How to Fix a Cracked Pool Skimmer Yourself

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Do you have a cracked pool skimmer? have you tried other patching methods with no success? Not feeling $5000 for a professional skimmer repair? No worries! In this video I will show you the easy step by step process to create a liquid ABS resin knows as Schmear to permanently patch a cracked pool skimmer. We will go over what products to use, what safety precautions to take, and the best practices for applying the resin. This is a straightforward repair that you can do yourself to breathe more life into your pool, and save thousands in the process!
Materials used in this video:
MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) - www.canadianti...
ABS Resin (Airsoft Pellets - NOTE this must be 100% ABS, if they say biodegradable on the package, they are NOT 100% ABS) - www.canadianti...
Official Schmear Pellets (From Hayward) www.poolweb.co...
If you found this video helpful, please consider subscribing for more great content! It helps out the channel big time!
#pool #poolrepair #skimmer #hayward #skimmerrepair #diy #fixed #repair #Schmear

Опубликовано:

7 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 117

@Izzy-xz6hg 4 месяца назад

Thank you for your recommendation. Purchased all the necessary equipment and solutions and it worked incredibly, MEk from West Marine and ABS Non-biodegradable BB's. The breakdown process took approximately 15 minutes. Applied and allowed it to dry for 3 days just to ensure dryness. Pool is up and running, water level holding steady. Thank you.

@RegsChannel 4 месяца назад

Right on, glad it worked! Hope you get to enjoy the season!

@GC-rj5yp 4 месяца назад

Excellent video I followed this video and the very large crack I had in my skimmer is repaired beyond my expectations.

@RegsChannel 4 месяца назад

Love to hear that! Glad the video helped! Hope you have a great pool season!

@EscribanoEl 2 месяца назад

Thank you so much for such a well explained and filmed DIY video on fixing my skimmer! The only thing that was missing was the drying time, although I assume that's on the MEK? My skimmer has a great big smile at the bottom because of the soil settlement pulling down on the T-junction underneath coming from another skimmer )))

@RegsChannel 2 месяца назад

Love to hear that it worked out! Yes it depends on the quality of the ABS pellets and MEK overall. Happy Skimmer equals a happy water bill!

@yunowot Год назад

Nice one! Excellent teaching - good demonstration. I have the same problem. Will give it a try - seems a much more affordable and easier than digging the whole thing up. Thanks.

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks so much for the kind words! Those were my sentiments exactly! I feel like this one is a superior repair to some of the other products out there based on how it chemically bonds the skimmer back together. Try separating PVC pipes after you have cemented them together... that's what I'm hoping for here!

@mattbrown4610 Год назад

3 months post repair, just checking in to see how its holding up and if any touch ups were needed. Currently have a cracked skimmer myself, and trying to decide to go this route, or the two part pool putty.

@RegsChannel Год назад

So far so good! For me, I'll be curious to see how it holds up throughout the winter and if it will survive a freeze thaw cycle. I'm pretty confident we should be good! Personally I went the schmear route vs. 2 part epoxy because you are basically chemically welding the skimmer back together vs "gluing" although epoxy is a bit of a different animal....

@midnightrambler3583 2 месяца назад

MEK is the primary ingredient of PVC cement which actually welds the PVC together by dissolving some of it. I’m not a chemist but mixing PVC cement with the ABS pellets may work as well. However, what ever is used a respirator is essential. MEK will get you higher than a kite.

@RegsChannel 2 месяца назад

Thanks for the comments, good luck on the project!

@nathanrasmussen8550 Год назад

Great video!The chemical safety piece was super helpful!

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks for the kind words! In my experience that piece typically goes overlooked in a lot of videos I see on RU-vid.

@johnnysouth4982 Год назад

You can use the plastic saw dust from cutting up a bucnh of scrap pvc pipe mix it with clear pvc cleaner and you have basically the same type of plastic putty. Also the two part pool putty works awesome just prep and clean the good have a few skimmers out there i patched years ago with pool putty still skimming and no leaks . Good videeo i have used the Hayward smear before it ok but it will crack again if the skimmer continues to settle or its being stressed from improper back fill or the pipes were forced when backfilled

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks for the comments! In my experience I would much rather take a good chemical weld over epoxy, but I agree that the prep is the most important thing!

@pennycrosby5770 Год назад

Awesome video, thank you so much exactly what I was looking for!

@RegsChannel Год назад

Glad it could help!

@Christopherkairos 10 месяцев назад

Great video. I’m dealing with the same problem right now

@RegsChannel 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for the kind words! I have faith because it's chemically "welded" that this fix will last!

@texyat7388 3 месяца назад

@RegsChannel How has the repair held up? Also, how long should you wait to let the repair cure before filling with water? I have a crack in the side of my skimmer that I need to repair quickly so that I don’t spend the repair money on a water bill. 😅 This looks like the best, most durable solution I have found.

@RegsChannel 3 месяца назад

Repair has held up fantastic! The longer you give it the better but I would want to give it at least a solid 24 hours. I was in the same boat as you it was insane how much money I saved on the water bill alone!

@gerrykmet1206 Год назад

As usual great video, very informative! Looking forward to more!

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks for the kind words!

@petenelson7291 2 месяца назад

What is the working time once it's mixed, before it starts hardening or thickening? Can you add more MEK to thin it out if it starts thickening too quickly? Once the repair is complete how long does it take to fully cure? Thanks for doing this, it looks like it will be very helpful!

@RegsChannel 2 месяца назад

Hey there! You can play with the viscosity by adding either MEK or more pellets. I aimed for a white glue like consistency. If I recall correctly I had about a 10 min or so working time with it and I gave it over a day to cure to be safe. It was rock hard once I was done and it has held up well so far! Hope that helps!

@joepalma2959 Год назад

great video - your camera was really helpful

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words! Any other video showing schmear never showed the application

@dwojcik100 4 месяца назад

Wow cool video I didn't know they made that epoxy

@RegsChannel 4 месяца назад

That's for the kind words! Good luck with the repair!

@jonlightsonnochaway Год назад

Great Video. I have a brand new pool with a brand new skimmer that has a crack in the bottom like where you have. The builder is giving me the run around. The epoxy failed after a few weeks. They refuse to replace the skimmer box. I know where they applied the epoxy, so I'm going to try this next since the builder won't do a proper repair. Thanks for this.

@RegsChannel Год назад

That's rough! You would hope they would stand by their work. Sand it down to bare abs and prep it well, this should get it done because it's basically liquid ABS lol, it's like plastic welding. Keep me posted, good luck!

@jonlightsonnochaway Год назад

@@RegsChannel Thanks. Will do! Appreciate it.

@jonlightsonnochaway Год назад

@@RegsChannel so the builder came back. They changed the inlet tube that goes to the filter, they changed it out to the good one that is in the skimmer box. They then capped off the bad one, and filled it completely in with epoxy. We had two pipes but only one was used, so they switched it. I hope their fix works

@RegsChannel Год назад

@@jonlightsonnochaway the challenge with epoxy is tensile strength and resistance to shearing. I could be wrong here but it doesn't form a mechanical bond per se. That's why products like JB water weld or some of the 2 part epoxies can let go over time. Hopefully it's good for the long haul for you!

@jonlightsonnochaway Год назад

@@RegsChannel that’s my fear too. That it weakens. I don’t mind doing the shmear myself still. Would it be effective with shmear over the epoxy repair?

@pauliodotnet 22 дня назад

how long do you think this will "last" - thanks for the tips, trying this out this weekend.

@RegsChannel 20 дней назад

Hi there, well I am expecting it to last as long as the skimmer because you are basically chemically welding things back together. I think the biggest challenge would be if it was the ground shifting that caused the skimmer to crack, you may experience a challenge there. Good luck with the repair!

@jennifermiller2665 Месяц назад

Very helpful. Will this work the same for the aboveground pool? The Crack is at the bottom of the skimmer around the hole where the hose attaches to it.

@RegsChannel Месяц назад

Yes it should, I believe the skimmer is made from the same material

@user-jp4sd1es6y 9 месяцев назад

Put up material used. Methyl Ethel Keytone

@RegsChannel 9 месяцев назад

I'm not sure I understand your comment, I mention in the description MEK, as well as reference it in the video. Hope that helps!

@mrcleanisin День назад

Will it work on vinyl pool liners?

@andrewoneill5003 11 месяцев назад

Very informative. I am not sure if my pool is leaking or just evaporating in the heat and wind. I believe you are suggesting one soaks the pellets in butanone overnight, in a sealed jar?

@RegsChannel 11 месяцев назад

You are on the right track, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is what needs to be used however.

@andrewoneill5003 11 месяцев назад

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butanone Same stuff. You have some great content on your channel. I subscribed. Cheers from Barbados.

@GameBoyRB 7 месяцев назад

Do a bucket test to see if it's just evaporation

@2bglee 5 месяцев назад

really informative vid next time please move obstacles out of your way like vacuum hose

@RegsChannel 5 месяцев назад

Thanks for the encouragement! The repair is holding up well, but I'll keep that in mind if there is ever a "next time"

@ra78100 Год назад

Great video

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks for the kind words! Hope it helps!

@yuoba2001 Год назад

Thank you for the video..I have the same problem, my skimmer it s very old and i have leak.. I tried many products ,like epoxy, but doesn't work. I called the pool company for the estimated they ask me 2000$ for replacement. I want to try the new stuff.. where did you buy?please let me know..for now I appreciate for the video and thank you very much

@RegsChannel Год назад

Hey there, yeah pool stores charge crazy amounts for the simples things. I was quoted 5000$ for a 450$ skimmer... I get that their time is worth something but that's a crazy markup! Here is a link to the pellets: www.poolweb.com/products/schmear-pellets-for-pvc-repairs-white I assume you are in the states? That's a US link. You will also require MEK. The schmear pellets themselves will give you the mix ratio. I feel this is a superior fix because the MEK chemically melts the old skimmer and the pellets together. You are basically chemically welding plastic, not just bridging or covering the crack like 99 percent of other products out there do... Keep me posted, hope this helps!

@raykhan8053 2 месяца назад

Great video .. vital info and caution 👍👍

@RegsChannel 2 месяца назад

Thanks for the kind words! Hope the video helped!

@VinnieVerite Год назад

Hi, I just found your page. Great video! Just got a question. Do you think this method would work with PLA or Instamorph instead of ABS pellets? PLA is used for 3d printing plastic, and hardens like ABS when cooled. Instamorph is moldable when heated (with a heat gun or boiled in water), and also hardens when cooled, which could potentially eliminate the need for WEK.

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks for the kind words! In a failed video, I tried what I believed to be abs 3d printer filament, and it would not dissolve with the MEK. Here is the thing, the skimmer is made of ABS, when using ABS pellets dissolved with MEK you are basically chemically welding the material into one solid piece which is what you want... The other alternatives you mentioned along with things like epoxies or resins can fill the crack, but if the skimmer shifts and the pool deck, wall, or around moves a bit, those types of repairs will crack or shear at those seal points depending on their tensile strength. Using the pellet and MEK method, in my opinion provides for a much more robust repair. I hope that helps!

@VinnieVerite Год назад

@@RegsChannel very reasonable answer. Thank you for that! ABS it is!

@RegsChannel Год назад

@@VinnieVerite no problem, good luck with the repair, keep us posted on how things work out!

@seanmckeon731 Месяц назад

I want to ask a question about the m e k,, I went to Home Depot and I bought this product m e k substitute is that the same thing

@RegsChannel Месяц назад

@@seanmckeon731 it's hard to tell without seeing the product. I'm going to go out on a limb and will say you need "actual" MEK. You can always mix up a test batch of what you have and see if it works. Thanks!

@seanmckeon731 Месяц назад

@@RegsChannel okay yes thank you I googled it and it said that it will work just fine it's just less toxic I think it said and it says that I'm the can

@markb4448 Год назад

Wow that was cool! thanks man

@RegsChannel Год назад

You are most welcome! Glad it helped!!

@petertiberiust3171 Год назад

Thanks great video !

@RegsChannel Год назад

Thanks for the kind words!

@danvanderburg5985 11 месяцев назад

Awesome! Thank you!!

@RegsChannel 11 месяцев назад

You are most welcome! Good luck with your repair!

@MacfaddenPlumbing 3 месяца назад

I’ve been stirring for 40 minutes. Pellets do t seem to want to dissolve???

@RegsChannel 3 месяца назад

We have to be sure they are 100 percent ABS pellets... If they are taking that long to dissolve that may be an issue. Give it some time and see if they dissolve.

@marypeterson4654 5 месяцев назад

How long does the repair product need to dry?

@RegsChannel 5 месяцев назад

It depends on the consistency it is mixed to. It doesn't take long to set but I have it a few days to fully cure. Repair turned out great afterward!

@ValerieSullivan-np2ec 5 месяцев назад

Where did you buy the Abs pellets/beads from?

@RegsChannel 5 месяцев назад

You can Google "Hayward ABS Pellets" anything from them will work, however they are expensive directly from them. I opted to get ABS airsoft pellets, they worked perfectly. Just make sure they are ABS. Amazon has a few options as well for abs pellets. Avoid anything that has anything other than 100 percent ABS in it. I tried an ABS 3D printer filament and it had another resin mixed in, that one failed in my testing. Good luck with the repair!

@joepalma2959 Год назад

can you tell me what grit sandpaper you recommend?

@RegsChannel Год назад

Of course, I used some 120 grit to roughen things up

@jennifermiller2665 Месяц назад

Ty you for this!!! ✌️💗🙂

@RegsChannel Месяц назад

@@jennifermiller2665 you are most welcome! Hope it helped!

@jennifermiller2665 Месяц назад

@@RegsChannel will this work the same for aboveground pool skimmer? I assume the hose will add more pressure on the crack while the pump is running? And my crack is right around the whole at bottom of skimmer where the hose connects.

@RegsChannel Месяц назад

@@jennifermiller2665 I assume it's the same material, I would think it would work... You are basically chemically welding the material to the skimmer so it should hold up!

@jennifermiller2665 Месяц назад

@@RegsChannel ty so much.. This is very helpful

@RegsChannel Месяц назад

@@jennifermiller2665 no problem at all, you are most welcome!!!

@hhdstfc-fe1ur 5 месяцев назад

hi, after 1 year the skimmer it works with that repair?

@RegsChannel 5 месяцев назад

Hi there, the pool has not been opened for the season yet as we are still in winter, but the repair looks like it held well! No cracking as far as I can tell. Will know definitely in about 6 weeks or so

@hhdstfc-fe1ur 5 месяцев назад

@@RegsChannel good advice with solution with abs an links!hope you make more videos to help people

@RegsChannel 5 месяцев назад

@@hhdstfc-fe1ur thanks for the kind words! I do hope to keep growing the channel 😀

@user-ut2nr2jt6p 6 месяцев назад

C'est génial.😮

@RegsChannel 6 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@joeaustin7774 Год назад

Would it work to crush the pellets before adding the MEK? 6:14

@RegsChannel Год назад

Hey Joe! Sure, if possible the finer the pellet the more surface area would make contact with the MEK. This would speed up the rate it dissolves at. However once it's mixed and sealed in a jar you can keep using it. I still have some leftover in the jar from when I did the video and it's still perfect!

@joeaustin7774 Год назад

Great thanks for the info

@RegsChannel Год назад

@@joeaustin7774 no problem, hope it helps!

@mikezandy320 Год назад

Awesome video!! Can you use heavy gloves to smear the solution instead of the putty knife. That will make the job go faster and easier in such a small place. What is the name of those pellets that you used?

@RegsChannel Год назад

@@mikezandy320 thanks for the kind words! Ideally you are going to want to use a good solvent or chemical resistant glove when handling MEK. In terms of the pellets, you want to use 100 percent ABS. I used airsoft pellets. When using airsoft pellets if they are labelled as biodegradable, they are NOT 100 percent ABS. Hope that helps!

@hoalanaho 5 месяцев назад

Can you use MEK substitute?

@RegsChannel 5 месяцев назад

I personally have not tried a substitute but remember, you are trying to chemically "weld" the parts and the MEK allows the mixture to remain workable. Use the right tool for the job!

@GC-rj5yp 4 месяца назад

All I could find was MEK substitute and worked for me.

@north4961 25 дней назад

👍 Subb’d thanks 🇨🇦

@RegsChannel 25 дней назад

@@north4961 thanks for the support! Much appreciated!

@emmwhite3945 3 месяца назад

You rock❤️🛎🇨🇦

@RegsChannel 3 месяца назад

Well thanks for the kind words!! Much appreciated :)

@elistanger117 Год назад

Has the patch been holding one month in?

@RegsChannel Год назад

Hey there! Yes so far it has been great! It solidified/cured very well and feels just like the original skimmer material. Hope that helped!

@elistanger117 Год назад

1. This worked brilliantly and saved me thousands. 2. Used the same Colt BBs as used in the video and MEK which in Canada can be purchased from Canadian Tire. 3. Mixing the BBs in MEK will take overnight to properly blend. The benefit of using the Hayward Schmeer is that the ABS is much smaller and will blend with MEK more quickly. You can probably get the consistency in a couple of hours. Overall I am super grateful this video was produced. Thank you.

@RegsChannel Год назад

@@elistanger117 thanks for the kind words! Agreed this fix saved big bucks!!! And yeah the trick part is ensuring you are using pure ABS... I literally filmed an entire video where I tried to use "ABS+" printer filament. Needless to say it didn't work. I still have some of the mixture sealed in jar. It's the consistency of toothpaste but it's ready for action if the need arises!

@michaelsunderman2882 Год назад

How long does it take to set up? When can I put water back into the pool?

@RegsChannel Год назад

@@michaelsunderman2882 I gave mine about 3-4 days to fully set up and cure. I basically pressed my thumbnail into it after a few days, and when I realized it didn't leave a mark I knew it was setup enough. Been great since!

@karenmacera859 Год назад

Wouldn't it have been a lot easier to put in a new skimmer

@RegsChannel Год назад

Respectfully, I don't think so. I would need to cut out/dig out/remove the old skimmer, prep the area, install new gaskets, and re plumb the new skimmer. This involved sanding, prepping the area with MEK, mixing the schmear, and applying... Like 30-40 min of work vs. Hours. To each their own!

@texyat7388 3 месяца назад

@@RegsChannelNot to mention the enormous cost difference.

@RegsChannel 3 месяца назад

@@texyat7388 yes very true! This is one of the key reasons I started my own RU-vid channel, to try and help both empower folks and save them money!