I wish this video was the first one when you search for skimmer install! This is the only video that is detailed and gets to the point. The rest of videos are garbage compared to this one. Thank you great video!!!!!
Of all the skimmer vids out there, u are the only one who actually showed how to assemble the skimmer. Thanks, mine is leaking after 15 years and now i know its from that gasket on the outer side,.
Thank you for your assistance. I followed your instructions and was able to replace the skimmer in 30 minutes with no issues and no leaks. Thank you again.
Only problem with this install is a butterfly gasket wasnt used to protect the metal of pool wall. So the exposed metal to the pool water is going to rust.
Samuel Greene, your video and advice is AWESOME! This is my 2nd year as a first time pool owner and discovered after all the set up except chemical balancing found the skimmer was cracked. So with a quick search, I found your video, watched it a couple of times, got the supplies, set the drill to 11, and followed your advice to the T. And now the pool is up and running, no leak, nothing! The one thing (upgrade) I forgot to do was to add a shut off valve on the line to make it easy to clean the pump filter. According to the video, I didn't think the round head screws were used but they are for the skimmer to be attached to the plate.
I love the explanation and importance of detail you gave. Instead of the lost in confusion of other ways I've seen done in videos. I've cut numerous intex liners but seems I upgraded pools and a liner cost being 400. I'm scared to cut my liner then my thought process began to wonder different ways to protect it.. like if I cut and put some sort of backing to keep to liner from pulling and causing a nightmare. But you've eased my fear and actually brought me back to my 1st thought process of how too do it. 400 bucks isn't the learn as you go type of lessons I can afford. Lol
The wall is going to rust. Moisture between the liner and wall can't get out and water from rain will wash down skimmer and get caught captive now. That's why the proper skimmer gasket is a butterfly gasket to protect the wall. This install is good for short term, but eventually the wall will rust around the skimmer.
Love that brand of pool there I think it's the cypress model. We have the echo canyon 2 and it will be 10 years old in June of next year and no rust anywhere
Great eye Cody! It is a cypress! That echo canyon is a fantastic pool too and it will last you 20 more years too as long as you don't add a salt system to it!
Great video. I have a question. I am getting ready to replace a cracked skimmer. Pool is full of water and I have drained it just below the existing skimmer. How careful do I need to be about the weight of the water pulling the liner down and out of place? Do I have seconds, minutes, etc to swap out the old skimmer for the new one? The pool store guy said to put some duct tape on the liner to help hold it in place? Any tips or tricks to avoid having the liner sag? Thanks in advance!
Sorry , but the four Pan Head screws ( The ones you said to Throw out. )are the ones you're supposed to use to Connect the front part of the skimmer to the back part of the skimmer. The flat head screws are all for the face plate used to connect the front of the skimmer to the back of the skimmer. AS PER HAYWARD
Putting the silicone on the outside gasket will ensure you visually don’t see a leak but if water gets past the inner gasket your leak will go down the inside of the pool wall corroding the steel wall. I like a butterfly gasket around the skimmer opening and one single gasket under the faceplate. Butterfly protects pool wall and I don’t use no silicone on the outside because I want to see the leak and repair accordingly. A non visual leak down the inside wall over time will destroy the pool wall. By the time you see bubbling on the outside it’s too late.
Thanks Samuel, this video is a life-saver! Question, if my skimmer came with a butterfly gasket that wraps around both sides of the pool wall, should I still put a gasket directly under the face plate on the inside of the pool?
No that's not necessary. The gasket can go on either side of the liner. The pool would leak from the outside gasket. The inside gasket is just a spacer
This is the first time filling this pool. I read that the pool should be filled almost to the skimmer so the liner can stretch normally. What's your thoughts on that. Thank you
So I’m confused. In the past I have used a wrap around gasket. A pool guy told me to wrap a wrap around gasket around the pool wall, then put a single gasket inside the pool against the liner so the pool liner is sandwiched between gaskets. If you use 2 single gaskets like in this video isn’t the pool wall exposed to the water? Won’t chlorine over time eat away at the steel wall?
I'm not suggesting that there isn't a better way to skin a cat. I'm just showing the way to install what the manufacturer makes and puts in the box and what customers get when they buy a pool now days. I agree that a butterfly gasket will do a better job of protecting the steel wall. Most of these pools come with stainless steel panels that wouldn't be affected anyway.
So how do you connect to the pump, or do I need to use a second pump to pull the water. I did buy a sand filter pump when I bought the pool so the original Coleman pump is just sitting in a box in my basement.
If you get cement from the UK its always clear, dont know what the US has purple and other colours, looks horrid. Good video thanks. Can I ask what vac you use as that is cool
The cement in the US can be clear as well. We use clear acetone primer on pool plumbing that will be visible above ground and purple primer on underground joints as a way to visualize that the step was completed. The blue plumbing cement is is a much more heavy duty bond and is rated to not break down with UV light as quickly as the clear variety.
@@samuelgreene8613 Our clear stuff we use, withstands all uv rays, in fact we use for waste pipe thats on the outside. Never had an issue. This is the one I use, very strong smell, but bloody good. www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Swan-Cement-Clear-Large/dp/B005E0M42S
I’ve read through all the comments and am confused about the butterfly gasket I received with my new skimmer. I installed a new liner and the instructions say to cut out the liner then install the butterfly gasket over the liner. But I’m worried the liner will sag and not line up again to the skimmer cutout. Can I install the butterfly gasket on the wall under the liner, install the skimmer then cut out the hole?? TIA
Hi Samuel I bought a Hayward skimmer and I had to use the dome screws to put the skimmer together. There were only enough flat screws for the plate in the pool side. Can the done screws cause the skimmer to leak? Thanks
There is nothing wrong with using teflon tape on the fitting. Sometimes the skimmer will even come with a small amount of tape. I teach to use silicone because you already need it for the gaskets and assembly process.
I just purchased a 16' x 32 Intex pool. Knowing that the pool doesn't straighten completely until it is full of water I am a bit nervous about cutting the liner. Has anyone installed a skimmer on this type of pool?
It will be perfectly fine. Make sure the pool has as much water as possible before installing the skimmer and then make sure you install the skimmer BEFORE you cut the hole. Screwing the faceplate to the skimmer clamps the liner down keeping it from stretching or tearing out of shape
Just installed a Hayward widemouth with a butterfly gasket and I have a small drip from the bottom where the gasket creeped up. I'm afraid to loosen the faceplate and risk having the liner fall. Should I play with the tension of the screws to see if I can get a.better seal or throw some silicone on the bottom where the leak is?
Do you use silicone on the butterfly gasket as well? Also, how close does the water level need to be to the return/skimmer before you do this? Replacing my liner for the first time and getting nervous about cutting the liner! Thanks in advance!
Kenny Pickerrell I do put silicone on the butterfly gasket on the outside surface that contacts the skimmer body, as well as the inside assembly. Those butterfly gaskets can be tricky. Start by hanging the faceplate on the top corner screws just like in the video. Then put the bottom 2 corner screws in as well. This will keep the gasket from coming off the wall. Mount the skimmer starting with the BOTTOM screws 1st but just enough for the screws to catch. Don't tighten yet. Then do the top 2 corners the same way. Then do the top and bottom middle hole but tighten nothing yet (see a pattern here? This is all to keep that gasket lined up straight. Tighten all those screws up a little at a time making sure the gasket is still straight. Then put in all the other screws. Water level needs to be at least half full in the pool. Hope this helps!
Great video! So I'm ready to cut one in on a doughboy with a butterfly gasket. The direction say 2ft of water, cut it and apply gasket around both the wall and liner. The liner is already stretched tight and I'm afraid the liner will tear or stretch too big when cutting it that way. Also I would have to press again the liner or raise the water lever higher than 2.5 to get the liner against the wall. Should I follow the directions? or do it you way and place gasket between the wall and liner, install, then cut? Any help is greatly appreciated, I'm stressing myself out on this. (Also, cut the jet the same way?)
Great question! Do it the way I show. The gasket on the inside of the wall doesn't prevent leaks. It just makes a cushion to keep that hard plastic faceplate from cutting the liner. The outside gasket prevents leaks. Both are important but the inside gasket can be done the way I show. You are correct to worry about the hole stretching out of shape. It definitely will happen if you cut 1st. You can add another foot of water and it will only help.
Maybe a dumb question but I have the butterfly gasket came with my Hayward. Haven't cut yet but not visualizing how to do it since you mount one then the other before cutting liner?
Good question! If it came with 2 butterfly gaskets (1 small and 1 large), the ENTIRE small one goes in the assembly when you put the skimmer together just like in the video. The large rectangular gasket has to be worked into and onto the skimmer opening of the wall. Then make sure you find all 4 corner holes and get the faceplate hung using all 4 corners instead of just the top 2 as in the video. This helps keep that butterfly gasket straight. Otherwise the holes wont all line up and you will fight it screws the entire time. Hang the skimmer from the bottom 2 corner screws first and only just get the screws started. Then start the top screws. Then you should be able to put all of the other screws in.
If I put the gasket on from the outside of the pool it goes on the pool wall and under the liner on the water side since I haven't cut liner yet.. So it's ok for the faceplate to be against liner and liner against gasket on water side, with other gasket in your video you put your gasket on faceplate then against the liner, sorry just want to make sure. Just don't want leaks lol.
Samuel Greene I have extra paper gaskets came with liner but I'm assuming i won't use. Hayward shows to instal skimmer then cut liner, then remove it and install gasket and reassemble. Seems like that's asking for problems
Ed Brooks they are instructing you to install it and then take back off in order to get the inside gasket behind the liner. Not necessary and asking for trouble
I wouldn't do it that way but I won't say its impossible. Butterfly gaskets are a softer material so they seal well. Give it a shot if you want and let me know how it works. Worse case it drips and you have to buy another $6 gasket
I did reply to Kenny Pickernell on this video about how to install with a butterfly gasket if you want to install the intended way. I'll admit that I'm interested in the results of cutting it apart. I take back what I said, I WOULD try it that way lol!
@@samuelgreene8613 hey just wanted to say thank you, I worked maintenance for many years and the tips you gave us here is the meat of this installment, everything was direct and very on point, again thanks. Oh yeah the pool I have is the cheaper summer wave or intex style so there's no hole already fabricated like the nice metal walled type pool you were working on. So I did cut the butterfly gasket to keep from cutting the liner first. It worked like a charm thanks to you. My skimmer is Hayward and it only comes with a butterfly gasket so I guess that's why everyone is asking about that. God bless
@@jackbquick123 awesome news! I'm so glad it worked and now I will give it a shot on one the these steel walled pools! Great idea! Thanks for sharing your idea and results! We all should constantly remind ourselves that 99.99% of the smartest people in the world dont work for us, so we should ALWAYS be open to suggestions!
The difference is only which one fits on your pool. One is standard (square) and the other is widemouth (rectangular). Whatever size hole your pool has manufactured in the side will determine what you need/should buy. All widemouth skimmers are just standard square skimmers packaged with a "widemouth adapter" to attach of applicable, so most distributors only carry the widemouth style. If yours is square, just order a widemouth and don't attach the widemouth part as shown in the video.
Absolutely do NOT take the skimmer off and remove the liner unless you are prepared to replace the liner. Nearly impossible for even a professional to get the skimmer hole and screw holes to line up again. If you are taking the pool down and putting it back up for some reason, you will lose the liner. Sorry for the bad news
