What Does a Pool Skimmer Do?

Think of a pool skimmer in a residential swimming pool like you would a gutter in a larger public pool: It helps to clean by skimming the water and capturing floating debris such as leaves, flower petals, dirt, twigs, dead insects, and oil (sunblock) while it's still on the surface of the water. Pool skimmers are filters that capture floating debris before it can sink to the bottom of the pool.

The most basic type of skimmer is a hand-held pool skimmer net—but you would need to use this type every day and several times a day to maintain a pool. Skimmer boxes, floating skimmers, and robotic skimmers make this chore much more manageable. For example, most skimmers in in-ground pools are built into their upper sides where the suction draws debris and traps it.

Read on to find out more about pool skimmers and the various types you can choose from.

What Is a Pool Skimmer

A pool skimmer is a device that removes contaminants from the top layer of a body of water. At the front part of a skimmer there will be a floating door or weir, the weir's job is to restrict water flow into the skimmer and only allow the top layer of water in, carrying the contaminates with it.

A weir also amplifies the suction of the skimmer to the top part of the water only, increasing its effectiveness.

Types of Pool Skimmers

Skimmers for In-Ground Pools

A surface skimmer is typically made of plastic (PVC) or precast concrete, including a tank with a projecting throat on its upper side. This type of skimmer, because it is built with the pool can cost on average $1,500 - $3,000.

The pool weir an integral part of most skimmers, performs the skimming action, which regulates the amount of water entering the skimmer. Since the weir adjusts to permit only a thin layer of water to spill over, water is pulled off the surface quickly―keeping a large part of the water surface clear in pools with skimmers.

• Clean the skimmer daily to allow your filter to work as efficiently as possible.
• One skimmer can keep about 500 square feet of its surface clean.
• Must be installed with an equalizer line, a pipe connecting from the bottom of the skimmer basket through the pool wall and into the water.
• The equalizer helps to prevent air from being sucked into the system if evaporation causes the water level to drop below the weir level.

Above-Ground Pool Skimmers

Because above-ground pools have thin walls, floating pool skimmers are sometimes used, but other options include units that hang on the pool's edge. These types of skimmers are significantly cheaper than their in-ground cousins and cost around $150. To keep skimmers for above- and in-ground pools working properly, try to clean out the skimmer basket daily during swim season.

Robotic Pool Skimmers

In recent years, floating and robotic pool skimmers have entered the market and offer an alternative to a stationary model. Operated by batteries or solar power, these automatic skimmers float on the surface of a pool, collecting debris as it moves through the water.

Devotees of products such as the Solar Breeze NX claim it cuts down on time and work, especially in areas prone to winds carrying leaves and debris into the pool or regions with lots of insects. It can also lower the cost of energy bills, as it is designed to work independently of the pool pump. There is a wide range of robotic pool skimmers that also vary in capability and setup requirements. For this reason, they can cost from $500 for a more basic setup to well over $2,000.

• The whirlpool-like SkimmerMotion is designed to connect to a robotic pool cleaner (vacuum), and then collect surface debris as it floats through the pool.

Solar Pool Skimmers

Most solar pool skimmers are automatic or robotic models. Solar pool skimmers allow you to keep your swimming pool clean while using free renewable electricity from the sun instead of power docking them or using battery power.

Many models will enable you to program them and put your pool skimming on a schedule without worrying about them. Similar to a robotic pool skimmer, solar skimmers come in a variety of styles and capabilities so expect to pay around the same as a robotic skimmer for a solar skimmer.

Skimmers for Spas and Hot Tubs

Skimmers for redwood hot tubs usually have no basket; instead, they skim the surface and pull debris to a plastic screen. Some portable spas have skimmers with built-in cartridge filters. Hard-sided hot tubs and spas have built-in skimmers that continuously clear the water's surface, which provides a cleaner water quality overall than manual skimming net options for portable and inflatable hot tubs.

What Size Pool Skimmer Do I Need?

The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance and the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals agree that there should be a minimum of one skimmer per 400 sq. ft. of pool surface area.

Should You Add Chlorine Tabs to a Pool Skimmer?

While some pool owners claim that placing their chlorine tablets―known as hockey or chlorine pucks―right in the skimmer basket cuts down on time, many pros advise against this. The high concentration of acid can break down parts of the filter, possibly causing a need for more frequent replacement. Instead, opt for a separate dispenser called a chlorinator or use a floating chlorine dispenser that distributes chlorine as it floats throughout the pool.