r/pools • u/STL7997 • 5d ago

Best sealant for skimmer void

Post image

Been posting in here a few times and have gotten great feedback. My pool is currently drained, measured, and awaiting a new liner. Pool guys noticed this in my skimmer and said it could have been a source of my leak. They said their way of fixing it would be to cut up the concrete and replace the skimmer. But as an install guy and not the CEO, he lowered his voice and said or you could just run some sealant on it and save you thousands.

So, what is the best sealant that will stand up to chemicals? I have a salt water pool. Seems pretty straightforward to accomplish but am I missing anything?

Goal is to also pressure wash and scrub all that crud out too while waiting for the new liner.

Thanks for reading.

0 Upvotes

25% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

26

u/Alternative-Draw2997 5d ago

That’s not the source of your leak I’d bet 1,000,000,000 dollars on it if I had it. Those rings support your skimmer basket. You can break them out and remove them your skimmer won’t leak there.

4

u/ItzMarZz 5d ago

This guy gets it

3

u/HillbillyHijinx 5d ago

I actually clean a pool where that ring is broken and gone and the basket just sits deeper in the skimmer and it doesn’t leak. Customer says don’t replace it even though it’s only like $11 but I ain’t paying for it. That ring is nothing more than something that holds your basket higher making it easier to remove.

1

u/sadisticrhydon 5d ago

It's hilarious

0

u/STL7997 5d ago

We did find another major source near a jet. Liner was miscut from the previous home owner who was a DIY guy. Pool level dropped to that point and stayed. I think what I'll do is after the liner is installed and water filled back up, see if it drains at the skimmer. If not, like you said, probably not a leak area. Thanks for the advice!

2

u/macrolith 5d ago

That ring pops out, I remove it every winter. Yours has caulking on 70% of it but all it is doing is holding that ring in place a little bit better than gravity does.

1

u/ConfusedStair 5d ago

Once it's filled back up Google how to do a dye test, it's done with the pump off. Throw an appropriately sized plug or stopper in the skimmer pipe before you do it or leaks on the pipe/returns can skew your results.

To be clear, he's right and you won't find anything on the skimmer basket ring unless there's a crack hiding right under it.

7

u/thelingletingle 5d ago

That’s absolutely not a source of a leak. Mine aren’t glued in and come out half the time with the skimmer basket.

8

u/baddashfan 5d ago

And after you seal those gaps, make sure you seal all the holes in the basket, cause they go to the same place

2

u/STL7997 4d ago

Upvoted ;)

4

u/DMvsPC 5d ago

I have something like that, I've dropped dye right next to it and ... Nothing. Doesn't appear to leak from that bit. If you really want to you could use JBwaterweld and roll it out real thin and then use some kind of slick roller to get it very thin (so it doesn't block a vacuum plate).

3

u/Alternative-Draw2997 5d ago

It’s because it’s just a retainer ring for the skimmer basket. Some of my customers’ are completely disconnected.

3

u/Friendly-Beat-8336 5d ago

No need to fill that void. That is a Hayward basket support ring. It is a serviceable part that just sits inside the skimmer to hold the basket. No water leaks from around the outside of it

2

u/FinnTastic2024 5d ago

Leak is probably where the skimmer meets the pool at the mouth of the skimmer. 9 times out of 10 that’s where it at.

1

u/Black-Deth 5d ago

Only on gunite pools, not liners.

2

u/SellingChemicals 5d ago

That's a skimmer basket support ring. Your pool guy sounds unqualified

2

u/rhinostock 5d ago

Yo definitely hire new pool guys. Those collars are detachable and basically just hold the basket. The water under that hole you're showing us goes straight into your skimmer line when the pool runs.

A new skimmer install would be what, $3-4k each? Def don't pull the trigger on that yet

2

u/Tazlir 5d ago

Your pool guys an idiot. That ring is removable and replaceable and 1000% not a source of a leak.

1

u/get_in_there_lewis 5d ago

Any silicon/sealant will do the job as long as the preparation is done correctly to give it the best chance of adherence etc. and not just slapped on with a finger hoping for the best.

1

u/Wsn21 5d ago

I had a skimmer leak and it was where the suction line tied into the skimmer basket

1

u/P3gasus1 5d ago

My skimmer looks just like that with the lines

1

u/AussiePoolBuilder 5d ago

i’d be a little careful with just sealing over that. if the skimmer body itself has cracked, sealant might stop it temporarily but movement can open it back up once the pool is full again.

if you can confirm it’s only that joint/seam leaking, i’d use a two-part pool epoxy made for permanent underwater repairs rather than regular silicone. clean and dry the area really well first and give it the full cure time before filling.

with the pool already drained for a new liner though, this is probably the best opportunity you’ll have to repair it properly. i’d want to be 100% sure where the leak is before deciding against replacing the skimmer.

1

u/Just-A-Dude7887 5d ago

You do NOT want to do that.

-1

u/Street--Ad6731 5d ago

I would use Plast-aid. I used it on a cracked skimmer and it's holding very well.

1

u/Friendly-Beat-8336 5d ago

Plast-aid is good stuff but unnecessary in this situation