Vacuum Skimmer Cap: Pros & Cons?

[TwistyKat]

Are there any risks or concerns with using the skimmer cap which you attach your hose to for vacumming an IG pool? Too much suction? Wear and tear on the plumbing?

When I first starting maintaining my pool I had some help from someone who set me up with a Hayward leaf canister which attached to the inlet in the skimmer with a short hose. We also had to modify the end of the regular hose to fit onto top of the canister because of it's non-standard size.

Well now the hose is failing...so I can either get a new hose and modify the end again to fit the canister, or just skip the canister and get a skimmer cap and connect the new hose to that. The skimmer cap sounds easier, but I thought there were reasons why he had me do the vacuuming with the leaf canister.

Thoughts?

-- Gary

[JohnT]

No difference to the plumbing whether you use the cap or plug into the skimmer. Same amount of water going through the same size hole.

[CarlD]

Yeah, plus they allow you to leave the skimmer basket in so junk is caught there that the pump basket would have to catch.

[imfignewton]

Try this canister from Pentair it uses a regular hose.

www-1.pentairwater.com/jwcs/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&produ ctId=25409&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=18101&sub_category_rn=29153

[TwistyKat]

Thanks for the responses. I'm wondering if we did it that why because of the age of the skimmer (25years - original) and the fact that some patching with epoxy was done to plug up some cracks.

I've been maintaining my pool for four years now and have learned a lot in those four years, but this way of vacuuming has been routine maintenence and I forget the reason why.

Also, thanks for the Pentair link. I might go that route.