Stick oily ring of dirt in skimmer and on bottom of floats

[W.J.Christy]

I clean my skimmers and such pretty regularly, and since we have started using the pool, i have been finding an oily ring in the skimmer body (kinda like a bath tube ring). I think its from the excessive amount of sunscreen everyone uses (myself included) to protect ourselves from the texas sun.

Has anyone else seen this type of issue occur?

 

[BK MAC]

Yep, now I have an "Exxon Valdez" Rule for my pool. Anyone applying sunscreen must wait 15 minutes after application before entering the pool(most sunscreen instructions say the same thing.) While the rule helps, a ring still tends to occur in the skimmers and on my steps. I usually use a rag/paper towel to wipe the worst of it from the skimmer and spray it with a bit of Simple Green if it needs a additional help. I also use a magic eraser for more stubborn stains.

 

[Newdude]

I had 3 tennis balls in the pool at all times. 6 for a party. They are amazing at sucking up oils, and when they find their way to the skimmer, they'll help save the filter along with the skimmer ring.

 

[W.J.Christy]

I had 3 tennis balls in the pool at all times. 6 for a party. They are amazing at sucking up oils, and when they find their way to the skimmer, they'll help save the filter along with the skimmer ring.

How long do the tennis balls last?

 

[Newdude]

How long do the tennis balls last?

I threw them out each year and started fresh, for $4(?). I could have easily gotten 2 seasons or more from them.

 

[wgipe]

I have the same issue this year. So frustrating. It just keeps coming back!

It was doing it after opening in the spring before there had even been swimmers in the pool. None one the water line, steps - nowhere else. Just the skimmers. It's driving me bonkers! I'm wondering if it is either the Polyquat breaking down that I put in when I closed last fall or possibly even the antifreeze from the returns breaking down? We had exactly none of this last season.

Being in Texas, I would assume you don't wo terize, so no Polyquat or antifreeze has been added, correct?

 

[Newdude]

@Snoobug had something similar which if I recall right, was somewhat related to the autocover. Or, that's what we ended up guessing was playing a big part. Hang tight.

@W.J.Christy do you have one also ?

 

[W.J.Christy]

@Snoobug had something similar which if I recall right, was somewhat related to the autocover. Or, that's what we ended up guessing was playing a big part. Hang tight.

@W.J.Christy do you have one also ?

Nope, no autocover.

 

[W.J.Christy]

Ill give the tennis balls a try and see where they take me.

 

[Newdude]

Ill give the tennis balls a try and see where they take me.

They mostly lived in the skimmers and eventually a kid would play with one for a while, then a dog would have a few turns, and it would find its way right back to where all the scuz collected.

IMO no pool should be without a 3 pack of tennis balls.

*I ran 24/7 so the waterline stayed clean enough from residuals to just occasionally wipe. If anyone's pool sits still for 12+ hours a day, take the tennis balls out of the skimmer and toss them back in the pool whenever you're out there. Don't go out there specifically for that, but it will take 4 whopping seconds while you're already there.

 

[Snoobug]

Ugh still getting the nasty black ring inside my skimmer and only my skimmer. So I use a skimmer sock and I think when it starts to accumulate junk it slows the flow and then build up occurs. I don't know... Maybe I should clean/replace it more often...

 

[Snoobug]

Also, mine's not just a gray sludgy ring that I think is normal... it's black and well defined.

Do you have pics?

 

[W.J.Christy]

Also, mine's not just a gray sludgy ring that I think is normal... it's black and well defined.

Do you have pics?

No pics. But mine is black and well defined too. It only shows up after a swim.