How to Fix a Cracked Pool Skimmer Yourself

[@yunowot]

Nice one! Excellent teaching - good demonstration. I have the same problem. Will give it a try - seems a much more affordable and easier than digging the whole thing up. Thanks.

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Those were my sentiments exactly! I feel like this one is a superior repair to some of the other products out there based on how it chemically bonds the skimmer back together. Try separating PVC pipes after you have cemented them together... that's what I'm hoping for here!

[@Izzy-xz6hg]

Thank you for your recommendation. Purchased all the necessary equipment and solutions and it worked incredibly, MEk from West Marine and ABS Non-biodegradable BB's. The breakdown process took approximately 15 minutes. Applied and allowed it to dry for 3 days just to ensure dryness. Pool is up and running, water level holding steady. Thank you.

[@RegsChannel]

Right on, glad it worked! Hope you get to enjoy the season!

[@lovetrump1088]

I am having trouble finding both these items here in the USA. So I was hoping that someone can me where to get the ABS pellets from in USA (nothing I see says ABS pellets)? I have a small place and would like to avoid the $75USD Official Leslies Pellets? Also, I see our Government Overlords will not allow us to buy MEK any longer, to protect us from Inhaling the fumes and getting high I suppose (but we can but Crystal Meth and Fentanyl openly on the streets). So all they sell here is the NEW Nice Smelling MEK substitute, which is NOT real MEK. So anyone know where can I buy REAL MEK in the USA?

[@GC-rj5yp]

Excellent video I followed this video and the very large crack I had in my skimmer is repaired beyond my expectations.

[@RegsChannel]

Love to hear that! Glad the video helped! Hope you have a great pool season!

[@EscribanoEl]

Thank you so much for such a well explained and filmed DIY video on fixing my skimmer! The only thing that was missing was the drying time, although I assume that's on the MEK? My skimmer has a great big smile at the bottom because of the soil settlement pulling down on the T-junction underneath coming from another skimmer )))

[@RegsChannel]

Love to hear that it worked out! Yes it depends on the quality of the ABS pellets and MEK overall. Happy Skimmer equals a happy water bill!

[@ruckus6483]

Thank you reg! Explained perfectly 👍

[@RegsChannel]

@@ruckus6483 glad it helped!

[@nathanrasmussen8550]

Great video!The chemical safety piece was super helpful!

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words! In my experience that piece typically goes overlooked in a lot of videos I see on KZbin.

[@gerrykmet1206]

As usual great video, very informative! Looking forward to more!

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@pennycrosby5770]

Awesome video, thank you so much exactly what I was looking for!

[@RegsChannel]

Glad it could help!

[@mattbrown4610]

3 months post repair, just checking in to see how its holding up and if any touch ups were needed. Currently have a cracked skimmer myself, and trying to decide to go this route, or the two part pool putty.

[@RegsChannel]

So far so good! For me, I'll be curious to see how it holds up throughout the winter and if it will survive a freeze thaw cycle. I'm pretty confident we should be good! Personally I went the schmear route vs. 2 part epoxy because you are basically chemically welding the skimmer back together vs "gluing" although epoxy is a bit of a different animal....

[@Christopherkairos]

Great video. I’m dealing with the same problem right now

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words! I have faith because it's chemically "welded" that this fix will last!

[@jaimenahman3889]

Thank you for the detailed video and I appreciate the safety focus as many do not bother to mention it. I do have a question: there are parts broken off at the top of my skimmer. Do you know of anything I could wrap on the outside and then repair from the inside? Or visa versa. My pool deck became dry rotted and there are parts of the top skimmer missing but only one crack. The pool itself is gunnite if that matters. Thanks for any input you may have.

[@RegsChannel]

No problem, thanks for taking the time to comment! Hmmm that's a great question, if it's the skimmer / skimmer parts it should be ABS plastic. Do you happen to have a picture of the damage by any chance? I think I get what you are saying, but a picture is worth a thousand words. I'm thinking you could wrap it with fiberglass mat and coat it with resin if you have access. Might be able to use wire mesh as well. If you are into Instagram hit me up with pics and I can offer up some advice!

[@jaimenahman3889]

​@@RegsChannel Hi, my wife is messaging you on instagram. The initial message won't let us send pictures. Maybe if you accept her, we would be able to. Thank you for your assistance.

[@joepalma2959]

great video - your camera was really helpful

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words! Any other video showing schmear never showed the application

[@AquaLeak]

Hey, curious to know the follow up on this? Its been a year since it was installed on some large cracks.. Is it still holding up? Has any of the mixture begun to flake?

[@RegsChannel]

@@AquaLeak thanks for the comment! As of the fall it was still in good shape! Holding up well so far. Will check it once things that out. Hope that helps!

[@andrewoneill5003]

Very informative. I am not sure if my pool is leaking or just evaporating in the heat and wind. I believe you are suggesting one soaks the pellets in butanone overnight, in a sealed jar?

[@RegsChannel]

You are on the right track, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is what needs to be used however.

[@andrewoneill5003]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butanone Same stuff. You have some great content on your channel. I subscribed. Cheers from Barbados.

[@GameBoyRB]

Do a bucket test to see if it's just evaporation

[@johnnysouth4982]

You can use the plastic saw dust from cutting up a bucnh of scrap pvc pipe mix it with clear pvc cleaner and you have basically the same type of plastic putty. Also the two part pool putty works awesome just prep and clean the good have a few skimmers out there i patched years ago with pool putty still skimming and no leaks . Good videeo i have used the Hayward smear before it ok but it will crack again if the skimmer continues to settle or its being stressed from improper back fill or the pipes were forced when backfilled

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the comments! In my experience I would much rather take a good chemical weld over epoxy, but I agree that the prep is the most important thing!

[@jennifermiller2665]

Very helpful. Will this work the same for the aboveground pool? The Crack is at the bottom of the skimmer around the hole where the hose attaches to it.

[@RegsChannel]

Yes it should, I believe the skimmer is made from the same material

[@petenelson7291]

What is the working time once it's mixed, before it starts hardening or thickening? Can you add more MEK to thin it out if it starts thickening too quickly? Once the repair is complete how long does it take to fully cure? Thanks for doing this, it looks like it will be very helpful!

[@RegsChannel]

Hey there! You can play with the viscosity by adding either MEK or more pellets. I aimed for a white glue like consistency. If I recall correctly I had about a 10 min or so working time with it and I gave it over a day to cure to be safe. It was rock hard once I was done and it has held up well so far! Hope that helps!

[@yuoba2001]

Thank you for the video..I have the same problem, my skimmer it s very old and i have leak.. I tried many products ,like epoxy, but doesn't work. I called the pool company for the estimated they ask me 2000$ for replacement. I want to try the new stuff.. where did you buy?please let me know..for now I appreciate for the video and thank you very much

[@RegsChannel]

Hey there, yeah pool stores charge crazy amounts for the simples things. I was quoted 5000$ for a 450$ skimmer... I get that their time is worth something but that's a crazy markup! Here is a link to the pellets: www.poolweb.com/products/schmear-pellets-for-pvc-repairs-white I assume you are in the states? That's a US link. You will also require MEK. The schmear pellets themselves will give you the mix ratio. I feel this is a superior fix because the MEK chemically melts the old skimmer and the pellets together. You are basically chemically welding plastic, not just bridging or covering the crack like 99 percent of other products out there do... Keep me posted, hope this helps!

[@texyat7388]

@RegsChannel How has the repair held up? Also, how long should you wait to let the repair cure before filling with water? I have a crack in the side of my skimmer that I need to repair quickly so that I don’t spend the repair money on a water bill. 😅 This looks like the best, most durable solution I have found.

[@RegsChannel]

Repair has held up fantastic! The longer you give it the better but I would want to give it at least a solid 24 hours. I was in the same boat as you it was insane how much money I saved on the water bill alone!

[@ra78100]

Great video

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words! Hope it helps!

[@jonlightsonnochaway]

Great Video. I have a brand new pool with a brand new skimmer that has a crack in the bottom like where you have. The builder is giving me the run around. The epoxy failed after a few weeks. They refuse to replace the skimmer box. I know where they applied the epoxy, so I'm going to try this next since the builder won't do a proper repair. Thanks for this.

[@RegsChannel]

That's rough! You would hope they would stand by their work. Sand it down to bare abs and prep it well, this should get it done because it's basically liquid ABS lol, it's like plastic welding. Keep me posted, good luck!

[@jonlightsonnochaway]

@@RegsChannel Thanks. Will do! Appreciate it.

[@jonlightsonnochaway]

@@RegsChannel so the builder came back. They changed the inlet tube that goes to the filter, they changed it out to the good one that is in the skimmer box. They then capped off the bad one, and filled it completely in with epoxy. We had two pipes but only one was used, so they switched it. I hope their fix works

[@RegsChannel]

@@jonlightsonnochaway the challenge with epoxy is tensile strength and resistance to shearing. I could be wrong here but it doesn't form a mechanical bond per se. That's why products like JB water weld or some of the 2 part epoxies can let go over time. Hopefully it's good for the long haul for you!

[@jonlightsonnochaway]

@@RegsChannel that’s my fear too. That it weakens. I don’t mind doing the shmear myself still. Would it be effective with shmear over the epoxy repair?

[@pauliodotnet]

how long do you think this will "last" - thanks for the tips, trying this out this weekend.

[@RegsChannel]

Hi there, well I am expecting it to last as long as the skimmer because you are basically chemically welding things back together. I think the biggest challenge would be if it was the ground shifting that caused the skimmer to crack, you may experience a challenge there. Good luck with the repair!

[@VinnieVerite]

Hi, I just found your page. Great video! Just got a question. Do you think this method would work with PLA or Instamorph instead of ABS pellets? PLA is used for 3d printing plastic, and hardens like ABS when cooled. Instamorph is moldable when heated (with a heat gun or boiled in water), and also hardens when cooled, which could potentially eliminate the need for WEK.

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words! In a failed video, I tried what I believed to be abs 3d printer filament, and it would not dissolve with the MEK. Here is the thing, the skimmer is made of ABS, when using ABS pellets dissolved with MEK you are basically chemically welding the material into one solid piece which is what you want... The other alternatives you mentioned along with things like epoxies or resins can fill the crack, but if the skimmer shifts and the pool deck, wall, or around moves a bit, those types of repairs will crack or shear at those seal points depending on their tensile strength. Using the pellet and MEK method, in my opinion provides for a much more robust repair. I hope that helps!

[@VinnieVerite]

@@RegsChannel very reasonable answer. Thank you for that! ABS it is!

[@RegsChannel]

@@VinnieVerite no problem, good luck with the repair, keep us posted on how things work out!

[@btrent9244]

Outstanding inservice. I’m getting supplies prepared to repair mine. Thank you. ✔️newsub 👍

[@RegsChannel]

@@btrent9244 much appreciated! Good luck on the project!

[@oahukiteboarder808]

Previously repaired with the two part epoxy on the lip the skimmer basket 🧺 sits. I feel like it would be best to remove the hardened old epoxy (that would also help basket to sit better) Do you recommend removing the old epoxy? Do you ever use a layer of fiberglass tape and emeshed in the Schmear paste? Tysm for your excellent video and advice. 😊. Subscribed

[@RegsChannel]

@@oahukiteboarder808 if the old repair is holding, part of me says it would be good to leave well enough alone! In my mind you would need to make sure you got rid of ALL the old epoxy first so that the schmear could adhere well. I can see the logic behind the fiberglass tape, but again in my mind there may be a bonding issue because of the dissimilar materials. Hope that helps!

[@oahukiteboarder808]

@@RegsChannel WOW! TYSM for the prompt reply!! No the old putty hasn't held - it has failed. it's leaking just below the bead of 3 year old putty. Okay will skip the fiberglass tape but worried a thin surface coat of schmear will be weak and crack easily with any future ground shifting? To be clear sounds like you are saying I MUST remove at least the section of the putty which has failed? Since the bead of putty goes all the way around the lip of the skimmer throat that the basket rests on I would guess this entire bead should be removed since if not it will likely fail soon in the neighboring area?

[@RegsChannel]

@@oahukiteboarder808 I would want to make sure I could bond ABS to ABS so yeah removing the old stuff thoroughly should make sense. You are basically packing liquid ABS into the crack so I think it should bond effectively! Hope that helps.

[@mrcleanisin]

Will it work on vinyl pool liners?

[@RegsChannel]

Yup! My pool has a vinyl liner

[@raykhan8053]

Great video .. vital info and caution 👍👍

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words! Hope the video helped!

[@dwojcik100]

Wow cool video I didn't know they made that epoxy

[@RegsChannel]

That's for the kind words! Good luck with the repair!

[@danvanderburg5985]

Awesome! Thank you!!

[@RegsChannel]

You are most welcome! Good luck with your repair!

[@botat34691]

Hey my Dads pool has this issue. Is it still holding? I think I might earn son of the year if this works.

[@RegsChannel]

@@botat34691 yep! It did well this year, your prize is waiting lol! Let us know how things work out!

[@seanmckeon731]

I want to ask a question about the m e k,, I went to Home Depot and I bought this product m e k substitute is that the same thing

[@RegsChannel]

@@seanmckeon731 it's hard to tell without seeing the product. I'm going to go out on a limb and will say you need "actual" MEK. You can always mix up a test batch of what you have and see if it works. Thanks!

[@seanmckeon731]

@@RegsChannel okay yes thank you I googled it and it said that it will work just fine it's just less toxic I think it said and it says that I'm the can

[@petertiberiust3171]

Thanks great video !

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@markb4448]

Wow that was cool! thanks man

[@RegsChannel]

You are most welcome! Glad it helped!!

[@Cute_coreslayz]

Where did u buy mek?

[@RegsChannel]

@@Cute_coreslayz bought mine from a store called Canadian Tire. If you are in the states both Walmart and Amazon carry it. Hope that helps!

[@tiov3001]

Try using an old skimmer basket, weir or skimmer lid, smashed to bits or throw it in an old blender instead of the pellets.

[@RegsChannel]

If someone had those things laying around I would probably suggest sanding down the exterior to remove impurities first but yeah, I could see that working.

[@joeaustin7774]

Would it work to crush the pellets before adding the MEK? 6:14

[@RegsChannel]

Hey Joe! Sure, if possible the finer the pellet the more surface area would make contact with the MEK. This would speed up the rate it dissolves at. However once it's mixed and sealed in a jar you can keep using it. I still have some leftover in the jar from when I did the video and it's still perfect!

[@joeaustin7774]

Great thanks for the info

[@RegsChannel]

@@joeaustin7774 no problem, hope it helps!

[@mikezandy320]

Awesome video!! Can you use heavy gloves to smear the solution instead of the putty knife. That will make the job go faster and easier in such a small place. What is the name of those pellets that you used?

[@RegsChannel]

@@mikezandy320 thanks for the kind words! Ideally you are going to want to use a good solvent or chemical resistant glove when handling MEK. In terms of the pellets, you want to use 100 percent ABS. I used airsoft pellets. When using airsoft pellets if they are labelled as biodegradable, they are NOT 100 percent ABS. Hope that helps!

[@joepalma2959]

can you tell me what grit sandpaper you recommend?

[@RegsChannel]

Of course, I used some 120 grit to roughen things up

[@marypeterson4654]

How long does the repair product need to dry?

[@RegsChannel]

It depends on the consistency it is mixed to. It doesn't take long to set but I have it a few days to fully cure. Repair turned out great afterward!

[@ValerieSullivan-np2ec]

Where did you buy the Abs pellets/beads from?

[@RegsChannel]

You can Google "Hayward ABS Pellets" anything from them will work, however they are expensive directly from them. I opted to get ABS airsoft pellets, they worked perfectly. Just make sure they are ABS. Amazon has a few options as well for abs pellets. Avoid anything that has anything other than 100 percent ABS in it. I tried an ABS 3D printer filament and it had another resin mixed in, that one failed in my testing. Good luck with the repair!

[@midnightrambler3583]

MEK is the primary ingredient of PVC cement which actually welds the PVC together by dissolving some of it. I’m not a chemist but mixing PVC cement with the ABS pellets may work as well. However, what ever is used a respirator is essential. MEK will get you higher than a kite.

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the comments, good luck on the project!

[@oahukiteboarder808]

FYI I took a piece of PVC pipe as well as a lot of PVC pipe dust from cutting it Definitely did not work the same as the Hayward ABS pellets

[@hhdstfc-fe1ur]

hi, after 1 year the skimmer it works with that repair?

[@RegsChannel]

Hi there, the pool has not been opened for the season yet as we are still in winter, but the repair looks like it held well! No cracking as far as I can tell. Will know definitely in about 6 weeks or so

[@hhdstfc-fe1ur]

@@RegsChannel good advice with solution with abs an links!hope you make more videos to help people

[@RegsChannel]

@@hhdstfc-fe1ur thanks for the kind words! I do hope to keep growing the channel 😀

[@hoalanaho]

Can you use MEK substitute?

[@RegsChannel]

I personally have not tried a substitute but remember, you are trying to chemically "weld" the parts and the MEK allows the mixture to remain workable. Use the right tool for the job!

[@GC-rj5yp]

All I could find was MEK substitute and worked for me.

[@MacfaddenPlumbing]

I’ve been stirring for 40 minutes. Pellets do t seem to want to dissolve???

[@RegsChannel]

We have to be sure they are 100 percent ABS pellets... If they are taking that long to dissolve that may be an issue. Give it some time and see if they dissolve.

[@patjordan4244]

@@RegsChannel I experienced the same issue with the pellets not fully dissolving. I let the mixture sit overnight in a sealed bell jar. In the morning, the pellets had dissolved.

[@RegsChannel]

@@patjordan4244 right on, patience for the win!

[@oahukiteboarder808]

Best way to remove old hardened epoxy putty that’s been under water in skimmer- Acetone? Kleanstrip? Chisel? Dremel?

[@RegsChannel]

@@oahukiteboarder808 my gut would say Dremel, or palm sander with like 220-300 grit sandpaper. Dremel with a sanding wheel would work!

[@jennifermiller2665]

Ty you for this!!! ✌️💗🙂

[@RegsChannel]

@@jennifermiller2665 you are most welcome! Hope it helped!

[@jennifermiller2665]

@@RegsChannel will this work the same for aboveground pool skimmer? I assume the hose will add more pressure on the crack while the pump is running? And my crack is right around the whole at bottom of skimmer where the hose connects.

[@RegsChannel]

@@jennifermiller2665 I assume it's the same material, I would think it would work... You are basically chemically welding the material to the skimmer so it should hold up!

[@jennifermiller2665]

@@RegsChannel ty so much.. This is very helpful

[@RegsChannel]

@@jennifermiller2665 no problem at all, you are most welcome!!!

[@2bglee]

really informative vid next time please move obstacles out of your way like vacuum hose

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the encouragement! The repair is holding up well, but I'll keep that in mind if there is ever a "next time"

[@BongaYetna]

C'est génial.😮

[@RegsChannel]

Thank you!

[@emmwhite3945]

You rock❤️🛎🇨🇦

[@RegsChannel]

Well thanks for the kind words!! Much appreciated :)

[@elistanger117]

Has the patch been holding one month in?

[@RegsChannel]

Hey there! Yes so far it has been great! It solidified/cured very well and feels just like the original skimmer material. Hope that helped!

[@elistanger117]

1. This worked brilliantly and saved me thousands. 2. Used the same Colt BBs as used in the video and MEK which in Canada can be purchased from Canadian Tire. 3. Mixing the BBs in MEK will take overnight to properly blend. The benefit of using the Hayward Schmeer is that the ABS is much smaller and will blend with MEK more quickly. You can probably get the consistency in a couple of hours. Overall I am super grateful this video was produced. Thank you.

[@RegsChannel]

@@elistanger117 thanks for the kind words! Agreed this fix saved big bucks!!! And yeah the trick part is ensuring you are using pure ABS... I literally filmed an entire video where I tried to use "ABS+" printer filament. Needless to say it didn't work. I still have some of the mixture sealed in jar. It's the consistency of toothpaste but it's ready for action if the need arises!

[@michaelsunderman2882]

How long does it take to set up? When can I put water back into the pool?

[@RegsChannel]

@@michaelsunderman2882 I gave mine about 3-4 days to fully set up and cure. I basically pressed my thumbnail into it after a few days, and when I realized it didn't leave a mark I knew it was setup enough. Been great since!

[@north4961]

👍 Subb’d thanks 🇨🇦

[@RegsChannel]

@@north4961 thanks for the support! Much appreciated!

[@commops106]

I would have used a syringe to inject into the bottom crack

[@RegsChannel]

@@commops106 that's a good suggestion, however I'm not sure if the mixture would chemically alter or compromise the syringe. Right idea though trying to get the most material into the crack that you can!

[@oahukiteboarder808]

Screwdrivers and putty knife made removing the old epoxy-putty easily removed. Just fyi to viewers.

[@RegsChannel]

@@oahukiteboarder808 good to hear! Thanks for sharing

[@karenmacera859]

Wouldn't it have been a lot easier to put in a new skimmer

[@RegsChannel]

Respectfully, I don't think so. I would need to cut out/dig out/remove the old skimmer, prep the area, install new gaskets, and re plumb the new skimmer. This involved sanding, prepping the area with MEK, mixing the schmear, and applying... Like 30-40 min of work vs. Hours. To each their own!

[@texyat7388]

@@RegsChannelNot to mention the enormous cost difference.

[@RegsChannel]

@@texyat7388 yes very true! This is one of the key reasons I started my own KZbin channel, to try and help both empower folks and save them money!

[@chucklakes2345]

Great video

[@RegsChannel]

Thanks for the kind words! Hope it helps!