If done incorrectly, problems that can go unnoticed for months to years are likely. Pool Bob dreams of life as a superhero pool man. Over time that will result in what will be a very slow and often undetectable leak that will increase in severity. The water acts like a cancer that spreads, compromising the structural strength of the skimmer area. I generally remove all of the gunite making up the skimmer box. There are times when will we hit extremely hard gunite and will then break out the jackhammer for limited and careful use, but for the most part I appreciate the ease and control of the roto-hammer approach. Just as many employers are getting workers' and related costs under control, the pandemic has introduced new hazards to the regulatory terrain. You can see from the rust in the steel how the leak has migrated. Sometimes it can be so bad that entire section of pool wall is compromised to the point where you need to go back to the client and discuss rebuilding that part of the pool wall. Yes, there are many people who try to do it all in one day. You can never have enough pool tab buckets, right? In other models, that line maybe oriented elsewhere, oftentimes coming in through the sidewall. I'll use a 5-inch diamond grinder to make a deep incision along the grout joint at the edge of the tile and remove that material to make room for the new skimmer. Also take note of the area where the leak was most damaging - where the steel is rotted out near the roots on the right side. Examine Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) systems and their use in modern pool maintenance. Here, about 70 percent of the material has been removed. I typically use a 60-pound electric jackhammer for the removal of the concrete deck. There are a few different factors involved in determining whether or not a skimmer needs to be replaced, but it usually comes down to whether or not the skimmer is leaking. For projects where the intent is to achieve a patch that will be less visible, such as with tile or flagstone decking, I use a diamond saw to cut a 2-by-2 foot area centered on the skimmer lid, working back from the expansion joint on the coping edge. A Pocket Guide to Building Vanishing Edge Pools, Perfecting Placement: Shotcrete Application Basics, Squeeze Those Service Vehicle Fuel Dollars, Pool Bob's Hydro-Eclectic Musings: Kicking the Buckets, Mythbusters: Pool Chemistry Truisms That Don't Pass the Sniff Test. The net return on a typical skimmer job can be significant but, of course, you have to know what you're doing in the first place. Again, that's another aspect of the project that you should be able to determine in advance and discuss with clients. That's where it's most critical to get as deep a saw cut as possible, without cutting into the coping, to control the pressure exerted against the adjacent edges during the demo process. The most delicate area will be the space between the skimmer lid and the back of the coping and bond beam. There are also different workmanship-related issues that will result in leaks. 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I usually try to leave the existing steel in place as added support unless it's completely destroyed. Sort through some of the most popular well-known sayings and ideas on water care and maintenance some are true, but many arent. This is an application where we were able to saw cut the coping stone above the skimmer throat and remove it. Some people use jackhammers, but I find that tough on the back of the operator; it's difficult to control and therefore far less precise. Once you've cut through the deck, the next step is to carefully remove all the material from around the skimmer. The Future Builders of America is getting Florida students excited about jobs in the skilled trades including the pool and spa industry. Specialty Maintenance Chemicals & Devices. (Sometimes even with best practices there can be some collateral damage to the surrounding area. Some are right up against the pool wall; others are set farther back. In almost every case, a leak at the skimmer is found during a leak detection process, either by pressure testing or dye testing around the skimmer face. Dig through our best stories from the magazine, all sorted by category for easy surfing. There will also be two vertical pieces coming from the bottom area of the skimmer box that tie in and support the horizontal bars at the back of the skimmer. Also, it was a two-piece skimmer where the black bottom section was screwed to the skimmer body with an O-ring seal, creating another common leak source. Keeping with that idea, I will expand the size and shape of the cut to eliminate existing cracks in the deck. Again, the type of deck will dictate your cut design. Unless the water damage has been pervasive, which has a tendency to rot everything, you'll remove the material around the skimmer and find the steel "cage" that wraps around it. You also need to be on the lookout for the suction line, which you'll generally run into anywhere from 4 inches to a foot under the deck. Replacement parts for Swimline HydroTools above ground swimming pool wall skimmers, Hydrotools Model 71605 1-1/4" thru 1-1/2" Hose Adapter for Pumps and Skimmers, Model 8905G 1-1/4" thru 1-1/2" Hose Adapter for Pumps and Skimmers, Grey, Model 89070 1-1/2" Pipe Thread x 1-1/2" Elbow Hose Adapter, Model 89081 1-1/2" Pipe Thread x 1-1/2" Hose Adapter, Model 8916 Hardware Set for Widemouth Skimmers, Model 8917 Gasket Set of Two for Widemouth Skimmers, Model 8918 Front Plate for Widemouth Pool Skimmer, Model 8918G Front Plate for Widemouth Skimmer, Grey, Model 89195 Widemouth Skimmer Vanity Plate, Model 8920 Support Brace for Widemouth Skimmer, Model 89201 Support Brace for 1 Piece Widemouth Skimmer, Model 8920G Support Brace for Widemouth Skimmer, Grey. In that event, following the skimmer removal phase, I've been able to make final detail cuts to remove any chipped or broken edges.). One of the most common I've seen happens when the tape that was placed to protect the skimmer throat during the gunite process is not properly removed prior to the tile installation. Once cut you can remove the sponge from the discarded line and put it into the line you're preserving. Pool Bob's Hydro-Eclectic Musings: PoolMan: The New Action Hero. Whether done in-house or by an independent leak detection firm, I always recommend proper leak detection in order to confirm the skimmer is in fact leaking. Ideally, as the level of difficulty increases, so do the margins you earn. Here we see extensive damage from a leak. In this first installment we'll examine work assessment, site demo and skimmer removal, day one of most repairs. Although demand stayed high and kept service businesses booming, the pandemics toughest challenges namely, supply and labor shortages bled over into 2022. RELATED: A Pocket Guide to Building Vanishing Edge Pools. Sometimes, particularly with older pools, simply knowing the type of skimmer can present a strong indication. In its most advanced state, the leaking water will corrode the structural steel, which is placed and intended to tie the skimmer structure into the pool. There's a great deal of labor involved in replacing a skimmer, and doing it right requires a high level of skill and commitment to the integrity of the project. Chemicals and devices that will help maintain a healthy and clear pool. Most skimmers will have three bars, typically #3 or #4 rebar wrapping the skimmer. 2022 AB Media Inc. All rights reserved. The original version had a black neoprene-like material on the bottom. Get to know the germs that cause Recreational Water Illnesses and how to kill them. When that happens, the skimmer can recede from the pool wall, creating an even more severe leak. Free US Continental Ground Shipping on Most Orders, Replacement Parts & Refills for Hydrotools Pool Products. (Note: if you're moving into these types of repair work, it's important to be aware of the statutory licensing requirement as it relates to doing this type of underground repair.). Pool Bob's Hydro-Eclectic Musings: Pool Com Sync Chat. Announcing the winners of the 2022 Truck & Van Contest! In situations where you're not trying to match the existing deck, you may want to take into account the deck's characteristics (i.e. And wheres our holiday? brick or pavers, where you have a fixed size) so your cuts harmonize with the surface. Most commonly, the line will extend straight back from the skimmer at six-o'clock, but on occasion, it may come off at a side angle. I typically tell my clients that the water level in the pool will be low anywhere from 6 inches to 30 inches for up to a week because sometimes it's difficult to schedule two days back to back. Now you're now ready to move into the installation process, which we'll cover next month in part 2. Finally, there's the potential issue of earth movement in geologically active regions, which can cause structural leaks or fracture plumbing fittings. Once I've removed all compromised gunite and are left with solid material, I'll use a pressure jet nozzle to hose down all of the interior of the skimmer box to remove any remaining dust and loose material. For both suction and equalizer lines, it's important to leave enough of the existing plumbing to reconnect to. Over the years, it's become no secret that in general, skimmers are one of the most notorious points in the pool system for leaks, which can happen in a few different ways. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. With the deck out of the way, I begin removing the gunite around the skimmer with a large roto-hammer, typically with a chisel bit. I like to use old tile sponges that are cut in half and simply shove 'em down in the hole. Get industry news, insights, and new product information delivered straight to your inbox. It certainly can be done, but I tend to think more conservatively in terms of contingencies. Industry-specific business software can help to minimize costs as gas prices soar. For me, tile and coping repair and skimmer replacement were two of the key areas that propelled me from the service route into contracting for larger projects, which eventually resulted in my evolution and chosen direction designing and building custom pools. If working with a cantilevered-style deck, the front cut will be located directly above the front edge of the skimmer throat. Follow along as they work to keep the pool in tip-top shape! Moving down through the gunite, and assuming we're working with a plastic skimmer, I'll incrementally cut or break the skimmer throat. Over time, the thread tolerance in the material would relax and start to leak. We've cut the deck and made our way down through the gunite, which has been removed to locate the plumbing lines. As an example, one of the skimmers most associated with leaks and eventual replacement was the original model U-3 black bottom skimmer from Swimquip. (The toughest are those that inset towards the pool underneath a solid edge treatment of some kind that you don't want to disturb.). I usually try to leave coping in place especially if it's well adhered but if it's delaminated, I'll saw cut its mortar joints out as well, which will allow me to safely remove and reset the coping/edge treatment as part of the repair. You'll want to cut this line at a point that will be conducive to re-plumbing to the new skimmer. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. At this point, we're about 80 percent through the removal process. RELATED: Case Study: Repairing Structural Cracks, Newsletter for Pool and Spa Professionals. These bars are part of the pool's structural steel and will extend into the skimmer box on either side of the skimmer, approximately 9 to 12 inches apart, top to bottom. Precision is especially critical when removing gunite from an area where you want to preserve the plumbing. Directly to your inbox. Before beginning any demolition work, it's important to protect the plumbing lines. Here we'll take a look at skimmer replacement in two parts. Rebound lacks structural integrity and the compressive strength of properly applied gunite, and it absorbs water more readily as a result. This shows where duct tape has been left along the skimmer throat, which is a common cause of leaks. Find manufacturers and suppliers in the most extensive searchable database in the industry. The last thing you want to do is move forward with the project to find that the skimmer is in fact not leaking. It's also very important to remove any additional leak-compromised, soft gunite material oftentimes exposing additional steel reinforcement which will usually be at the wall and bond beam areas, again ensuring you leave behind solid material. If I'm working with a concrete skirt deck, I might opt to cut the deck at the adjacent control joints and replace an entire section because the look will be cleaner with the new and old concrete meeting at the control joints.
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