Skimmer Guard

To Keep Stuff Out Of The Skimmer

If you use a floating chlorinator, like I do, a skimmer guard is one of those must have above ground pool accessories.  Not only do chlorinators get stuck in the skimmer opening, anything else floating in your pool will do the same thing.

Do the kids leave their air mattresses or other pool toys in the pool when they are done swimming?  And then you come out later to the loud noise of the pump sucking air.

Above ground pool pumps are not supposed to be sucking air, but that is what happens when the skimmer opening is blocked.  Eventually this will burn out a pump.  It has the same effect as running the filter system when your skimmer hose has broke and the pool has emptied itself to below the skimmer opening.

Not only do floating objects interrupt the flow of water, they also prevent the skimmer from doing what it is intended to do, skim the water.

By partially blocking the skimmer entrance, like the Lidl Skimmer Guard does, most of the items floating in your above ground pool with just keep on floating, right past the skimmer.  The ones that are drawn to the skimmer to stay for a while will not disturb the flow of water.  There will be no more loud gurgling sounds coming from the filter because the pump is sucking air again.

Installation of a guard is easy.  It just pops in.  You do, however, need a new faceplate for it to seal correctly.  These are found at the bottom of this page.  To change the faceplate you will need to lower your water level to just below the skimmer opening.  The easiest way I can think of to do this is to get in the pool.  Have your helper on the outside holding on to the skimmer.  Just remove the skimmer screws and exchange faceplates with the new one.  If your helper is doing their job correctly, the skimmer will not move, and realigning the holes will not be necessary.  If it does move, not a big deal, just get your top two corner screws through the faceplate and the side wall.  The outside person should then be able to set the skimmer onto these screws while you are tightening them.

The face plates come in two sizes, the standard Hayward opening and the wide mouth skimmer opening.  If you own a Doughboy or Lomart pool, this product is not for you.

Having been with a skimmer guard, and without, I can honestly say, having is better than not.

The Lidl Skimmer Guard needs a new faceplate for a proper fit.  This would be the Skim Saver faceplate.  This faceplate works for the Lidl Guard and the winterizing plate, another product I strongly recommend for anyone living in the cold climates.  Buy the whole package and you will be all set.