Skimmer leaks - above ground pool

Don't Ignore Skimmer Leaks

Long term warning: Don't ignore skimmer leaks / rust on an above ground pool.

Since day one I had issues with my skimmer leaking after installing my above ground pool. I have a widemouth skimmer and a butterfly gasket on a small 12x18 oval pool. Leaked from the beginning. Last year I purchased a new gasket, drained to below the skimmer and re-installed. Still had leaks. My theory is that my skimmer opening is positioned on a curve on a small oval pool, thus this area is not optimal for securing this skimmer setup compared to a more straight portion of the pool wall. Anyway, over time the pool wall had been rusting. Finally I discovered that rust had penetrated through one corner of the skimmer opening. The time for action was a long time ago but one more season could not be passed without the rust spreading to do damage that could not be recovered from. Once the pool wall integrity goes, the pool is at risk of collapsing.

Thankfully upon draining the pool below the skimmer level again I found that the wall still has good integrity with the exception of that corner. The rust was glaring on the outside though (no pics), but the inner wall still looked OK. I decided that I will relocate the skimmer when the time comes to replace my liner. 

 

 

For now I ground off all the rust, added a rust dissolver, then primed and painted. The corner I reinforced with caulk and tape. I am using a marine grade underwater caulk to cake onto the skimmer. I don't care how bad it looks now, I wanted no more leaks and relying on the gasket doing the job simply wasn't working. I caulked all around the liner, the screws and the inner skimmer plate. 

This is an unfortunate repair that has worked so far. If I have to drain and re-caulk annually I will, until the liner needs to be replaced. The marine-grade caulk is reported to last underwater and to adhere to vinyl and most plastics. Will provide updates. It is inconvenient to address this problem, but the lesson is - skimmer leaks should not be ignored.

Update: The caulk is still holding and the skimmer is leak free after two months.

Supporting video see below:

Books by Mark Ferdinand

• Fortune on the Spectrum –An Adventure Novel
• You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! –Harrowing Tales of Herpetology
• The Autistic Prankster –Enjoying the Fun Side of Autism
• Every Tiki has a Spirit
• Wild Boar: A Case for the Most Beautiful Game Animal

Beyond paperback Mark’s books can be purchased for Kindle, Android, and Apple devices.

Semi Above Ground Pool

Semi Above Ground Pool

I built a semi above ground pool for my son with autism. My son helped me dig the area for this pool!

Semi Above Ground Pool - Leveling

There are times when I cannot bring my son to the beach. Still, he needs more exercise and he loves swimming. I got quotes for in-ground pools but they wanted WAY too much money. I decided to build a semi in-ground pool.  I ordered the pool kit online and spent all of my spare time working on this project over a three month period. Finished just in time for winter!

Semi Above Ground Pool - Lavout, Supports and Pressure Plates

The project was well worth it. Having autism, my son does not have a lot of extra-curricular activities. Most of the time he is indoors playing videos on his tablet.  Pools have always been something that can take him away from that.

Semi Above Ground Pool - Wall installation and sand floor

We have used the pool all summer and we love it. Fall is around the corner so I hope we can continue to enjoy it for a couple more months here in South Texas.

Semi Above Ground Pool - Liner installation

Semi Above Ground Pool - Back Landscaping Begins

Semi Above Ground Pool - View 1 landscaping

Semi Above Ground Pool - View 2 landscaping

This is an oval, semi above ground pool from the pool factory. This pool had to be made level on sloping sand.






























You can watch a video that covers some of the installation process:

About me:
Texas author Mark Ferdinand, a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas has a son with autism that inspires him every day.  Mark’s experience enables him to bring a unique character to life in the world of fiction. With the increase of special needs characters as a trend in books, movies and television, Mark is able to approach the creation of such characters with a realism and respect not often seen in popular media.

After completing his first novel, Mark decided to compile a group of stories that brought him to the unusual occupation of snake venom extraction. For those like the creepy crawly reptiles and amphibians, these are tales from amateur fun to professional pitfalls.

Mark Ferdinand books:
Fortune on the Spectrum
You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! Harrowing Tales of Herpetology

Mark's books are also available in digital format from Amazon (Kindle) GooglePlay (Android) and iBooks (Apple devices). Also, feel free to ask questions about this semi above ground pool project.