Is a Gizmo really needed?

I guess I don't understand the purpose of a Gizmo in an AG pool.

Last year when we closed, we removed the pump and took it in the house. We lowered the water to below the skimmer & return, removed all the hoses between the pool, filter and pump to save them from damage from any freezing water that may be in them. This left the skimmer with a drain hole in the bottom for any water to run straight through. I would think that by using a Gizmo, it would allow water to pool in the skimmer and risk damage.

What am I missing?

Great question. I was wondering about this too. Maybe the people who are using them have IG pools?

I've been told to make sure I take the cover off the skimmer so that snow and ice can't build up on top. It'll just fill in then.:confused:

If you have any chance of water in your skimmer a Gizmo isn't a bad idea. I do NOT use one because
a) I use an AquaDor cover over the skimmer
b) I lower the water below the skimmer
c) I remove the pipe going to the skimmer so the bottom of it is open to drain.

Only once have I found any ice there, and immediately poured in hot water to clear it.

I would use them unless you want to be checking the skimmers all winter long to make sure that water hasn't found a way in. I typically find water in mine every spring regardless of what I do to try to seal them up. I haven't tried the AquaDoors, which sound great, but only if I don't have to lower the water level. But the first question on my mind after seeing the AquaDoor ad was, "What prevents ice on the surface from popping the covers off?"

Basically the Gizmo compresses as the water freezes in order to prevent the expansion of the water as it solidifies from cracking the skimmer. Based on my experience it works. So weigh the cost of one versus replacing the skimmer. With an IG pool and a cement deck, I think I'll use gizmos even if I find a way to keep the skimmers high and dry every winter just in case.

But this is all based on my experience with an IG pool, so I can't open a drain to allow water out of the skimmers. The skimmer covers themselves are strong enough to stand on, but have a finger hole which will allow water in. To cover this I cut a piece of plastic larger than the cover and place it under the cover and then secure the cover in place.

The question of aquadoors and skimmers / Gizzmos etc, has come up a couple of times today and there's something I haven't seen addressed yet. When you cover a pool with a solid cover, any rain, snow or ice on the cover raises the pool water level. If you have an open skimmer, the water will enter when it gets high enough, if you drain the pool far enough below the skimmer and are diligent about removing water from the cover, you can have a dry skimmer all winter, if not ...
Of course, mesh covers allow water to p*** through so the skimmer will fill if no aquadoor is in place.
I've noticed that the people responding to the 2 threads are talking about IGPs and AGPs yet we're not specifying which kind is being talked about (I realise that some people have specified), which may be part of the confusion, I base most of my comments on IGPs, esp when the type of pool isn't specified - maybe we should all add afew more words to our posts defining which type we're addressing - at least for the closings, the two close quite differently and what applies to one is totally wrong for the other. :)

I'm in the process of putting together a sticky for closing IG pools similar to what Watermom did for AGs. I'll post then solicit comments and additions. On the gizmo issue, I don't rely on that solely for expansion, I pack the skimmer with noodle type closed cell foam. Gives a lot more room for expansion. For the skimmer pipe, I blow that dry, inssert gizmo, then fill the pipe with RV antifreeze up to the pump inlet which in my case is higher than the pool water level. If the gizmo leaks the AF will run into the pool. Another step before the AF is to pressure test the line to make sure the gizmo threads don't leak...most people don't do that. I also don't drain below the skimmer because of ground water issues.
Al

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CarlD

If you have any chance of water in your skimmer a Gizmo isn't a bad idea. I do NOT use one because
a) I use an AquaDor cover over the skimmer
b) I lower the water below the skimmer
c) I remove the pipe going to the skimmer so the bottom of it is open to drain.

Only once have I found any ice there, and immediately poured in hot water to clear it.

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So, to clarify...for an AGP, if I lower the water below the skimmer and remove the pipe, I should still use one of those skimmer covers? And do you leave the skimmer cover on or not? I was told by one person to take it off as accumulated ice/snow weight would be bad. I suppose having it fill with ice/snow would also be bad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mom2Czars

So, to clarify...for an AGP, if I lower the water below the skimmer and remove the pipe, I should still use one of those skimmer covers? And do you leave the skimmer cover on or not? I was told by one person to take it off as accumulated ice/snow weight would be bad. I suppose having it fill with ice/snow would also be bad.

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The Aquador covers the skimmer port inside the pool. It looks like a Tupperware cover that snaps on.

I guess I still don't see the purpose with an AG pool.

Even IF the water level comes up enough to spill into the skimmer, any water that spills through will immediately drain out of the hole in the bottom. I actually see a greater risk of damage with a Gizmo in place - allowing the water to stay in the skimmer box to freeze.

Maybe I am relying on gravity too much!?!

I think others here have posted in past threads that they do not put anything in the AG skimmers, just leave it open and take hoses/pipes off so the water "drops" out - I'll probably follow that advice as well, but check periodically anyways to be sure it hasn't filled with misc debris that can result in ice buildup (misc leaves and sticks still drop all winter here)

Just a quick suggestion, if you leave the skimmer 'ungizzmoed' take the hose off of the bottom - an open hose is an open invitation to mice, chipmonks etc, some of their nesting material could block the hose and result in water in the skimmer, which could freeze and burst the skimmer. (it happens)

We put all the hoses in the basement with the pump. A rodent would have to jump 4 feet to block the skimmer opening.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by savdoc2

We put all the hoses in the basement with the pump. A rodent would have to jump 4 feet to block the skimmer opening.

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I say if he makes the jump, he should get to stay.:p