Best solution I found thank you very much Ill check back once this is done. Im not a handy man but am going to try this myself and will let others who may be challenged at repairing things how i did.
HEY MARK I'VE APPRECIATED YOUR SERIES ON POOL REPAIR..I'VE KNOWN NOTHING ABOUT POOLS TILL THE HOMEOWNER NEEDED THE SAND CHANGED IN FILTER SO I GOT INVOLVED AS I'M THE PROPERTY MAINTAINER BUT NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE POOL TILL NOW. CUSTOMER KNEW ENOUGH ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS TO GET ME STARTED THEN I WENT TO LOCAL POOL SUPPLY BUT A LOT OF INFO I CONFIRMED AND LEARNED ORIGINATED WITH YOU. THOUGH THE SAND REPLACEMENT THIS YEAR WAS SUCCESSFUL, THE CHALLENGE WE'RE HAVING FOR 3 YEARS HAS BEEN A LEAK WHICH WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY WHERE IS FROM. HE KEEPS HAVING ME ADD WATER WHEN LEVEL GETS NEARLY BELOW SKIMMER BUT WATCHING THIS VID MAKES ME THINK WE SHOULD LET THE WATER CONTINUE DRANING UNTIL THE POOK STOPS LOSING WATER THEN MAYBE WE CAN IDENTIFY THE SOURCE. IN OTHER WORDS IF IT WATER LEVEL FALLS BELOW WHERE WATER ENTERS SKIMMER THEN LEVELS OUT THERE I GUESS THAT MEANS ONE OR MORE OF THE THREE SKIMMERS HAS A CRACK...IF IT CONTINUES TO FALL THEN MAYBE THE RETURN PORTS OR THE LIGHTS..QUESTION : IF THE LEAK IS ISOLATED TO ONE OF THESE COMPONENTS, HOW CAN IT BE CONFIRMED ? SO IF WE SUSPECT THE SKIMMER IS CRACKED BUT NOT SURE BECAUSE NOT OBVIOUS IS THERE A PROCDURE TO CONFIRM ? SAME FOR THE LIGHTS ,ETC. THANK YOU.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies I HAVE WATCHED ALL THOSE VIDS BUT REQUIRE MORE SPECIFIC ADVICE ON HOW TO DETECT A LEAK IF YOU SUSPECT IT''S THE SKIMMER..I'LL WATCH AGAIN BUT THE CHALLENGE IS FINDING WHERE THE LEAK IN A SKIMMER IS IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT. SAME FOR A LIGHT IF THERE ARE 6 LIGHTS IN A POOL HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONE NEEDS REPAIR .THIS POOL I'M WORKING ON HAS SEVERAL LIGHTS AND 3 SKIMMERS ,( NOT TO MENTION THE DRAINS ), BUT I'M NOT A DIVER. I HAVEN'T SWAM IN A LONG TIME BUT SINCE I RUN I THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE TO HOLD BREATH FOR A COUPLE MINUTES TO INSPECT THE DRAINS WITH GOAL TO AT LEAST UNSCREW THE COVERS AND CONFIRM SUCTION ...NOT ONLY COULD I ONLY HOLD BREATHE A SHORT TIME, APPARENTLY THE BODY WASN'T CREATED TO SINK TO BOTTOM SO FREE DIVING WAS A FAIL.
@@matthewpolo227 In order to help I need more information because there are several different things to discuss in greater detail. If you would like to check out my patreon page I will be glad to help.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies I'M NOT YET CERTAIN I'M TAKING POINT ON THIS THE POOL SERVICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE HIRING A DIVER BUT THAT HAS NOT OCCURED YET SO I'M TRYING TO BE PREPARED IF I NEED TO GET FURTHER INVOLVED. THE CURIOUS GEORGE IN ME HAS GOTTEN INTERESTED IN YOUR INDUSTRY SO HOW DO I GET TO YOUR PATRON PAGE ?
@@araceli8933 Skimmers have two openings, one is 1 1/2” and the other is 2”. 1 1/2” is standard on most skimmers and the 2” opening is usually plugged. If your skimmer has two holes that are both open then you have a skimmer that is tied in with the drain line or a vacuum line and it has a throttle plate. If so, you will close one when you vacuum the pool. If you are repairing a skimmer like this do not seal either opening. Thanks for watching.
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas !!! Totally going to try it on my skimmer. We are having some humidity issues just above the ground area. I imagine it has something to do with the skimmer or its adjacent plumbing (since the dye test did not show any leaking) Thanks again for sharing:)
I followed your directions except I poured a 1 1/4 deep on bottom of skimmer . It has been 24 hrs now and it feels soft. Should I just leave it or poke holes in it or try to remove it and start over. I loved your video. Thanks
It never dried. Tonight checked on it and it was swollen up. Stuck screw driver in it and started pouring water and sand from hole. Pulled out schmere and bottom of skimmer is gone. I quess it never died and allowed water to seap through crack. We have had a lot of rain here. Is there anyway to fix skimmer now? Thanks
When working with schmear the surface needs to be dry and clean so it will bond and cure. Work with a 1/4 “ thickness at a time for best results. Once it dries you can add more to the repair. If your skimmer bottom is completely gone then you will have to replace the skimmer.
Will the Schmear pellets work on one of my 50 year old in ground pools if I following the full process? I honestly have no idea what brand they’re but definitely pvc product. Skimmer housings are white over and bottom of skimmer is black pvc. Thanks and appreciate your reply’s and videos!
We had a pool company fix our skimmers with the epoxy, it lasted about a year. Is there a way we can still do the schmear repair or would the epoxy need to be removed somehow first?
For best results l would recommend to sand off the epoxy. What is not removed, you can rough up the surface by sanding. This will make for a better bond. Thanks for watching.
Hi, thanks for the greast video. I have a broken skimmer, it broke on the bottom all around the drain hole, it's like the drain pipe that's connected to the skimmer made pressure on the drainage and broke and lift it. I'd like to know if i have to push it back ( in that case do you kindly have any idea on how to do it) or i can just apply the smear as it is ( i made it into an almost liquid paste, i suppose that way he can infiltrate all the cracks and seal them. Thank you kindly and keep up the good work!
Hi I recently purchase the Hayward Schmear pellets and M.E.K, while mixing was a chore and very time consuming I was able to dissolve all the pellets into a syrup consistency. After extending the pipes I poured the Schmear at about an 1” high. Within a few hours a skim formed on the top and it 😊felt rubbery. 2 days later it still felt rubbery so i poked a toothpick through the skim and MEK leaked out. After doing this for 7 days the Schmear finally harden. What did i do wrong? Was it the original depth ?. How long should a 1/4” take to cure?
Hi, I was wondering if I used a 2 part apoxy about a week ago, the leak has slowed down a bit, can I used the pebbles on top of it after sending it a bit to fix the skimmer or do I need to take off the apoxy completely and and sand it to nothing before applying your product ?
For the schmear to bond properly you want to apply directly on the surface, once it has been cleaned and sanded. I would not apply the schmear over the epoxy coating.
Hello great video . I will be doing repairs on my thermoplastic steps on a inground pool . There is blisters and small cracks . Will this product work as a filler befor painting ?
Can shaved pvc from a plumbing pipe be used instead of schmear? We drill out and recover pvc fittings which creates lots of pvc shavings. I need to repair my skimmer this weekend and can't wait on pellets to arrive.
It may or may not work, you can try a small section to test first. Keep in mind it may adhere, but will it hold permanently in the long run? Only time will tell. Thanks for watching.
I can’t get the pellets to breakdown into a creamy substance. I follow the mixing instructions and use a beater mixer to try and make the smear. I end up with a gravelly substance unfortunately. What’s the key to getting the substance creamy with the mek. Anxiously waiting your response Phil
You may need to add a little more MEK and just keep stirring until it gets creamier. This may take a few minutes. Do not mix too much at one time because you only have so much tooling time and the schmear will get hard. Also, verify you are using MEK.
I had a 300 gallon a day leak and found out it was my skimmers, but once I lowered water level and inspected them I do not see any cracks but see seams that might be the problem what do you think???
@@awesomemike3494 Fill the pool, then turn off the pump. With the water perfectly still, squirt some food coloring or dye directly on the crack or seam in question. If the dye gets sucked in, then you will know you have a leak. Thanks for watching.
Hello! Thank you so much for this useful video on repairing skimmer cracks. I have watched this from Mallorca, Spain. We have a cracked skimmer and want to repair it as per your instructions but we can’t find “Schmear” pellets here. The closest thing I have found is ABS pellets for 3D printing. Do you think this would work? Many, many thanks!
Hayward is an international company and you should be able to get schmear by Hayward at your local pool company or online. ABS pellets may work, but you may want to test first to see if the ABS will bond.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies thank you for your quick response. I have contacted the official distributor for Hayward in Mallorca and they tell me that, unfortunately, they don’t import the schmear pellets. I will try with another type and see what happens. Thanks again.
Hello, I’m currently trying to repair a crack at the bottom of my skimmer using Hayward schmear compound and MEK. I made the mixture little runny to cover the whole bottom of the skimmer. But it has been more than 48 hrs the mixture feels dry to the touch but the texture is still soft like silicone is that normal?
So we just had a brand new pool installed. There is a leak in the skimmer box on one of the inlet tubes on the bottom. 2 leak companies confirmed it. The first time they did the epoxy, and it failed after 2 months. They tried it again and it failed immediately. Now they are switching out the inlet pipe with the unused side. They are giving us a hard time. When they change the pipe, can I completely fill in the new unused inlet pipe with shmear? I want to make sure myself this is fixed. Thanks
Yes, you want to pour the schmear in 1/4” to 1/2” increments so that it will cure faster. If you pour thicker it will still cure, but it will take much longer. Thanks for watching.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies so they repaired our skimmer box. We had 2 pipes, 1 had the leak and the other was empty. They decided to switch the pipe to the empty one and cap off the bad inlet pipe, then completely covered it in epoxy to fill it in. I’m having a hard time trusting the epoxy fix. Can I schmear over epoxy to kind of “seal it all in”?
Will this product work on an above ground pool skimmer? My pool is only 3 years old and I don't want to have to replace the liner because of a crack in the skimmer.
You can replace the skimmer without having to replace the liner. The schmear can work on an above ground skimmer, however it would be cheaper and less hassle to replace the skimmer than to repair. If you need help just let me know I will be glad to help.
Mine is cracked badly in many places. I JUST replaced my liner without knowing how bad this basket was, or I would have replaced it while the liner was out. Can/Should I use fiberglass cloth to add rigid support under Shmear?
@@bcbarc7044 It is not needed, however if your skimmer is damaged really bad you may need to replace. Schmear does work well if used properly, when applying schmear layer it no more than 1/4 “ at a time. Once cured you can go over it again. Building up is fine, just don’t apply too thick. If you need schmear there is a link in the description of this video. Thanks for watching.
I know you have the pellets and I can get an MEK substitute locally, but my question is about the substitute. Will it be okay to use for this type of job?
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies Thank you so much for the info! The substitute MEK worked perfectly. When I dug out the epoxy that we had used in there for years, I found that some of it hadn’t even cured completely and there was a fairly large crack (big enough for me to stick my finger in) underneath the epoxy. While I’m a little concerned that this is a sign that the plastic of the skimmer is deteriorating, I’m certain that I bought some time because I put two rather significant layers of schmear in it. Boy, was it hard to work, but it certainly has been worth it. For the first time in years, we aren’t having to fill our pool at least a little bit every day (recently it was much more than a little bit). It’s obvious that the skimmer leak has been stopped completely. Hopefully, this will be a long term repair, but even if it isn’t, the savings on the water bill for the next few months will more than cover the costs. I’m so happy that you posted that video. If you hadn’t, I almost definitely would’ve been looking at having to dig out the skimmer in the very near future. If something goes south, I’ll let you know, but so far it’s looking really good!!
Jackhammer? Sounds good right about now.. trying to remove my old skimmer it’s stuck good! Tried to only remove the bucket half, no go. Tried to remove the entire assembly, also no go.. Any advice?! The damage is too far gone.
After I schmear the skimmer cracks and let it dry/cure, can I put a couple of layers of fiberglass around the skimmer to strengthen it against future cracks? If so, what would the prep be for the schmeared cracks before laying on the fiberglass? Thanks. Great videos!
You do not have to use fiberglass mesh on the repair, the schmear will bond to the skimmer if it is applied properly. Once the schmear is applied and has cured and you use mesh over the repair and schmear it again it will not hurt but it is not needed.
Hello Mark, We have an inground pool with vinyl liner and fiberglass steps with Jacuzzi feature. We are getting air bubbles coming out of one return from the pump. Any suggestions please?
It sounds like you have a suction leak. I made a video in regards to air bubbles in your pump, dealing with suction leaks. Here is the link, hope this helps. Thanks for watching. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-SiEOIxYpJ5g.html
There is a fairly large broken/missing portion on the wall of my skimmer. Can I put another material such as a piece of plastic over the broken area and then seal it all together as you show in the video?
I would recommend to replace the skimmer. This type of repair is possible depending on the damage. If you send a picture, I will be glad to take a look.
So you leave the 1.5" PVC adapter in permanently? I'm assuming that once you pour the schmear in it will bond that part as well. Also, how thick of a layer of schmear to add to the bottom? 1/2"? Thank you! (I wish we would have replaced the skimmer when we completely re-finished our pool and concrete decking 7 years ago, but I had never had a pool when we bought the house and had no clue)
The thickness can be poured in 1/4” increments so it can cure faster. You can layer after each pour has cured if needed. If you pour thicker it will just take a lot longer to cure but you will be okay. I would not pour more than 1/2” thick at a time. Thanks for watching.
Hello, thank you for a great video, question. I have an inground vinyl pool (~20,000g) and I'm losing 1/4" every night, so I know it leaks for sure. Haven't opened yet this season, so all pipes are still plugged. I let the water go down until it stopped just below the 2 skimmers, which is on the lower skimmer rectangular frame, looking from inside the pool. (On the first screw line from the bottom of frame) The skimmer seems to hold water inside it, where its bottom pipes are connected, so I suspect the issue may be on the edge or the top portion of the skimmer, or in the connection of the vinyl to skimmer? Do you think I should fill up water and do a dye test first, inside the skimmer and along the skimmer from inside the pool? Is that repairable with the Schmear/pool putty? Thank you!
I would recommend checking out our 4 videos "How to find a leak like a pro" that will help you determine what kind of leak you have. If you have any questions after feel free to contact me. You can watch the series here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r2j3tsKFy_U.html
I have trouble with the joint between my skimmer throat and the pool wall leaking. I have tried epoxy putty, flex seal, aquarium sealer and they all work for a few months but eventually fail! Any suggestions ? Thanks
How do you repair the tiles inside and outside of the skimmer? I tried the waterproof spray, caulking, and another liquid that you pour inside the skimmer? When I use this combination it works for one year or two years.
If you have a crack on your multiport valve it is best to replace, the schmear is not recommended for this type of repair. The schmear may bond, however this repair is under constant pressure and may eventually leak, and then you will have to replace anyway.
@@Tonykayemusic Yes, if your skimmer is cracked then you will have a leak but you can repair it. I have the schmear linked in the description of this video. Thanks for watching.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies ill def get this product and hopfully that will put an end to the water loss. I plugged the skimmer and turned its valve off as well to test for leak on that line. I suspect that thst crack is the main problem. Thanks for your reply and for making great comprehensive videos about pools.
A pool guy told me I can mix shaved pvc with M.E.K is the same thing as schmear pellets. Nobody in the USA has the schmear pellets. I ordered a month ago off the web. Supposed to be here on 22nd Aug. I know what's going to happen. They're gonna say they never came in. So I did the pvc and M.E.K but it's not breaking down. Any suggestions?
I would use the schmear because it works, I'm not sure about using PVC. I carry the schmear as well, however the manufacture has it on back order at this time. If you would like to check back I should be able to get it for you when it becomes available.
If this is an above ground pool then yes. If this is an inground pool you can change the gasket without lowering the water, however it is easier if the water level is lowered.
@@kathleenadamski5439 Schmear is made to repair skimmers, drains or any other white goods. If your skimmer is cracked then you need to repair because it’s probably a leak. If your pool is leaking, l have made several videos on how to find a leak in your pool titled “How to find a leak like a pro”. There are 4 parts to this series, start with part 1 then you can watch parts 2,3 and 4 if needed and hopefully this will help. Thanks for watching.
Our leak stops right at the lip of the skimmer. Inside the skimmer, water has gone down level with the connecting PVC pipes. My best guess is we need a Schmear. Confirming, the pellets are simply ABS, correct?
Big rains last week filled the pool and skimmer. I've not run the pump for a week. Pool level unchanged. Recently replaced a broken valve and suspect this area. Yet no leaky water. Head scratching
1 bag of schmear has enough material to repair several skimmers. Here is a link for the schmear. www.hallmarkpoolsupplies.com/p-8735-white-schmear-compound.aspx
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies I too would like to know the quantity/weight of the material that makes up the schmear product you sell. I tried a few stores here in Australia that Hayward said carried their products, and everyone looked at me as though I had 2 heads, even though I don't live in Tasmania. This below from another poolstore website in the US of A, regarding the Schmear product: "Description Hayward ECX1308 White Schmear Compound This is a bag of Schmear white pellets that is used with a PVC cleaner to make PVC repairs on equipment like valve ports, cracked gauge threads, and skimmers (freeze ups). It can repair most leaks or breaks in almost any plastic part made of ABS. Cracked ports can easily be fixed using our part #SPX1091Z9 adapter. Schmear pellets are basically ground up ABS resin or pieces of broken baskets, etc. It is then dissolved in a solvent called M.E.K. This may sometimes be called primer or PVC cleaner. Schmear is similar to PVC solvent cement, which has been used successfully to repair leaking PVC joints, etc. However, Schmear is better suited for repairing broken ABS products." 🌏
1 bag of schmear has enough material to repair several skimmers. Here is a link for the schmear. www.hallmarkpoolsupplies.com/p-8735-white-schmear-compound.aspx
@@jamestumminelli8737 No, we are currently awaiting for more to arrive. I will comment as soon as it's back in stock, hopefully within the next 7-10 days.
The skimmer in the video did not have an equalizer, however some skimmers do have equalizers and in most cases you can remove the cover. Use a shop vac to dry out the skimmer. If needed, you can also lower the water in the pool a little more. Thanks for watching.
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies I think I need to put a stopper in the equalizer port. I vac out the water and it keeps flowing in. I'm afraid to go lower in the pool since it's fiberglass. Thanks for the tip.
I have several projects for which Schmear would be perfect, starting with my skimmer. But my experience is the same as another commenter who can't get the pellets into a creamy state. I have followed your instructions to the letter, have tried more MEK, have stirred patiently and endlessly but can't get past the "gravel" your other customer mentioned. I know you must have your own tricks to get to the creamy/tooth-paste , please share in detail. I think the mixing process deserves its own video. Do NOT tell me to add more MEK (yes, it is pure MEK) or tell me to just keep stirring. I want this product to work. So far it hasn't. Bennett Gates
@@HallmarkPoolSupplies Yours. Hallmark, from a local pool repair shop. The recommended ratios of meK to schmear still didn't work on a second try. here's what I finally did. Used equal parts MEK and schmear, stirred for a while, then started shaking/stirring vigorously every twenty minute or so, putting the lid back on. After about six hours it was getting "maple syrupy" but still filled with lumps. I left the lid off for an hour, got it thick enough to brush on my vertical cracks. Pretty rough. Gave up and went to dinner, lid off. When I got back, there was a skin over the schmear, when I lifted off the skin, I found "mayonnaise" underneath. Stirred it up, poured it out on a board and used a plastic trowel to cut out the '"popcorn," painted/troweled on the mayo with a perfect result!. A couple of suggestions: If you have a better technique, include it with the video. I really want this product to work, the recommended proportions can make you crazy. Maybe sell the schmear more finely ground. When it smooths out, it's truly is a great product. Bennett Gates.
@@bennettgates9260 Glad to here that you finally got it. Hayward schmear is the only schmear I carry. Hayward's schmear use to be slow dissolving, so when you mix it you would close the lid on the jar and wait 24 hrs before it was ready to use. Hayward changed the formula to a quick dissolving schmear that is ready to use in minutes. The only schmear they have today is the new formula and it also should have came with instructions. I don't make the schmear, Hayward makes it and there are other companies that also make schmear this is why I ask what brand did you get.
