Above Ground Pool Skimmer Install

I learned a lot about installing a Hayward Wide Mouth Skimmer on my 24' x 12' x 52" Intex above-ground pool. I show the mistakes that I make and what I would have done differently so that you do not make the same mistakes or mishaps!
Parts and Tools Used in video:
24’x12’x52” Pool: amzn.to/3J60IIt
Hayward wide mouth skimmer: amzn.to/3Ja6c4R
1.5” Intex hose 16” long: amzn.to/3J9Bglo
Intex Sand Filter + Saltwater system: amzn.to/43C7NsC
Retractable Box Cutters: amzn.to/43SaINh
Black and Decker Cordless Drill: amzn.to/45VkdNF
Pool vacuum head: amzn.to/3P5gRSc
5’ - 15’ pool pole: amzn.to/3P9KG42
Submersible Pool lights: amzn.to/3qDqxt2
Vingli Pool Vacuum: amzn.to/3J8oeV0
To see parts/tools used for the hard plumbing: • Swimming Pool Plumbing...
Recording Equipment:
Recorded on GoPro Hero 10: amzn.to/3EENKy4
Microphone Rhode Wireless Go II: amzn.to/3PqOgDZ
GoPro Media Mod: amzn.to/3l4PTdo
Donations: If you want, feel free to donate to the Corvette fund...or the buy me a beer fund!
www.paypal.com...

[@dlaeng]

Happy to see that also other ppl have some trouble and leaks. 😂 thanks for this great video! Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[@davidleroyemmons]

I love how you talked yourself into it

[@Amundred]

😂 yeah...it was one of those things where I was not sure if I was really going to do it until I actually started 😂

[@BrianMilton-v1w]

First of all I had the same issue with sagging when I cut the hole out with the pool partially filled. Watched several videos and read that you shouldn't cut the gasket in half so I cut the hole with water level low. Had leaking issues due to the sagging and without draining the whole pool you can not pull the liner up to where it needs to be after cutting. If you do are also thinking about doing this you should look for the video of the guy that cut the gasket in half and installed while the pool was completely full and stretched. Would do that if I could start over. I ended up adding vinyl patch back to the lower cutout so that I had enough material to get bottom screws through and now it is leak free.

[@Amundred]

@@BrianMilton-v1w yeah...I definitely would go that route if I had to do it again! I did watch that video...but after I had cut mine already 😔

[@doelbaughman1924]

Great, helpful, informative video! Very clear instructions and resolution!

[@Amundred]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@wildlands7544]

Definitely not... what about the gasket that connects the wide mouth to the drain!!!

[@TeeRich_]

Thank you for this video. I was on the fence about cutting gasket or not

[@Amundred]

Yeah, I was really not sure which way to go...cutting it apart was definitely the better option! I also wish that I had assembled.it before cutting the pool liner to help with the correct size cutout for the pool...I guess now I know! 👍

[@jeremiegrund]

Did you end up splitting the gasket? Any leaks?

[@Amundred]

I did end up splitting the gasket - I did have a small leak but am not sure if it was due to the gasket or just the fact that the liner was a pain to get smooth when I put it together

[@Haywardpowerflolx]

A bottom drain for a pool will be a perfect upgrade. It will keep the pool, bottom clean, and everything will be towards it.

[@Amundred]

Yes! I agree! This is something that I may look at doing as a future upgrade!

[@Haywardpowerflolx]

@@Amundred Hayward makes a center drain

[@Superman-xr1oh]

​​@@HaywardpowerflolxWhat do you mean center drain? Link?

[@FOROW99]

I did it this year.. I got a video..❤

[@Christa-tl8jb]

I’m interested to know about the salt water system. I got a pool and it came with a chlorine system but I would like to convert to salt water system. What model do you have?

[@Amundred]

The model that I have is an older model that has been discontinued. A current version is: amzn.to/4aUanxx

[@JO3haNsum]

When do you run the two suction out ports to the pool wide open? Or do you keep them partially closed and let the skimmer do most of the work?

[@Amundred]

I keep them partially closed and let the skimmer do most of the work. 👍 I adjusted them by turning the pump on and then watching the skimmer door - when it was working the way intended (opening enough to let water, and debris in but not back out) I left the valves at that setting.

[@stevenweede7184]

What is the return fitting even for?

[@jeremiegrund]

Any concerns regarding leaking if you split the gasket? I've seen this done both ways and I'm really on the fence about the best way to not flub it up. Thanks!

[@Amundred]

I did split the gasket and had a small leak, but I am not sure that it was due to the gasket - just more so the fact that this skimmer is a pain to install on this type of pool

[@blossums7]

😂😂💖 Thanks for the info.

[@Amundred]

You are welcome!!

[@user-zu8oj7lf9i]

Install the skimmer and then cut the liner

[@Amundred]

I have heard that this works great as well!

[@cwilks5592]

I just got my INTEX 12x24 sand and salt pool going yesterday. I have the inpool skimmer but I like that external. Did it set level after the pool finished filling?

[@Amundred]

Not quite all of the way - after a couple of weeks of using the pool it "settled" a bit better though

[@Amundred]

Honestly, the skimmer that hooks to the bars is probably the better option for most people!

[@MrJayredd718]

How is it? Please tell me it’s still working fine? Lol I just set mine up today and it seems to be slightly angled like yours. Has me a bit worried

[@Amundred]

It works just fine...I am not a fan of the angle (it scared the crap out of me at first) but the skimmer actually works really good 👍

[@anthony7557]

Can intex salt water system can be used for inground pool

[@Amundred]

Sure could be! It is just an add on system that could be added to any pool as long as you can connect to the plumbing 👍

[@Amundred]

@Dodgestratusonline before I turned on the pump, I let water into the lines and put the filter in "clean" or "pump" mode or whatever the option was. I also used the bleeder plug on the front of the pump to get as much air out as I could that way. After that, I turned it on and let it go 👍

[@Haywardpowerflolx]

Can you make a video of the pump priming when it’s on?

[@Amundred]

I can probably grab a video this afternoon...but there is not much to see. The pump kicks on and immediately starts pumping water, after a few seconds, the saltwater system turns on and starts chlorinating the water.

[@Haywardpowerflolx]

@@Amundred I mean when air gets into the strainer basket when the pump is running

[@Amundred]

@@Haywardpowerflolx ah...there is a strainer right before the pump that has a bleeder valve that you have to manually open to release air if it builds up... fortunately this is not very common, but when using the vacuum tends to happen a few times and I have to use the bleeder to release air before turning the pump back on

[@Junior-pu6gy]

On the skimmer there are some threads. are those the same threads to attach a flexible hose to?

[@Amundred]

On the bottom? Unfortunately they are not the same - I used the threaded adapter that the hose (slip over style) would attach to and attached a section of PVC to that piece. I then added a three PVC adapter to that section.

[@Hftu836]

What did you use for the bottom of the skimmer to attach PVC. I just bought a Hayward skimmer and plan to use PVC to attach to pump.

[@Amundred]

I used the adapter that came with the skimmer and slid a piece of PVC over it and glued it onto the threaded adapter for the flex hose - worked even though I am sure that there are better options

[@MelindaOKeefe]

Did you cut IN BETWEEN the two lines you drew??

[@Amundred]

I used the outside line if I recall correctly as the first line I had made would have been far too small

[@Superman-xr1oh]

You were correct to not cut the gasket. You kept saying you should've cut it. NO! You're supposed to leave it intact. Most people that do this install typically drain the pool just below the skimmer line, cut, install skimmer, then fill it back up.

[@Amundred]

Yeah, I had seen it done multiple ways and had no clue what was right but it seemed like not cutting was the correct way 👍 Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@gregcrouse8833]

Do not use these skimmer on an INTEX, 1 reason, you can no longer add enough water to fill the pool, because you have to cut below the seam so you have 6" less water, so it never actually become square, still bends inward, looks dumb if you have a deck. 2, you can not fill it up with water, you only have 46" max of water, removing 6" for this style skimmer you lost about 15% of your depth, water level now is only 40"ish. 3rd reason, you just cut your pool and voided anything you had. Reason 4, It does not work any better than a skimmer that sits in the pool. Save time buy an index skimmer, or a robot that skims.

[@gregcrouse8833]

I know people are going to say something but, I just looked at his next video showing the pool full, the water is at the top of the skimmer, guess what, the skimmer does not even work if the water is higher than the half way mark of skimmer, this pump will not pool floating drebis down, or the skimmer flap will not open. So, just don't. if they make one that went in then angled up inside the pool it would be worth it. There is an idea for someone.

[@FOROW99]

I went above the seam.. I got a video.. ❤

[@BrianMilton-v1w]

@@FOROW99 Yep, it will seal even when top gasket is partially on the seam. That's what I did to get higher water level.