Skimmer Leaf Trap

The Problem: Leaves floating on the surface of the pool will clog your skimmers. The tannins in the leaves turn your skimmer basket and piping brown. And then, when you clean out the skimmer, stray leaves get sucked down the pipe.

The Solution: I use this handy net for about eight weeks in the fall to keep the leaves out of the skimmer mouth. After a short time they sink, where I can get them easily with a big net.

Step 1 Standard PVC Construction

Measure the mouth of your skimmer, the overhang of your coping, the distance down to the water, etc. and it will pretty much design itself. 

Construction is pretty straight-forward. If you've ever made any kind of framework out of PVC pipe, you can make this. If you haven't, well, this will be good practice. I used 3/4" CPVC pipe because it's beige and matched the pool deck a little better. Before you glue it, turn all the labeling down so it's not exposed. See the little hole I drilled in the elbow closest to the camera? That keeps it from trying to float. Drill another hole above the water line so the piping will fill up.

Comments

[baudeagle]

Good Idea, need a bit more instructions with it.  Where did you get the netting from?

[K5JBB]

 Well, the thickness of your coping and the amount of overhang will dictate the dimensions. I used a piece of old golf practice net.