Debris 'catcher' in front of skimmer basket?

[SplashDIY]

I have thought about this enough that I'm almost ready to design a prototype of this concept - what if, at the skimmer end of the pool, you could have a mesh on the surface to catch floating debris before it can enter the skimmer basket? A 2nd layer set at a depth of a few feet below the surface would be there to catch material that is waterlogged and begins to sink.

I am thinking of this because we typically travel for a few weeks at a time during summer. With the increasingly energetic weather and the extensive tree canopy overhead, our pool can really load up within the space of a few days.

I have checked with a few supply stores and did some searching online, but the only gear I could find was a type of vessel that is plumbed in ahead of the pump inlet. I would like to see something that intercepted the debris before it could overload the skimmer basket, with all the issues that follow on from that. I am curious to know if anyone has encountered a water-located solution, or come up with something themselves.

 

[SJPoe]

I tend to do that with the pool-cover. 90% of the big debris ends up on the top of the over - although some sort of 'pre-screen' that fit into the skimmer well could be a neat thing

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Skimmer guards would keep the skimmers clear, but would do nothing to "catch" falling debris...

Skimmer Guards - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[SplashDIY]

Is there such a thing as an industrial grade leaf skimmer? I'm thinking heavy duty frame, easily replaceable net.... next week, I need to begin blind-scooping the deep end of a 25,000 gallon pool. It's aprox 8 ft deep, and given its history and situation with forest-like tree cover overhead, it's going to have an enormous amount of material down there. Perhaps hundreds of lbs!

I was also wondering whether it might be possible to rent a trash pump without jeopardizing the vinyl liner of this pool. The open end of the submerged suction line would need some kind of guard to keep the hose face some distance - say 1 ½" - away from the liner to avoid capturing and tearing it. Draining the pool and refilling is unfortunately not a viable option, due to the risk of the vinyl liner shifting during that process.

 

[reggiehammond]

There's a plethora of people on YouTube taking on abandoned pools. I've seen several who put the suction hose of trash pump on a float. Or pump is out then shovel the heavy debris into buckets for removal.

Are you sure the liner is even worth saving? It may already be trashed and stained.

 

[Texas Splash]

I just pulled a muscle thinking of what you're about to do. Try to share some before and after pics of your project if you can. Going from swamp to blue is always a crowd favorite. Good luck!

 

[SplashDIY]

hahaha, thanks both! Maybe a Timelapse sequence - you know, 200 hours of labour reduced to 20 seconds. The liner is in good shape, if not currently visible below the waterline.