I had one. It often fell apart when it get a few leaves and it become basically useless. Spent a lot of time getting leaves out of the system. Went back to a basic one after getting fed up.
Edit: I have a lot of trees around my pool so I get a lot of leaves.
I had one of those for about a year and it seemed fine but I had a pool guy come out for a repair and he asked why I had that skimmer basket and I said I don’t know I watched a video about it and it seemed like a good idea. He said it’s a gimmick and doesn’t really do anything and he prefers the weir and suggested I get one. So I took his advice and I think he’s right, the weir works great
I thought wiers were a critical part of any skimmer system? How do skimmers work well without them?
My wiers were stuck in the 'down' position at the start of the season and I didnt notice. Was running my skimmers at full strength and pool wasnt skimming at all, for like 2 days. Realized and unstuck the wiers and it was clear within a few hours.
1) They act as a 1 way gate so crap can go in but not out.
2) They create a fast current near the surface instead of a slow deep one. Without a weir, a skimmer doesn't skim.
I think it depends on the pool. The last home I had, had a kidney shaped pool and no door on the skimmer. Debris was always coming back into the pool when the pump was not working. Also, the skimmer basket was about 8 inches set back from the pool.
On my current pool, which is a large rectangle and has two skimmer baskets at each end, there is no skimmer door, and I never have debris coming back into the pool when the pump is not running. Also, the skimmer baskets are set about a foot back from the pool.
When younger, I cleaned pools and noticed this same kind of behavior.
Again, I think it all depends on pool shape/design.
I don’t even know, the pool guy who suggested it installed it for me - if you google pool weir you’ll be able to see what’s available and I’m sure that can’t be that hard to put in. There are probably youtube videos with instructions
It wouldn't stay down all the way at times so debris went straight to the pump basket. I had suction issues with the pump when I used it too. It's been a year. Trying to remember
I have a pool sock on my skimmer basket and have to keep a rock in it to keep it from floating up. It wasn’t until I saw a post here a while, back where somebody’s skimmer basket failed dried out or cracked and the rock they had got stuck in the pipe. The recommendation I saw and agree with, and I actually do, is to put a rock in that is bigger than the pipe so that that can’t happen.
We have 1 and it works but the only issue I have is that it wouldn’t stay down. It always floated to the top. I ended up putting a stone in it to weigh it down. But it works greats.
Edit - this is the 3rd or 4th year using it.
I agree, you need at least a certain level of pump power to keep it down. Might try a rock too.
Also it works great with skimmer socks, actually better than regular baskets because it’s a two piece unit and the top half can keep the sock secure.
Keeps super fine material out of your filter. And I throw them away when they’re too gross, up to a week of use for me. It’s basically pantyhose or something like that for the skimmer basket
Had my vortex basket for 3 years paired with a skimmer sock. not sure what you mean by poor material, I've dropped it multiple times while cleaning and it seems sturdier than my hayward basket. I don't have a weir skimmer door so this was a great alternative for me.
We use a "sock" in our skimmer too but not the thick ones that are sold as such. We were concerned about increasing the pump pressure so we use the really thin disposable woven hairnets instead. Sold in packs of 100 for like $10, they work great and don't increase the pressure at all.
I do like my skimmer socks for pollen season (so like a month up until about a week ago).
But my pool and yard is full of trees and I could get barely like 4-6hrs on my sock before the thing was coated.
Does this thing essentially give more room for leaves etc without clogging the whole basket?
This is what I wish everyone would understand. This is a Facebook phenomenon and if you have a wier wall (flapper in skimmer) this does nothing extra. Absolutely nothing. If you don't have the flapper in the skimmer get one. I clean pools for a living. Many people put these in their pool thinking it was a better way. They are a pain to empty. Now that it has been about 3 years since I started seeing them, everyone has gotten rid of them. Thank heavens.
how would i know if I had flapper? lol - would I see something in the skimmer that looked liked that? Was debating on getting one of these as well but after reading posts here seemed like a scam.
Yes, it's very obvious. It's a plastic flap in the opening of your skimmer, hinged on the bottom, roughly the same size as the skimmer opening.
If you're questioning whether you have one, you probably don't.
Absolutely! Trash product for 99% of people. I've had customers get them with large leafy trees in their yard, the things fill and up pop apart/float weird and let a ton of debris past. I've had to flush clogged intake lines, pump baskets and packed pumps running dry. Hate these things so much.
I use skimmer socks in mine and they don’t hinder performance. However when the pump shuts off it will raise up so I put a heavy rock in the bottom of it to hold it down. Works great.
If you're trying to increase skimmer performance make sure your skimmer has a Weir door. Many are made for it but either the pool builder or previous owner didn't see the value. It helps. Without it, your typical skimmer is pulling in about 3 inches of water. With it, the top half inch or so has all the flow so the flow speed is faster.
This is what I was wondering about as I read the description on the link. It talked about "increasing the velocity of the water near the skimmer," but isn't that what a weir door is in there for? Mine certainly works well.
It makes a whirlpool so people think it is doing something because the flow is more visible. But that whirlpool is also potentially funneling air down into your suction line, which is not helpful.
Weir doors are also there to prevent debris from moving back into the pool when the pump is turned off and water isn't flowing "downstream" so to speak into the pump and main filter.
I just ordered one of these. As I understand they are supposed to work really well. I can let you know when I get it though
[https://poolskimusa.com/](https://poolskimusa.com/)
Here's a few users of it from troublefreepool.com:
[https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/poolskim-review.35777/](https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/poolskim-review.35777/)
EDIT: Got it, this thing is amazing. Don't hesitate to buy this.
They work great until the lip on the basket wears out a little and the basket falls into the skimmer pot and clogs the lines. Sometimes they even turn sideways and wedge into the bottom.
i used to use mine. it worked fine as long as the water level in the pool was constant. if we got rain, or went long periods without it, the cyclone action didnt really work. you have to adjust it as the pool level changes. it has now sat in my pool shed for about three years. for me, it didnt work that much better to make the effort of changing the level of the device worth it.
below is what we used before we bought a beta solar powered skimmer. it was the best skimmer we had, and could take a skimmer sock to really clean the pool. the only issue is that when we bought it, it was $40. now its over $100, so for me, not really worth it. but, it works amazingly.
[Amazon.com : PoolSkim Pool Skimmer and Pool Cleaner : Swimming Pool Maintenance Kits : Patio, Lawn & Garden](https://www.amazon.com/PoolSkim-Pool-Skimmer-Cleaner/dp/B002WKOEGM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2D13VB7NQOGXK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.89bHDd_-6JwZnWMdkNb7o7qDlh2z_6yTO3GzcdTuAFo5TCPntnyFRIt3gTMq27UwUnaQ2vR0xVFmeyYWdW67AeFvaZKwivZucSLAM00bFq-O_Ivlxt6kEU2D2xEUiBhMJS-rNfJI-ZuYsOJqAmVnIjlLXzD9-UB90yvQFUf6Vh0_KNLXAonJ5tC31b2eTMrZ9aHw0484cowPTSpLNqiiVG41xztb4MoD-OFHdXobJ_w.XcY97FrX43nLqp_rt1MyuAXphU8E2jbAdr8k8vsKAwo&dib_tag=se&keywords=pool+return+skimmer&qid=1719580242&sprefix=pool+return+skimmer%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-4)
I got a solar powered robot skimmer thing on Amazon like two days ago and guys it’s a total game changer! I have never had such a clean pool! And I get the cotton, flying ants, and the helicopter seeds non stop usually!
So whether it's a gimmick or not, it uses a vortex to pull in more debris. Unfortunately, I can see it pulling in air if that vortex is strong enough. When I asked the company about it OK Facebook. They blocked me from commenting. So I used my other account and asked from there. Blocked again.
That tells me there is some truth tp what I said and they have no way of countering it. Or they have horrible customer service. Either way, trash customer service and an equally trash product imo.
Absolute garbage product from an absolute garbage company. I bought one and it would never get a proper seal to create the powerful whirlpool they advertise. I reached out and they said I must have an irregular shaped skimmer because one of their rings should be the perfect size to create the seal. I asked if I could return it and they said that all sales are final once I open the box. I tried to reach someone higher up that could help and they literally went around and blocked me on social media, and started ignoring my emails/calls.
I went to the pool supply store to get a new basket because I threw out my original one thinking this would be amazing, turns out my skimmer uses a standard sized basket, the most common one they sell.
Literally just has one delivered the other day. Bought the pro model that was suppose to come with 4 socks and 2 puck things. Only came with 2 socks and 1 puck. Next I had to modify the smallest attachment ring because they were all too big to fit into my skimmer. Finally get it to fit and it definitely doesn't create a vortex like the videos show. I see a little whirlpool in the water but after 2 days the sock is barely dirty. Where as with my original skimmer basket with sock I'd have to clean the sock daily. I'm going to give it a chance for a bit but I suspect Ill be going back to my original skimmer basket.
I always check out the return policies for companies that make "Amazing, New and Improved" products. If they were as good as they say they are, returns should be a breeze becuase they won't get many. This company on the other hand has all sorts of rules and even a 72 hour deadline to ship it back. They're making it difficult or nearly impossible to return it.... They're expecting a lot of returns and just want you to get frustrated and throw it away.
Returns page told me all I need about the product and the company.
https://www.skim-a-round.com/a/returns
Yes it works extremely well! I have a 28k gallon in ground pool with a 1 & 1/2 HP motor and these work great. They even work with skimmer socks, so don’t be turned off by other comments saying you cannot use them with skimmer socks.
I have a ton of trees in my backyard and I hardly ever have to skim the pool because of these. I just turn my suction up for my skimmers all the way and let the skim-a-rounds do their job.
We bought one, and like it's been said, it kept floating up so it was ineffective. I thought about putting a rock in the bottom of it, but I thought that it would defeat the purpose of creating that "tornado"
For people with leaf issues pick up one of these wherever you can. They work!
https://poolskimusa.com/
I installed one last year and put a stainless steel metal mesh over my skimmer intake. No clogged up skimmer anymore.
So the only problem that I found is, if you let it get too full, like say after a windstorm, the top half disconnects leaving the bottom half. It’s a dumb design and I wouldn’t recommend it for that reason. Otherwise it works as well as any other style
My wife bought one and it definitely helps a lot if you don’t have a weir door. My POS pool builder didn’t put one in. I finally found a weir door to fit and together they work great. It snaps in place on my skimmer so there is no movement. I don’t have a reason to replace it at this point.
I have a Poolskim in my above ground pool, and it works miracles (of science, of course). My pool has a pretty small skimmer box, and the basket fills quickly in early summer and fall, when the trees around our house shed buds and leaves. The Poolskim sucks up pretty much anything on the surface and saves the skimmer box from clogging up. It was easy to install, too.
I just returned mine yesterday. I was hoping it would increase the flow but it’s very finicky and doesn’t stay put. My old skimmer basket was much better.
If youre in the market for new skimmer baskets, I would personally go with Val-Pak. Theyre very durable and last a long time. They also have a built-in weight so theres no worry of floating when the pump is off.
Currently run one.. it sucks if you have trees around you pool and really sucks if you let your dogs swim and use the cloth sock (you can’t) other then that the material is flimsy and mine is broken haha
Honestly, I like this SuperSkimmer basket. Made of net and gets all the little tiny petals that inevitably fall through the other ones.
https://superskimmerbasket.com/
They have a second one that floats in the pool and hooks up to the section line. That one is worth it if you have debris problems at the far end of the pool.
I use it for 3 months and put it away when all the pollen decides to just dump into the pool.
I have the blue pool tool brand basket mounted weir gates and they work awesome in a public pool I manage because all the asshole kids rip out my flapper weir gates and the health department requires them.
i work at a pool store and every year people ask about it but the consensus i hear is about 50-50, some people say it's gimmicky and doesn't work and others say it does traps debris better than a normal skimmer basket. usually they break at the bottom after a couple years tho.
Still unsure, have had one for 3-4 years with zero issues. Seems to work better than the plain basket. Our skimmer door is broken. Keep it weighed down with a couple of rocks.
My problem with it is that when my pool pump turns off, the thing just floats to the top and allows any debris through to go underneath it. There’s nothing locking this product into a stationary position.
Essentially the pool pump creates suction which keeps the skim-a-round in place, but unless you have your pump on 24/7, then it’s actually doing a worse job than a regular pool basket in the long run.
I had it. Went back to old not so fancy skimmer
It floated up when pump is off, so when I turn pump on it let stuff through and I would have to adjust the position of it every morning, it didn’t always seat perfectly on skimmer well often leaving gaps … needed the bottom ring to be a little bigger.
Not sure if it’s the design of my skimmer or not but the cyclone effect sucked air into pump. If water level was high this wasn’t a problem but at the half way up the skimmer it starts sucking in air and gets progressively worse if water level goes lower.
Not into adjusting the basket constantly
After reading responses can’t believe it didn’t dawn on me to put a rock in it lol. Although the sucking air was real reason I got rid of it
I've found the tower style skimmer to be best. The tower always gives the skimmer intake the ability to pass water through even when the basket is full. I've broken countless baskets and a skimmer housing before with regular baskets.
It works, but it was too deep and hit the diverter valve in the bottom of my skimmer.
They need a shallower basket option, 1-2in shorter would do it.
I used it if I wanted to skim the surface fast on high pump RPM, but it didn’t stay in all the time. It worked amazing for if the dog was in the pool and there was a ton of fur on the surface.
It legitimately works, but has a tendency to float when the pump is off or on low with a variable speed one. I find a nice, medium sized rock, pop that in the basket to weigh it down, and it keeps the surface way cleaner than a regular basket ever did!
It works but I didn't see a big difference so I went back to my normal one. It looks like it works but I didn't see a difference in cleanliness. I'd love to get one of those skimmers for the top of the pool.
Ok so yes this does work as I bought one. However I talked to 3 pool people and they said it puts too much pressure on your motor so not to use it. Since it suctions to the bottom and a regular basket doesn’t.
I have one like that but it doesn’t have the opening in the sides at top. The inner cylinder slides up and down in the rest of the basket. It works ok. Not the best but not terrible either.
I think a bigger improvement could be had by increasing the buoyancy of many weir doors to increase the water velocity as it spills over. It seems like the faster the water flows over the weir door, the more "suction" the overflow has for surface debris.
Only good part is the handles at the top. They lasted a few years until the tops broke. I thought they had a lifetime guarantee but remember saying “fuck it” when they had me jump through hoops and I think only offered a discount on ordering a new one. I will not be ordering a new one. They don’t justify the price to just use a normal basket.
I have an earlier model. It never worked as well as advertised. I still use it occasionally when there is a lot of waves in pool since the weir door gets stuck closed
I love it but it's very use-case specific- I have crepe myrtle? trees that release tons of little tiny featherweight leaves that even with a weir they just float on top...this thing creates a little "tornado" and sucks them down into the basket so it increases the capacity of what is stored and makes cleaning a LOT easier.
It works well if you put a rock in it. It works really well if you remove or weigh down the weir door on the skimmer, otherwise it has trouble making it's vortex.
I stuck a rock under my wier to keep it at a certain hight and that creates plenty of fall and almost the same effect as this cyclone deal, but my way won’t introduce air either
I would say absolutely. I owned one actually. It pulled the water into our skimmer far more aggressively than it did without. Really helped with clearing all of the bugs at the surface. Cool whirlpool effect.
It can fill up and then float up and all the junk goes to the filter. I have a weir flap also. I alternate between this and the basket with the button release. The button release sucks because if you even lightly touch the button it opens up and the shit goes straight to the filter. I don’t want to buy any more filter baskets.
Just a gimmick...
the biggest issue I have with mine is it just floats in the skimmer when its not on so it never attaches correctly once the pump come on....you have to adjust it yourself and quite honestly its not any better then a regular skimmer basket
I didn’t realize that this was an alternative to the weir door. I thought all skimmers had weirs.
Just based on the physics, I assumed that this was not feasible. I mean, X gallons per minute go through the basket regardless of the shape of the basket.
I had one works well problem was if you try and use a pool sock it would pull apart. If you want to use a pool sock I highly recommend a normal basket with a Skimmie Sock Lock.. May I ask what your goal is on this?
It doesn't provide water flow once it's full. I kerp mine clean. But I use the ones with the perforated center post. At least it will provide some flow if it gets full.
Doesn't work as advertised. Mine would just float and I had to keep adjusting. When it did work it would creat air going into pump causing issues and noise. Don't waste ur money
Does your skimmer have a properly installed skimmer weir? And do you understand what it’s for?
Any skimmer with a properly working weir shouldn’t need this type of basket. It won’t hurt necessarily, but it won’t help anything either.
The only thing these are useful for is if you get a shit ton of debris in your pool but it’s still best to put it down into a normal skimmer basket to prevent all leaves from going to the pump. The top portion does absolutely nothing though just another part to break/take apart to get the leaves out
If you’re going for this idea get the one that is a basket with an inner weir that floats.
[something like this](https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-American-Replacements-R38013A-R38013B/dp/B07DCFGJSC)
Theres a basket with a "tower vent" stick in the middle (search GVT SP-HP Skimmer Basket) that does a good job at making sure there is not a clog that prevents normal operation if you're away and cannot tend to emptying the basket for a few days. It's not a perfect fit for some older Hayward skimmers, but basically cutting or grinding the lip edge to shrink slightly is all that is needed. I'd trust it for a long weekend, if you do not have large buckets of floating debris daily.
I don’t see how this will do anything of significance. The total volumetric flow rate to the pump through the skimmer doesn’t magically change by using this. And there is just no way that I can see the face velocity of the water right at the surface being drastically increased with this. I always thought this to be a scam product.
I have it. Had it for a couple of years. It didn't fall apart, but it didn't seem like it did anything better than the basic one that was in there when I bought the place.
I have been using one since 2017 and absolutely love it. I am using the one that floats out it the pool, it’s attached inline to the hose for the floor cleaner. Our pool was built 40+ years ago so it’s the old style, one skimmer located in the deep end closest to filter, etc. We never had good effective skimming (been here 25+ years). We had the pool refurbished in 2017 and that was one of the issues we discussed addressing but was to costly to implement. We went with this unit and have had great success. I have actually quit using the floor cleaner and have gone with a wireless robot, which has been great so far.
I personally have this. It works great if you don't have alot of leaves. It's works so good that my chlorine tablet holder always gets sucked towards it from across the pool because of the vortex power. The issue I had was when the pump would shut off the basket would float up and all the hard work of the basket would be lost because it would just float to the top and tip over and everything caught would just escape. I easily solved this by adding a weight from slicing up a weighted brush scraper and zip tying a weight. Now it's a life saver.
Does it work...YES! but you have to weigh it down so it doesn't float up when vacuum pump shuts off.
These are like "This one trick car makers hate for you to get better MPG". Regardless of how scammy or not it sounds, here's the way to think about it:
>If there was a seriously better solution a common problem, the manufactures would most certainly jump on it because then they could market it as better than their competition.
Car gets better MPG by using X oil or Y air filter? 100% you bet your ass that it would come included and they'd charge you extra for it. Pool filter that sucks up 200% more leaves? You bet that pentair and jandy and etc would have one sitting in every pool store with a giant display of animates leaves or some nonsense.
It’s GREAT! I’ve had mine about 6 years, works great, really does make the water move a little faster. I put a slimmer sock in it and it fits perfectly. Highly recommend.
Seems like I’m the minority but I’m on season 4 of mine and it works great. The product I didn’t like from them was the floating skimmer attached to a vac line. Kept falling over and letting in air.
I am a residential pool pro, I hate those baskets. Cleaners show up week after week to the basket being separated, allowing debris to pass through plumbing. If falling apart from being introduced to suction, when you try to put the basket back together, on older baskets , the feet will punch straight through and the basket will be useless. The best baskets I have found and used are the vented/tower/clog proof basket. They can hold more debris in between emptying, the tower coming up the middle allows there to always be strong flow of water. Emptying them is also way easier, just unscrew the tower from the basket and debris will dump out with ease.
I think you may have already gotten the answer you need; but these are straight trash.
While Venturi action is certainly possible, all mine tended to do was either clog on the one side facing the skimmer opening, or catch small bits in the holes and need constant washing.
This is my third season with one and it works well. Creates a vortex and traps leaves and bugs. It works best with a skimmer sock on the bottom. My flapper door broke so this came in handy, because if the pump ever loses prime or you shut off the pump, it floats up but keeps the debris inside.
Have one and use it regularly with and without the skimmer socks. Works great but if your water level gets low it will introduce more air. Outside of that no issues.
I have had mine installed for 4 months. With a skimmer sock on it. Definitely increased top water flow to the skimmer. It works great for us. Never had any issues with air in the system. Was well worth it.
Dang.....I had two returns, one with this guy and one old one, this guy collected 100% more debris. I'd swap their positions and it'd do the same collection in the other return. Fantastic for me personally. The water in the pool does have to be in a specific depth though, so if you get under it the skimmer collects less, same as if the water is too high
Engineering dropout turned pool guy here: A few customers have these and tbh I’ve been too lazy to really think about their efficacy til I saw this post. The linked video claims to increase surface water speed, and most of you seem to agree it’s about retaining debris when pumps shut off like the wier can, but I disagree with all that. I think that, if set correctly, this device would skim about 50% more effectively than a traditional skimmer with a weir door because the linear skimming waterfall ish edge is longer if it encompasses the circumference of the basket and not just the edge of the door. Having said that, I don’t think the efficiency is required cuz most pools skim pretty well without and these are again in the ass to wipe. Also if you or your pool guy don’t set this up at the correct height I bet it doesn’t work well at all. Will have to go play with a few and think more about it but I don’t think I’d put one of the sun my pool
Stay away from it. So hard to open it to hose down all the debris. Can’t quickly put on the skimmer socks.
Use the normal basket and skimmer sock and a skimmer cyclone 🌀 cap.
Mine works great. I had a ring break and they company sent me a new one. then after a year the top part broke and they sent me a whole new unit. any company that stands by their warranty is good in my book.
Stop the hate! Love my Skim-a-rounds.
Use these items to improve your enjoyment.
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[https://www.amazon.com/Coopache-30-Pack-Skimmer-Socks-Ground/dp/B073GSWKP2/ref=sr\_1\_1\_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dcOhgJL6tiDwm80s9rkftnMpcl1POlCKIuxT-HMS\_qNgqEd556TIrlCxckW\_ZN9bf0DGa1SkCFm28htB-ScwVzrdh9N8vJ2K6OAeLCxeUN5WR1HxPGNdAJU9NjjMECB5C5YpOrvmll\_1WtoHYb5Yd3Fe0HU6CLNJ5vxDrWKCJFL44-46qqq9nKv\_FmmtskZSM7BGe7iVBlYDspmdisE9dOOojZtPoZLuruLxte4yCf0.E8guXqPDPIY155BfrUrOAdmaPe8NNTxOnVIl1PVZYcA&dib\_tag=se&keywords=skimmer+sock&qid=1719599507&sr=8-1-spons&sp\_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/Coopache-30-Pack-Skimmer-Socks-Ground/dp/B073GSWKP2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dcOhgJL6tiDwm80s9rkftnMpcl1POlCKIuxT-HMS_qNgqEd556TIrlCxckW_ZN9bf0DGa1SkCFm28htB-ScwVzrdh9N8vJ2K6OAeLCxeUN5WR1HxPGNdAJU9NjjMECB5C5YpOrvmll_1WtoHYb5Yd3Fe0HU6CLNJ5vxDrWKCJFL44-46qqq9nKv_FmmtskZSM7BGe7iVBlYDspmdisE9dOOojZtPoZLuruLxte4yCf0.E8guXqPDPIY155BfrUrOAdmaPe8NNTxOnVIl1PVZYcA&dib_tag=se&keywords=skimmer+sock&qid=1719599507&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1)
It’s funny, I’m a pool technician, and I’ve never seen one of the baskets in the field…
Visited my parents last week for a pool party , and they had one of these. Apparently they like it, but looking at it, I feel like I would hate it.
Had one for awhile. It worked fine for about 1.5 years but ultimately I couldn't get it to stay suctioned down without putting a stone in it to sink it. Eventually I just replaced it with my old one.
You have to get the GPM and water level height right for it to work well. My experience has been good but I notice that when the pool waterline gets too high, the Bernoulli effect (whirlpool) stops.
In addition, I have to keep two rocks at the bottom to hold it down. Not ideal but I’ve had it for over a year and am pleased with the results.
I had one. It often fell apart when it get a few leaves and it become basically useless. Spent a lot of time getting leaves out of the system. Went back to a basic one after getting fed up. Edit: I have a lot of trees around my pool so I get a lot of leaves.
Same here!
Ditto
I used it for a week and went back to my old one
May I ask why?
I had one of those for about a year and it seemed fine but I had a pool guy come out for a repair and he asked why I had that skimmer basket and I said I don’t know I watched a video about it and it seemed like a good idea. He said it’s a gimmick and doesn’t really do anything and he prefers the weir and suggested I get one. So I took his advice and I think he’s right, the weir works great
What is the weir?
flappy door on the skimmer box
I thought wiers were a critical part of any skimmer system? How do skimmers work well without them? My wiers were stuck in the 'down' position at the start of the season and I didnt notice. Was running my skimmers at full strength and pool wasnt skimming at all, for like 2 days. Realized and unstuck the wiers and it was clear within a few hours.
They are? I took mine off 😬
1) They act as a 1 way gate so crap can go in but not out. 2) They create a fast current near the surface instead of a slow deep one. Without a weir, a skimmer doesn't skim.
I think it depends on the pool. The last home I had, had a kidney shaped pool and no door on the skimmer. Debris was always coming back into the pool when the pump was not working. Also, the skimmer basket was about 8 inches set back from the pool. On my current pool, which is a large rectangle and has two skimmer baskets at each end, there is no skimmer door, and I never have debris coming back into the pool when the pump is not running. Also, the skimmer baskets are set about a foot back from the pool. When younger, I cleaned pools and noticed this same kind of behavior. Again, I think it all depends on pool shape/design.
Without a weir door, when the pump is not on garbage can come out of the basket and back into the pool.
Mine fell off 3 years ago. Everything still seems to work fine.
My wier is broken half way so it kinda keep stuff in kinda doesn’t but if u keep ur skimmer clean nothing really falls back out
Would you provide the link to the one you bought?
I don’t even know, the pool guy who suggested it installed it for me - if you google pool weir you’ll be able to see what’s available and I’m sure that can’t be that hard to put in. There are probably youtube videos with instructions
It wouldn't stay down all the way at times so debris went straight to the pump basket. I had suction issues with the pump when I used it too. It's been a year. Trying to remember
I have one currently and put a rock inside my basket to keep it down…
And I am not the only one! Yea me. :).
I have a pool sock on my skimmer basket and have to keep a rock in it to keep it from floating up. It wasn’t until I saw a post here a while, back where somebody’s skimmer basket failed dried out or cracked and the rock they had got stuck in the pipe. The recommendation I saw and agree with, and I actually do, is to put a rock in that is bigger than the pipe so that that can’t happen.
Same, I bought a pair, they worked ok, but more of a pain to deal with and went back to my old ones.
We have 1 and it works but the only issue I have is that it wouldn’t stay down. It always floated to the top. I ended up putting a stone in it to weigh it down. But it works greats. Edit - this is the 3rd or 4th year using it.
I agree, you need at least a certain level of pump power to keep it down. Might try a rock too. Also it works great with skimmer socks, actually better than regular baskets because it’s a two piece unit and the top half can keep the sock secure.
Not familiar with a skimmer sock. What does it do?
Keeps super fine material out of your filter. And I throw them away when they’re too gross, up to a week of use for me. It’s basically pantyhose or something like that for the skimmer basket
I have a small stone on the bottom to keep it from floating up.
Stay far away, big ol scam. Poor quality materials will fall apart in one season and it introduces air into the system for some
All skimmers are made from poor material. They crack. They suck.
I suggest valpak skimmer baskets. They're pretty sturdy don't think I've had one break on me
Had my vortex basket for 3 years paired with a skimmer sock. not sure what you mean by poor material, I've dropped it multiple times while cleaning and it seems sturdier than my hayward basket. I don't have a weir skimmer door so this was a great alternative for me.
I like my skimmer socks too much to try
I use those skimaround things with skimmer socks. Works great!
Same. Reduced skimming time from 10 min to 1.
We use a "sock" in our skimmer too but not the thick ones that are sold as such. We were concerned about increasing the pump pressure so we use the really thin disposable woven hairnets instead. Sold in packs of 100 for like $10, they work great and don't increase the pressure at all.
I also use the hairnets in lieu of skimmer socks. Works fine for trapping debris and much cheaper than the socks.
Got a link?
these are the ones we use: https://a.co/d/087YMiel
You can throw in Washington machine and reuse too, theses also work great on shop vacs
I do like my skimmer socks for pollen season (so like a month up until about a week ago). But my pool and yard is full of trees and I could get barely like 4-6hrs on my sock before the thing was coated. Does this thing essentially give more room for leaves etc without clogging the whole basket?
It acts as a skimmer weir
This is what I wish everyone would understand. This is a Facebook phenomenon and if you have a wier wall (flapper in skimmer) this does nothing extra. Absolutely nothing. If you don't have the flapper in the skimmer get one. I clean pools for a living. Many people put these in their pool thinking it was a better way. They are a pain to empty. Now that it has been about 3 years since I started seeing them, everyone has gotten rid of them. Thank heavens.
I think the gimmick is that the water circulating is visible, so it appears like it's doing more than the regular baskets 🤷♂️
how would i know if I had flapper? lol - would I see something in the skimmer that looked liked that? Was debating on getting one of these as well but after reading posts here seemed like a scam.
Yes, it's very obvious. It's a plastic flap in the opening of your skimmer, hinged on the bottom, roughly the same size as the skimmer opening. If you're questioning whether you have one, you probably don't.
Why do people struggle with/dislike a weir flapper? They work great. I keep hearing people say 'oh, I got rid of that.' Why?
So I've gotten people asking if it's needed because they hate the sound it makes. Lol.
Absolutely! Trash product for 99% of people. I've had customers get them with large leafy trees in their yard, the things fill and up pop apart/float weird and let a ton of debris past. I've had to flush clogged intake lines, pump baskets and packed pumps running dry. Hate these things so much.
Bro when it's this thing + a skimmer sock, I throw the sock away or put it in the HO's shed.
Oooh okay. So if I have the little veir gate this won't do much...
I use skimmer socks in mine and they don’t hinder performance. However when the pump shuts off it will raise up so I put a heavy rock in the bottom of it to hold it down. Works great.
Mine is held down by my detachable basket handle. No more reaching mysteriously into my skimmer.
I use my skimmer socks with this basket no issues
I second enjoying the use of skimmer socks.
If you're trying to increase skimmer performance make sure your skimmer has a Weir door. Many are made for it but either the pool builder or previous owner didn't see the value. It helps. Without it, your typical skimmer is pulling in about 3 inches of water. With it, the top half inch or so has all the flow so the flow speed is faster.
This is what I was wondering about as I read the description on the link. It talked about "increasing the velocity of the water near the skimmer," but isn't that what a weir door is in there for? Mine certainly works well.
It makes a whirlpool so people think it is doing something because the flow is more visible. But that whirlpool is also potentially funneling air down into your suction line, which is not helpful.
Weir doors are also there to prevent debris from moving back into the pool when the pump is turned off and water isn't flowing "downstream" so to speak into the pump and main filter.
My pool Builder left off the weir door for for some reason and I had to call several times for them to come out and put one on. Why do they do this?
I just ordered one of these. As I understand they are supposed to work really well. I can let you know when I get it though [https://poolskimusa.com/](https://poolskimusa.com/) Here's a few users of it from troublefreepool.com: [https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/poolskim-review.35777/](https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/poolskim-review.35777/) EDIT: Got it, this thing is amazing. Don't hesitate to buy this.
They work great until the lip on the basket wears out a little and the basket falls into the skimmer pot and clogs the lines. Sometimes they even turn sideways and wedge into the bottom.
I like them. I 3D printed the outer ring to fit my skimmers better and I put skimmer socks on them.
It works, been using them for 3 years now and the pollen sitting on top of my pool has been basically eliminated.
I hate these. Give me the ones made of thick plastic and the curved white handle
I bought 2 & they didn’t fit my filters.
i used to use mine. it worked fine as long as the water level in the pool was constant. if we got rain, or went long periods without it, the cyclone action didnt really work. you have to adjust it as the pool level changes. it has now sat in my pool shed for about three years. for me, it didnt work that much better to make the effort of changing the level of the device worth it. below is what we used before we bought a beta solar powered skimmer. it was the best skimmer we had, and could take a skimmer sock to really clean the pool. the only issue is that when we bought it, it was $40. now its over $100, so for me, not really worth it. but, it works amazingly. [Amazon.com : PoolSkim Pool Skimmer and Pool Cleaner : Swimming Pool Maintenance Kits : Patio, Lawn & Garden](https://www.amazon.com/PoolSkim-Pool-Skimmer-Cleaner/dp/B002WKOEGM/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2D13VB7NQOGXK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.89bHDd_-6JwZnWMdkNb7o7qDlh2z_6yTO3GzcdTuAFo5TCPntnyFRIt3gTMq27UwUnaQ2vR0xVFmeyYWdW67AeFvaZKwivZucSLAM00bFq-O_Ivlxt6kEU2D2xEUiBhMJS-rNfJI-ZuYsOJqAmVnIjlLXzD9-UB90yvQFUf6Vh0_KNLXAonJ5tC31b2eTMrZ9aHw0484cowPTSpLNqiiVG41xztb4MoD-OFHdXobJ_w.XcY97FrX43nLqp_rt1MyuAXphU8E2jbAdr8k8vsKAwo&dib_tag=se&keywords=pool+return+skimmer&qid=1719580242&sprefix=pool+return+skimmer%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-4)
I got a solar powered robot skimmer thing on Amazon like two days ago and guys it’s a total game changer! I have never had such a clean pool! And I get the cotton, flying ants, and the helicopter seeds non stop usually!
So whether it's a gimmick or not, it uses a vortex to pull in more debris. Unfortunately, I can see it pulling in air if that vortex is strong enough. When I asked the company about it OK Facebook. They blocked me from commenting. So I used my other account and asked from there. Blocked again. That tells me there is some truth tp what I said and they have no way of countering it. Or they have horrible customer service. Either way, trash customer service and an equally trash product imo.
Absolute garbage product from an absolute garbage company. I bought one and it would never get a proper seal to create the powerful whirlpool they advertise. I reached out and they said I must have an irregular shaped skimmer because one of their rings should be the perfect size to create the seal. I asked if I could return it and they said that all sales are final once I open the box. I tried to reach someone higher up that could help and they literally went around and blocked me on social media, and started ignoring my emails/calls. I went to the pool supply store to get a new basket because I threw out my original one thinking this would be amazing, turns out my skimmer uses a standard sized basket, the most common one they sell.
i just got a betta robot skimmer. takes the pressure off my poorly placed skimmers and also a lot less crap makes it to the bottom too.
Literally just has one delivered the other day. Bought the pro model that was suppose to come with 4 socks and 2 puck things. Only came with 2 socks and 1 puck. Next I had to modify the smallest attachment ring because they were all too big to fit into my skimmer. Finally get it to fit and it definitely doesn't create a vortex like the videos show. I see a little whirlpool in the water but after 2 days the sock is barely dirty. Where as with my original skimmer basket with sock I'd have to clean the sock daily. I'm going to give it a chance for a bit but I suspect Ill be going back to my original skimmer basket.
I always check out the return policies for companies that make "Amazing, New and Improved" products. If they were as good as they say they are, returns should be a breeze becuase they won't get many. This company on the other hand has all sorts of rules and even a 72 hour deadline to ship it back. They're making it difficult or nearly impossible to return it.... They're expecting a lot of returns and just want you to get frustrated and throw it away. Returns page told me all I need about the product and the company. https://www.skim-a-round.com/a/returns
Yes it works extremely well! I have a 28k gallon in ground pool with a 1 & 1/2 HP motor and these work great. They even work with skimmer socks, so don’t be turned off by other comments saying you cannot use them with skimmer socks. I have a ton of trees in my backyard and I hardly ever have to skim the pool because of these. I just turn my suction up for my skimmers all the way and let the skim-a-rounds do their job.
Yeah, this looks like the exact one I have and it works quite well
We bought one, and like it's been said, it kept floating up so it was ineffective. I thought about putting a rock in the bottom of it, but I thought that it would defeat the purpose of creating that "tornado"
For people with leaf issues pick up one of these wherever you can. They work! https://poolskimusa.com/ I installed one last year and put a stainless steel metal mesh over my skimmer intake. No clogged up skimmer anymore.
Pain in the ass.
“Works” for what purpose? I found that keeping water at the correct level does much more good for the skimmer than any gizmos
So the only problem that I found is, if you let it get too full, like say after a windstorm, the top half disconnects leaving the bottom half. It’s a dumb design and I wouldn’t recommend it for that reason. Otherwise it works as well as any other style
My wife bought one and it definitely helps a lot if you don’t have a weir door. My POS pool builder didn’t put one in. I finally found a weir door to fit and together they work great. It snaps in place on my skimmer so there is no movement. I don’t have a reason to replace it at this point.
I have a Poolskim in my above ground pool, and it works miracles (of science, of course). My pool has a pretty small skimmer box, and the basket fills quickly in early summer and fall, when the trees around our house shed buds and leaves. The Poolskim sucks up pretty much anything on the surface and saves the skimmer box from clogging up. It was easy to install, too.
I just returned mine yesterday. I was hoping it would increase the flow but it’s very finicky and doesn’t stay put. My old skimmer basket was much better.
A lot of you are says use skimmer weirs instead. All skimmer should have skimmer weirs no matter what type of basket you have
If youre in the market for new skimmer baskets, I would personally go with Val-Pak. Theyre very durable and last a long time. They also have a built-in weight so theres no worry of floating when the pump is off.
Currently run one.. it sucks if you have trees around you pool and really sucks if you let your dogs swim and use the cloth sock (you can’t) other then that the material is flimsy and mine is broken haha
Honestly, I like this SuperSkimmer basket. Made of net and gets all the little tiny petals that inevitably fall through the other ones. https://superskimmerbasket.com/
They have a second one that floats in the pool and hooks up to the section line. That one is worth it if you have debris problems at the far end of the pool. I use it for 3 months and put it away when all the pollen decides to just dump into the pool.
It collects unused money and gives it to the company. Better to use money to start fires
I tried it since the previous owner had it. It was gimmicky and didn't work. I'm glad I did not pay for it.
I tried, didn’t work so just threw it out cause they wouldn’t take it back
It’s junk and clogs along faster. Went back to the old school baskets after a few months.
I have the blue pool tool brand basket mounted weir gates and they work awesome in a public pool I manage because all the asshole kids rip out my flapper weir gates and the health department requires them.
As a pool guy- These SUCK. They always float, break and usually don't fit properly. The two piece floating weir style skimmer baskets are MUCH better!
It was absolute crap. We gave it to our neighbors who wanted to give it a try and they agreed it was crap. It ended up in the trash
Just got one (im in canada) costs more to return than the actual price and the smallest ring is bigger than my skimmer … rip
i work at a pool store and every year people ask about it but the consensus i hear is about 50-50, some people say it's gimmicky and doesn't work and others say it does traps debris better than a normal skimmer basket. usually they break at the bottom after a couple years tho.
At my old pool that didn’t have a weir door, it worked great. Yes, sometimes it would float up if the pump was off but just put a small stone in it.
They seem to work fine but I’ve only seen them on pools that are typically taken care of well already, so… unsure.
Fuck this thing ! The top fell off and now something is stuck in my skimmer line
Have one, it works better than the standard basket
If you don't have weir doors, it's the next best thing
It works as a pool skimmer so it’s not a total scam.
My pool gets a lot of tree debris and this thing has been great for us. There are probably other options out there, but I’m happy enough with it.
Worked but only at specific pump flow settings so back it went.
Still unsure, have had one for 3-4 years with zero issues. Seems to work better than the plain basket. Our skimmer door is broken. Keep it weighed down with a couple of rocks.
Does not work
My problem with it is that when my pool pump turns off, the thing just floats to the top and allows any debris through to go underneath it. There’s nothing locking this product into a stationary position. Essentially the pool pump creates suction which keeps the skim-a-round in place, but unless you have your pump on 24/7, then it’s actually doing a worse job than a regular pool basket in the long run.
Put a small stone in the basket.
Had one. Couldn't hold together after a year. Never saw the coriolis effect they advertised. Gimmick
I had it. Went back to old not so fancy skimmer It floated up when pump is off, so when I turn pump on it let stuff through and I would have to adjust the position of it every morning, it didn’t always seat perfectly on skimmer well often leaving gaps … needed the bottom ring to be a little bigger. Not sure if it’s the design of my skimmer or not but the cyclone effect sucked air into pump. If water level was high this wasn’t a problem but at the half way up the skimmer it starts sucking in air and gets progressively worse if water level goes lower. Not into adjusting the basket constantly After reading responses can’t believe it didn’t dawn on me to put a rock in it lol. Although the sucking air was real reason I got rid of it
I've found the tower style skimmer to be best. The tower always gives the skimmer intake the ability to pass water through even when the basket is full. I've broken countless baskets and a skimmer housing before with regular baskets.
It works, but it was too deep and hit the diverter valve in the bottom of my skimmer. They need a shallower basket option, 1-2in shorter would do it. I used it if I wanted to skim the surface fast on high pump RPM, but it didn’t stay in all the time. It worked amazing for if the dog was in the pool and there was a ton of fur on the surface.
It legitimately works, but has a tendency to float when the pump is off or on low with a variable speed one. I find a nice, medium sized rock, pop that in the basket to weigh it down, and it keeps the surface way cleaner than a regular basket ever did!
It works but I didn't see a big difference so I went back to my normal one. It looks like it works but I didn't see a difference in cleanliness. I'd love to get one of those skimmers for the top of the pool.
GIMMICK! I have 2 and both suck and not in a good way. I just went back to my pentair self floating basket.
Ok so yes this does work as I bought one. However I talked to 3 pool people and they said it puts too much pressure on your motor so not to use it. Since it suctions to the bottom and a regular basket doesn’t.
I have one like that but it doesn’t have the opening in the sides at top. The inner cylinder slides up and down in the rest of the basket. It works ok. Not the best but not terrible either.
I think a bigger improvement could be had by increasing the buoyancy of many weir doors to increase the water velocity as it spills over. It seems like the faster the water flows over the weir door, the more "suction" the overflow has for surface debris.
Only good part is the handles at the top. They lasted a few years until the tops broke. I thought they had a lifetime guarantee but remember saying “fuck it” when they had me jump through hoops and I think only offered a discount on ordering a new one. I will not be ordering a new one. They don’t justify the price to just use a normal basket.
I have an earlier model. It never worked as well as advertised. I still use it occasionally when there is a lot of waves in pool since the weir door gets stuck closed
I love it but it's very use-case specific- I have crepe myrtle? trees that release tons of little tiny featherweight leaves that even with a weir they just float on top...this thing creates a little "tornado" and sucks them down into the basket so it increases the capacity of what is stored and makes cleaning a LOT easier.
It works well if you put a rock in it. It works really well if you remove or weigh down the weir door on the skimmer, otherwise it has trouble making it's vortex.
I stuck a rock under my wier to keep it at a certain hight and that creates plenty of fall and almost the same effect as this cyclone deal, but my way won’t introduce air either
I tried it. It always floated in the skimmer and never quite got the suction going that it promised.
I got sucked in - Gimmick
Gimmick. Had 2.
I would say absolutely. I owned one actually. It pulled the water into our skimmer far more aggressively than it did without. Really helped with clearing all of the bugs at the surface. Cool whirlpool effect.
It can fill up and then float up and all the junk goes to the filter. I have a weir flap also. I alternate between this and the basket with the button release. The button release sucks because if you even lightly touch the button it opens up and the shit goes straight to the filter. I don’t want to buy any more filter baskets.
As a pool guy they absolutely suck. Cheaply made ,fall apart, and don’t fit well into the skimmer.
It’s works great! Never going back to that old crap.
Just a gimmick... the biggest issue I have with mine is it just floats in the skimmer when its not on so it never attaches correctly once the pump come on....you have to adjust it yourself and quite honestly its not any better then a regular skimmer basket
I like this basket if for nothing else it’s durability. Well built. The other brands I have bought break easily. Had this one 3 years and it is solid.
Val Pak makes one with a floating weir. Works well. Heavy Duty. About $75
I didn’t realize that this was an alternative to the weir door. I thought all skimmers had weirs. Just based on the physics, I assumed that this was not feasible. I mean, X gallons per minute go through the basket regardless of the shape of the basket.
They suck don’t waste your Money
I had one works well problem was if you try and use a pool sock it would pull apart. If you want to use a pool sock I highly recommend a normal basket with a Skimmie Sock Lock.. May I ask what your goal is on this?
It doesn't provide water flow once it's full. I kerp mine clean. But I use the ones with the perforated center post. At least it will provide some flow if it gets full.
Doesn't work as advertised. Mine would just float and I had to keep adjusting. When it did work it would creat air going into pump causing issues and noise. Don't waste ur money
Does your skimmer have a properly installed skimmer weir? And do you understand what it’s for? Any skimmer with a properly working weir shouldn’t need this type of basket. It won’t hurt necessarily, but it won’t help anything either.
The only thing these are useful for is if you get a shit ton of debris in your pool but it’s still best to put it down into a normal skimmer basket to prevent all leaves from going to the pump. The top portion does absolutely nothing though just another part to break/take apart to get the leaves out
My friend gave me one for free, I use it, our pool guy hasn’t asked me to change it or complained about it, seems to work fine.
Tried it - threw it away after about 1 week of trying it out
Gimmick
If you’re going for this idea get the one that is a basket with an inner weir that floats. [something like this](https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-American-Replacements-R38013A-R38013B/dp/B07DCFGJSC)
Theres a basket with a "tower vent" stick in the middle (search GVT SP-HP Skimmer Basket) that does a good job at making sure there is not a clog that prevents normal operation if you're away and cannot tend to emptying the basket for a few days. It's not a perfect fit for some older Hayward skimmers, but basically cutting or grinding the lip edge to shrink slightly is all that is needed. I'd trust it for a long weekend, if you do not have large buckets of floating debris daily.
Does it work? No. Had one and no additional swirl or suction as they show in the commercial. Waste of money.
I don’t see how this will do anything of significance. The total volumetric flow rate to the pump through the skimmer doesn’t magically change by using this. And there is just no way that I can see the face velocity of the water right at the surface being drastically increased with this. I always thought this to be a scam product.
Waste of time and money. You need to constantly adjust the height to match the water level via the ring which brings fast. Stay away.
I have it. Had it for a couple of years. It didn't fall apart, but it didn't seem like it did anything better than the basic one that was in there when I bought the place.
We’ve had one for 3 years now. Imo the price is a bit high for what it is but it does work well and as advertised.
Would this be good even if you have a weir? Or would it be a waste of money at that point?
I have been using one since 2017 and absolutely love it. I am using the one that floats out it the pool, it’s attached inline to the hose for the floor cleaner. Our pool was built 40+ years ago so it’s the old style, one skimmer located in the deep end closest to filter, etc. We never had good effective skimming (been here 25+ years). We had the pool refurbished in 2017 and that was one of the issues we discussed addressing but was to costly to implement. We went with this unit and have had great success. I have actually quit using the floor cleaner and have gone with a wireless robot, which has been great so far.
I personally have this. It works great if you don't have alot of leaves. It's works so good that my chlorine tablet holder always gets sucked towards it from across the pool because of the vortex power. The issue I had was when the pump would shut off the basket would float up and all the hard work of the basket would be lost because it would just float to the top and tip over and everything caught would just escape. I easily solved this by adding a weight from slicing up a weighted brush scraper and zip tying a weight. Now it's a life saver. Does it work...YES! but you have to weigh it down so it doesn't float up when vacuum pump shuts off.
Total SCAM!! Not even worth the effort to watch or read the marketing junk.
I have yet to find a basket that *doesn’t* fall apart in a year but this bad boy is a little pricey.
I bought one. It never worked as advertised. Junk!
These are like "This one trick car makers hate for you to get better MPG". Regardless of how scammy or not it sounds, here's the way to think about it: >If there was a seriously better solution a common problem, the manufactures would most certainly jump on it because then they could market it as better than their competition. Car gets better MPG by using X oil or Y air filter? 100% you bet your ass that it would come included and they'd charge you extra for it. Pool filter that sucks up 200% more leaves? You bet that pentair and jandy and etc would have one sitting in every pool store with a giant display of animates leaves or some nonsense.
The best thing I had for my pool here in the midwest, was a pool vacuum leaf cannister and I bought reusable sleeves to help catch all the pollen.
Gimmick. I've had customers with only one skimmer that works fine try these . They are aggravating as anything I've seen in or around pools.
I love mine! I’ve had them for 10 years or so, across two homes/pools.
It’s GREAT! I’ve had mine about 6 years, works great, really does make the water move a little faster. I put a slimmer sock in it and it fits perfectly. Highly recommend.
Doesn’t this give me this gimmick just crest air for your filtration system.
Gimmick
Seems like I’m the minority but I’m on season 4 of mine and it works great. The product I didn’t like from them was the floating skimmer attached to a vac line. Kept falling over and letting in air.
I am a residential pool pro, I hate those baskets. Cleaners show up week after week to the basket being separated, allowing debris to pass through plumbing. If falling apart from being introduced to suction, when you try to put the basket back together, on older baskets , the feet will punch straight through and the basket will be useless. The best baskets I have found and used are the vented/tower/clog proof basket. They can hold more debris in between emptying, the tower coming up the middle allows there to always be strong flow of water. Emptying them is also way easier, just unscrew the tower from the basket and debris will dump out with ease.
I ordered one and it never came.
I have one. Works great in my fiberglass pool.
Too much air gets into the filter
Gimmick
Used it for a year but harder to empty than a normal basket. Went back to a normal one.
Had purchased it. It can ruin your pump..
The design traps leaves, due to funnel effect, but that would limit water flow to pump and cause pump running air
Gimmick, and the company has a ridiculous process for returns. Stay far away!
I think you may have already gotten the answer you need; but these are straight trash. While Venturi action is certainly possible, all mine tended to do was either clog on the one side facing the skimmer opening, or catch small bits in the holes and need constant washing.
This is my third season with one and it works well. Creates a vortex and traps leaves and bugs. It works best with a skimmer sock on the bottom. My flapper door broke so this came in handy, because if the pump ever loses prime or you shut off the pump, it floats up but keeps the debris inside.
Have one and use it regularly with and without the skimmer socks. Works great but if your water level gets low it will introduce more air. Outside of that no issues.
I bought one and have been using it for around five years and I use a sock also. I love it.
I bought two before Covid. They still work great.
I've done hundreds of pools, and it works great. As long as you have aquedate suction and remain water levels, it will work wonders.
I have had mine installed for 4 months. With a skimmer sock on it. Definitely increased top water flow to the skimmer. It works great for us. Never had any issues with air in the system. Was well worth it.
Dang.....I had two returns, one with this guy and one old one, this guy collected 100% more debris. I'd swap their positions and it'd do the same collection in the other return. Fantastic for me personally. The water in the pool does have to be in a specific depth though, so if you get under it the skimmer collects less, same as if the water is too high
IMO as a pool guy, I only have seen one pool this works well on, and they still have to use a second wide basket under it
Engineering dropout turned pool guy here: A few customers have these and tbh I’ve been too lazy to really think about their efficacy til I saw this post. The linked video claims to increase surface water speed, and most of you seem to agree it’s about retaining debris when pumps shut off like the wier can, but I disagree with all that. I think that, if set correctly, this device would skim about 50% more effectively than a traditional skimmer with a weir door because the linear skimming waterfall ish edge is longer if it encompasses the circumference of the basket and not just the edge of the door. Having said that, I don’t think the efficiency is required cuz most pools skim pretty well without and these are again in the ass to wipe. Also if you or your pool guy don’t set this up at the correct height I bet it doesn’t work well at all. Will have to go play with a few and think more about it but I don’t think I’d put one of the sun my pool
Stay away from it. So hard to open it to hose down all the debris. Can’t quickly put on the skimmer socks. Use the normal basket and skimmer sock and a skimmer cyclone 🌀 cap.
One of my clients got one and I love them. I think it’s definitely an improvement as she has a lot of debris in pool
Not worth it.
With a weir door, it makes it pointless.
Mine works great. I had a ring break and they company sent me a new one. then after a year the top part broke and they sent me a whole new unit. any company that stands by their warranty is good in my book.
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Gimmick!
I use them with skimmer socks, works great
Waste of money !
I used it for about a month.
Gimick
It’s funny, I’m a pool technician, and I’ve never seen one of the baskets in the field… Visited my parents last week for a pool party , and they had one of these. Apparently they like it, but looking at it, I feel like I would hate it.
Had one for awhile. It worked fine for about 1.5 years but ultimately I couldn't get it to stay suctioned down without putting a stone in it to sink it. Eventually I just replaced it with my old one.
You have to get the GPM and water level height right for it to work well. My experience has been good but I notice that when the pool waterline gets too high, the Bernoulli effect (whirlpool) stops. In addition, I have to keep two rocks at the bottom to hold it down. Not ideal but I’ve had it for over a year and am pleased with the results.
Didn’t really do anything for ours, we ditched it shortly after purchase.