I bought an AquaDoor last year. I had trouble getting my face plate on with the water up. Admittedly I was trying to do it hanging upside down from my AG deck but still... The water seemed to keep it from sealing.

So I drained it below the vacuum port. I still had to use a rubber mallet to get it to go on. I didn't know about using lubricant.

I just didn't get the point of having the door if I had to lower the water level anyway. With no water and having removed the hose from the skimmer I couldn't see the point of a gizmo either. But someone on the forum once mentioned using styrofoam balls so I did that although logically it didn't make sense either.

Lest you all think I'm odd, since I'm not all that comfortable with the care and keeping of such a huge investment, I tend to over compensate I guess.

This spring I couldn't get the thing off. I finally had to use a screw driver and prayed that my hand was steady, I didn't ram it through the pool wall or drop the thing into the liner bed.

I'm gonna get an ulcer yet trying to do everything "right".

CoffeeBean