Skimmer Socks - Thoughts???

[fission7x]

Well, it's been 24 hours with skimmer socks in use.
WOW! Talk about bugs and debris!
About a thousand flying ants that would have made their way right to the filter!
It's off to the store tomorrow to get another set.
Change 'em, then wash them. Repeat the next day.

Thanks Y'all!!

[shadowman]

Well, we may have a short pool season up here in Oregon, but I'm glad we don't have the bugs. All I get is a dozen crickets a week or so and a few clumsy bees. I think I'll try the skimmer sock in the spring though, we do have tons of pollen.

[KurtV]

I just use knee-highs. Wal-Mart has a box of six pairs for about a buck and a half here. They don't last as long as the skimmer socks and I don't think they're quite as fine a mesh, but I get a week or so out of each and my wife picks them up at the grocery instead of us having to make a special trip to a pool store (though I think some Wal-Marts carry the skimmer socks).

[CarlD]

In celebration of the 4th of July, this morning I tossed the old skimmer sock and put in a new one.

Sorry I didn't invite you all over to party...

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[cschnurr]

I started using a skimmer sock this year. Initially, I was having some sealant applied to the concrete deck so I wanted to minimizes any of the sealant getting to my sand filter. But when I saw all the gunk it caught, I will continue to use them.

My pool has a vacuum port on the side pool wall that by-passes the skimmer when vacuuming. I'm considering putting a sock on my pump filter as well. Any thoughts?

[waterbear]

I would be leary of putting a sock on the pump strainer basket. If it got pulled off and into the impeller it could damage your pump. A safer solution would be to get an inline leaf trap. Some of the better ones have filter bags that can be used instead of the basket to collect finer particles. I believe the Hayward leaf canister offers this option and the Pentair (Rainbow) one has a cartridge filter option for collecting fine debris. IMHO, a leaf trap is a MUST for any vacuuming done directly into a vacuum port because it keeps the big stuff out of the pump and filter and keeps your filter cleaner for a longer period of time.

[fission7x]

If anyone has any doubts about skimmer socks, I would tell you to perform this little experiment before you definitively make up your mind.
Install skimmer socks on your skimmer baskets and then cut your grass.
I figured I'd find a bunch a small grass clippings that would normally get through and I'd really be happy.
I cut my grass yesterday and checked the socks this morning. What I found was amazing! The socks were full of the finest clippings and silt you could imagine! On one skimmer, it was about 1/8th of an inch thick!

I'm sold! skimmer socks are here to stay.
Yes, they are just one more maintenance item, but IMHO, well worth the trouble!