How to match a replacement pool skimmer
Match a skimmer lid to the throat width and the lid size. Match a skimmer body to the pipe port and to whether it has an equalizer. A lid that looks right can still be the wrong opening.
· 5 min read
Lid, basket, or body
The lid is the cover on the deck. The basket sits in the throat. The body is the box in the wall, with a port for the pipe and sometimes a second, smaller equalizer port. A weir is the flap at the throat. Name which of those broke before you search.
A cracked lid is a lid. A torn basket is a basket. A body that leaks into the deck, or a housing with a broken port, is the body. Compare the old basket to the dimensions on the product page before you buy a whole skimmer.
Measure the opening and the port
Measure the throat width at the deck and the lid length and width. Skimmer lids are not universal across brands. A lid that sits proud of the deck is a trip. A lid that falls through is the wrong size.
At the bottom, read or measure the pipe port. It is commonly 1.5 inch or 2 inch, slip or threaded. If there is a second port low on the body, the replacement needs that port too. Pipe and fittings are in plumbing. Skimmers, lids, and baskets are in fixtures. Measuring pipe is covered in how to match a replacement part.
Check the water line first
The water belongs at the middle of the skimmer opening. A skimmer that sucks air because the water is low is not a failed skimmer. Raise the water before you replace the body. That low water line is also the first check in why a pool pump loses prime.
On opening day the skimmer is part of the opening checklist.
Questions
What measurements do I need for a pool skimmer lid?
The length and width of the lid, and the throat width of the opening it covers. Brand comes next. A lid from a different throat width will not sit flush.
Do I replace the whole skimmer or just the basket?
Replace the part that failed. A torn basket is a basket. A broken weir is a weir. The body is the piece in the wall, and it is the part to replace when the housing is cracked.
Why is my skimmer sucking air?
Usually the water is below the middle of the skimmer opening, or the weir is stuck. Raise the water and free the weir before you order a new skimmer body.