Plumbing in a Pool Skimmer

Pool Skimmers

• Swimming pool skimmers sit at the top of a pool's waterline, drawing water into themselves through suction generated by the pool's pump. Large debris in a pool's water is captured in a skimmer via its basket, which is an important component of any skimmer. In-ground pool skimmers are typically equipped with what's called a floating weir, a small door at the inlet access point. Pool skimmer floating weirs only allow small amounts of pool water into the skimmer at one time.

Skimmer Lines

• In-ground swimming pool skimmers are normally equipped with two separate water processing lines. One pool skimmer water line provides suction generated by the pool's pump. In-ground pool skimmers are also equipped with equalizer lines. A pool skimmer's equalizer line draws water from the pool to prevent air from getting into the skimmer and then the pool's plumbing system. Pool skimmer equalizer lines are needed especially to prevent air from entering pool skimmers if pool water drops below the skimmer's main inlet opening.

Other Components

• A pool skimmer is equipped with an access hatch that sits on the pool deck or the skimmer itself to allow unobstructed access to the skimmer. Pool skimmer equalizer line openings on pool walls are also equipped with antivortex covers. A pool skimmer equalizer line's antivortex cover prevents excess pool pump suction from developing, which could trap swimmers leaning next to it. Skimmers themselves aren't mechanically operated, instead relying on the suction from a pool's pump to do their work.

Considerations

• Pool skimmers depend on watertight seals around their water inlet and equalizer line fittings to help prevent air entering the pool's plumbing system. Also, some models of pool skimmer are equipped with interior stop plugs and even chlorination cartridges. Above ground pool skimmers often hang on the edge of the pool, either in or out of the water. Pool pumps generate a lot of suction so never allow hands in a skimmer while the pump's operating.