Getting leaves and debris out of the pool is a fairly straightforward process. Typically, your pool will have a few skimmers built into the plumbing to handle debris before it reaches the pool pump and filter.
However, having a pool skimming net handy will help speed up this process and remove leaves from the pool quickly. You will quickly learn that it is one of the most used pieces of pool equipment that you will own!
Why You Need to Skim Your Pool
Every pool will have some type of debris that falls into it, whether that be leaves, sticks, stones, or unfortunately little critters.
While the wall-mounted skimmers will catch a majority of debris that floats, they can often get clogged depending on how many trees or around, or after a heavy storm.
Also, things sink to the bottom of the pool that may be too big for a vacuum to pick up. It’s important to remove those leaves and debris before they decompose or become worse.
Knowing how to skim a pool is convenient and helps get your pool looking clean faster!
Choose the Skimmer Net For Your Location
There is a bit of variety of choice regarding skimmer nets.
There are more durable, heavy-duty nets if you have a lot of surrounding trees.
Large skimmer net with a reinforced frame to lift and remove heavy debris.
There are also a variety of pocket depths. If you live in an area without any trees or have a smaller pool, you may not need a net such a big bag.
Also, it’s recommended to use a flat surface skimmer that makes it a bit easier to scrape the bottom of the pool.
How to Skim the Pool
With your skimmer net and telescopic pole, we are ready to remove some debris!
Start with the surface debris. Skim and net out everything that is floating on top of the water before it starts to sink to the bottom.
If the net starts to get heavy and it becomes harder to move, remove the debris that is in the net. You can either put it in a bucket to dispose of later or just toss it into the yard.
Once the surface is clear, try and remove as much debris as you can that is at the bottom of the pool. The goal is to get all of the larger pieces that a vacuum might not be able to suck up.
Skimming Automation
Of course, there are robots to replace manual skimming!
There are traditional robot pool cleaners that will brush and vacuum the pool walls and floors. However, you can also buy specialized robots that float on the pool surface and suck up floating debris.
How Often Should You Skim Your Pool
Skimming the pool once a week is the typical recommendation for regular and routine maintenance. Pair it with brushing and vacuuming for a full pool cleaning.
However, if your pool is exposed to many falling leaves, you might need to skim it more often to give your wall-mounted skimmers a break.
Skimming is Winning!
Not all pool maintenance is difficult or time-consuming! Depending on the amount of debris, a quick skim can take just minutes to complete.
But, it will go a long way to keeping the pool clean and healthy for that upcoming pool party!