laid during construction. The interior of the structure looks like a funnel with a mesh that traps dirt that gets inside.

Usually hinged skimmers are a plastic lightweight structure that sits on the surface of the water. In the course of its operation, the skimmer draws in and passes water through the side window, then through the filtration system, and then returns to the system for heating with subsequent discharge into the container.

The main advantages of such skimmers are high speed and ease of assembly, ease of maintenance. The level of filtration of contaminants is also quite high. But there are also difficulties: the equipment of the mounted type has a limited range, beyond which the level of water purity is significantly reduced.

A variant of the skimmer design, which must be pre-built into the pool bowl. It is a metal or plastic tank placed inside a tank in the wall, connected to a plumbing system. Skimmers of this type are built in at the stage of pouring the concrete base of the bowl; water is supplied inside through a special swinging flap. With the additional connection of a water vacuum cleaner, the return from the use of the treatment plant increases markedly.

It should be noted that skimmers in stationary hot tubs often play the role of a drain hole, ensuring the evacuation of the contents of the tank into the sewer system. All built-in models can be divided according to the type of base for which they are intended. There are skimmers:

• for concrete pools;
• for bowls finished with foil;
• under the tiled walls.

These models belong to the category of universal, are used not only in swimming pools, but also in artificial ponds to create an optimal microclimate in the aquatic environment. These products have a built-in pump that allows you to more efficiently cope with the tasks. Placed on the water surface, the device easily copes with maintaining the cleanliness of the bowl, is not afraid of mechanical damage, and successfully processes its part of the area.

The main purpose of the floating skimmer is to clean reservoirs with unstable water levels. It requires a strictly horizontal position - the built-in float provides the necessary correction. Depending on the width of the water intake, one device can serve an area of ​​25-35 sq.m.

This type of skimmer belongs to multifunctional devices that can not only keep the bowl clean. The built-in mechanical water level regulator has a float type design. It does not need power supply, complicated setup. As soon as the autofill unit receives a signal about a critical drop in the liquid level, the pump starts, the set values ​​are restored.

When choosing skimmers, it is important to pay attention to how suitable they are for use in specific types of pools.

1. Bowl dimensions. Regardless of the type of its construction, stationary or temporary placement, one skimmer can serve no more than 25 square meters of area.
2. Coating type. It is important mainly for embedded systems, since it determines the degree of compression of the structure by the environment. The pressure of concrete is very different from that generated by the frame structure. In addition, different types of devices are used under the tiles, for the film coating. It is worth carefully reviewing the documentation before purchasing.
3. Manufacturing material. Plastic skimmers, although cheap, are not considered the best choice for outdoor pools - their surface turns yellow over time, changes its color under the influence of UV rays. As for the stainless steel models, they have their own characteristics. These types are heavier and more massive, they are more expensive, and in terms of the quality of cleaning they are no different from their cheaper counterparts. Only the service life changes - for plastic it does not exceed 10 years.
4. Bowl wall thickness. It directly depends on what exactly the skimmer outlet should be. This is also important for attaching attachments to the walls of frame pools. If the parameters of the finished fasteners are not suitable, you will have to buy a new product or change it from the seller.
5. Country of manufacture. The least trustworthy, according to consumers, deserve representatives of China and Turkey - their products are the least strong and durable. It is worth paying attention to products manufactured by well-known brands: Intex, Bestway, MTH, Procopi, Kripsol.

Correct installation of skimmers is essential for their proper operation. Step-by-step instructions for installing a stationary device in a concrete solution with a piping diagram will help you perform all the steps correctly.

1. Installation of embedded products. These include not only skimmers, but also bottom drain, wall nozzles. They are mounted at the stage of pouring a concrete bowl. Both plastic and metal products are suitable for these purposes.
2. The optimal level of skimmer location is selected. This indicator is indicated in the characteristics of the device, in the instructions for it.
3. A set of tools is being prepared. You will need a puncher, a level, a screwdriver.
4. The number of skimmers is calculated. The proportions are the same - 1 filter per 25 sq.m.
5. At the stage of filling, plywood or metal strapping is made under the tanks. They are placed in it so that an equal distance remains between the individual elements.
6. Skimmers are installed and connected to the water supply and circulation system of the pool.

In order for the skimmer to function properly, it is imperative to pay maximum attention to observing the recommendations for its operation.

1. Choose the right type of skimmer. In the absence of flow, free-floating models will be preferable to stationary ones. In fixed-type pools, it is better to use built-in devices.
2. Calculate the exact number of water filtration tanks. If you save money, the quality of cleaning garbage and biological contamination will be insufficient.
3. Consider the thickness of the pool walls. It determines the dimensions of the throat of the device.
4. Comply with all installation recommendations, included in the instructions by the manufacturer. When installing mortgages, you should trust the professionals, otherwise the skimmer may not function effectively enough.
5. Replace filters and cartridges regularly, mechanically empty baskets in skimmers from debris if necessary. It should be added that this type of equipment is often used to dispense substances necessary to suppress the growth of pathogenic microflora.
6. Control the waterproofing of built-in skimmers. Rubber gaskets may need to be replaced over time, and the sealant may deteriorate.
7. It is imperative to correctly position the skimmers. They should be strictly horizontal; when the case is skewed, the efficiency of the equipment is noticeably reduced.

About why you need a skimmer, see below.