Skimmer Socks - Thoughts???

[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!

[rnjng]

yeah! skimmer sock? good!!!! I used one last year(wife's old knee high). I didn't have one when I first opened pool this year, and was running the filter for 3 days straight, pool was clearing up, but just not as clear as it was last yr. So I bought some skimmer socks(knee highs) and wow, 2 days after that water was very crisp, and some funky stuff in the sock, that you couldn't see. So I'm sold on the skimmer sock, or knee high, but they both do the same thing...For the pool that is.

[salinda]

Here's one thing that confuses me about the socks. I have some that I rarely use. One of the problems is that they are really difficult to stretch over the basket. Maybe I have larger skimmer baskets than most of you? I can't imagine stretching a knee-hi over. I am guesstimating the basket mouth to be 10-11" in diameter

[joliecharlie]

Queen size knee highs are easier to stretch over the skimmer basket than regular knee highs. I buy 3 pair for $1 at Dollar General or Fred's.

[waterbear]

Makes sense--queen sized knee highs for full figured skimmer baskets!

[CarlD]

Makes sense--queen sized knee highs for full figured skimmer baskets!

Ok, now we are getting JUST a little strange here!

[waterbear]

Ok, now we are getting JUST a little strange here!

And you just noticed this for the first time?