Closing Question - Aqua Cover(skimmer)

[waste]

Good morning all. Aqua doors are nice, but not essential for most pool owners (the people who should seriously consider one are those with fill water issues - metals etc in well water or people with shallow wells that can't handle refilling the pool without running the well dry).
On installation: I would change the faceplate with the water up, draining and then refilling is silly. Watermom, the faceplate change is a one time deal, the new faceplate has a ridge on the outside edge to hold the platic Aquadooor securely in place to prevent pool water from entering the skimmer, it's the plastic door that is installed in the fall and removed in the spring.
The nice thing about an aquadoor is that the skimmer stays dry all winter, no water = no ice to expand and crack the skimmer. However, I would still use a skimmer freeze protecter (Gizzmo), just in case the door failed or water seeped in through the lid.
On the topic of Gizzmos, they make a blowthrough one that allows you to vacate the skimmer line without draining the pool (other companies make similar units, but the ones I've seen have a major flaw, they don't have a sealed tube running through the center, so, if the unit does it's job and gets crushed a thaw will allow water to enter the skimmer line and a subsequent refreeze could damage the line - similarly, some off brand Gizzmos havr a hole in the bottom of them and are subject to the same problem)
I would use an aquadoor, at least 1/2 gal antifreeze in the line, and a Gizzmo - redundant, yes, but a lot cheeper than installing a new skimmer or replacing a ruptured line. Just my $.02
EDIT This is for IG pools (mostly) - AG pools can be left open, unless there's fill water problems.