Above Ground Pool Skimmer Review: Install & Test
I swapped out a skimmer I hated for this over-the-wall above ground pool skimmer. Install steps, real vortex test, and what the socks are for.
Reviewed by
Scott Ayres
Welcome to the Product Demo lab where I (Scott) demo products so you can make an educated buying decision. I keep it real, honest and laid back.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Quick Verdict
I dropped grass into the basket and watched the vortex swallow it in seconds. The hose slides OVER the unit instead of forcing on, so a kid bumping it won’t kill your suction like my old one did. Right out of the gate my water flowed better than it had in a while.
Buy if you:
- Have a hard-frame above ground pool and hate cleaning the bottom
- Are replacing a skimmer that gets knocked loose by kids
- Want the hose to slide over the unit, not jam on by force
- Run a pump that hits at least 800 GPH
Skip if you:
- Don’t want to fuss with the skimmer socks that need changing often
- Run a low-flow pump under 800 GPH (it won’t skim right)
- Want a floating skimmer with no wall mount at all
Clicking takes you to the seller's website. We may earn a small commission if you purchase, at no extra cost to you.
| Material | PP + ABS plastic, chemical resistant |
|---|---|
| Pump requirement | Minimum 800 GPH flow rate |
| Mount | Adjustable wall bracket, two adapters |
| Fits | Inflatable, metal frame, tubular pools |
| Includes | Detachable basket, handle, skimmer socks |
Why Your Ground Pool Skimmer Keeps Coming Loose
The hose on my old skimmer was jammed on by force, and every time a kid bumped the pool, the whole thing popped loose and became useless, so I swapped it for this one. So I swapped it for this over-the-edge above ground pool skimmer. Out of the box, the first thing I actually checked was the hose connection, because that’s the part that had failed me for two summers straight. You can check the current price on Amazon here.
It’s a decent size, it’s weighted, and I really like that weight. There’s a nice handle on the basket too. But the part I was most excited about is how the hose connects.
The Hose Slides Over the Unit, Not Onto It
The hose slides OVER the skimmer instead of jamming on by force. That’s the whole reason I bought it. My old one forced the hose on, so any knock broke the seal. This one slides over a little lip, and if it’s snug you give it a little twist to seat it. Tight on both ends. That design difference is the difference between checking your skimmer constantly and forgetting it exists.
It’s made from PP and ABS plastic, so it holds up to pool chemicals, and it ships with two adjustable adapters. One’s for a hard-frame pool, one’s set up for inflatable walls. I’ve got the hard frame side, so I used that adapter. The bracket tightens down to grip your wall width. Here are the specs that matter before you buy.
The Vortex Grabbed Grass in Seconds
I turned the pump on and braced for the usual air-burping delay. Instead, a tight vortex locked in almost immediately, pulling water hard over the full width of the skimmer mouth, no coaxing, no repositioning. To prove it wasn’t just me, I dropped some grass in and watched it get sucked around and pulled in. There were little bugs everywhere on the surface, and it grabbed those too. See how quickly that pulled everything? I’m liking the flow of this one a lot.
The install order matters here. I screwed the fitting onto the outlet that came supplied with my pool first, after taking off the little screen, and got that on really, really tight. Then I dropped it into the hole, mounted the bracket against the wall edge, and I placed it a good distance from the inlet on purpose. Further from your outlet is just better for the flow. I connected the hose end last and let the unit float up to where I wanted it, then tightened it down. When I ran the hose the way I did, it lined up perfectly over the connection.
The Socks Are Great, But You’ll Be Changing Them Constantly
The one catch: those skimmer socks need changing often. It comes with a whole bunch of them, and they slide over the basket to grab the tiniest particles before they reach your pump. They’ll even snag some algae if you want. But that’s the trade. The finer they catch, the faster they clog, so it’s totally your call whether you run them at all. I’d rather you know that going in than get frustrated wondering why the flow dropped a week later. Just pull the sock, swap it, done.
Get it now
Above Ground Pool Skimmer
Get the best price on Amazon βThis post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Who This Ground Pool Skimmer Is For
Buy this if kids regularly bump your pool wall, or if debris is sinking faster than your current skimmer can grab it. The over-the-wall hose connection is the specific fix for the first problem, bumps that would’ve killed suction on my old unit barely register on this one. I personally set mine to leave a little room at the top of the basket adjustment, because my water tends to evaporate or I’ve got a slow leak somewhere. That extra room means I don’t have to come out and re-adjust it every time the level drops. If yours holds level, drop it lower and you’re set. There’s still plenty of travel left on that little nut to push it further down if you need to.
Against the Skimmer It Replaced
Compared to the force-fit skimmer that came off my pool, this one wins on the connection alone. My old unit relied on the hose being jammed on tight, and it fits worse than most I’ve owned. This one fits better than nearly any I’ve ever seen, and the hose sliding over the unit means it stays sealed even when the pool gets bumped. The one place a basic force-fit unit could edge ahead is simplicity, since there’s no lip to seat and twist. But that “simplicity” is exactly what failed me every week, so I’ll take the twist.
Install Tips Before You Turn the Pump On
Get the outlet fitting on really, really tight first, and take off the old screen before you thread it. Mount the skimmer a good distance from your inlet so the flow has room to work. Connect the hose end last and let the unit float up to your level before locking it down. And confirm your pump does at least 800 GPH before you order, because low flow is what kills these. Do that, and it starts doing what it’s supposed to do the moment you flip the pump on.
Pros
- Hose slides OVER the unit, so it stays sealed when bumped
- Strong vortex pulled grass and bugs in within seconds
- Fits better than nearly any skimmer I’ve mounted
- Weighted with a nice handle, and the basket pops out to dump in one motion
- Adjustable bracket plus two adapters for hard frame or inflatable pools
Cons
- The skimmer socks clog and need changing often
- Needs an 800 GPH pump or the skimming falls off
- The hose lip takes a twist to seat properly the first time
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it fit an inflatable-collar above ground pool?
Yes. It ships with two adjustable adapters, one for hard-frame walls and one for inflatable and tubular pools. I used the hard-frame adapter because that’s my pool, but the inflatable adapter is right there in the box for the other style.
What pump flow rate do I need?
At least 800 GPH. Low flow is what causes most skimming problems, so check your pump before ordering. My flow was better than it had been in a while once I hooked it up, and that vortex needs the pump behind it to keep pulling debris.
Do I have to use the skimmer socks?
No, they’re totally optional. They slide over the basket to catch the finest particles and some algae, but they clog fast and need swapping often. Run them when you want a fine catch, skip them when you don’t.
Should I turn the filter off before pulling the basket?
No. Leave the filter running when you remove the basket, otherwise debris (especially bugs) flows back into the pool. Pull the handle, dump and rinse the basket, then drop it right back in.
How do I clean out the collected debris?
Grab the handle, pull the basket straight out, and bang it out wherever you clean stuff. Rinse it, then drop it back down in and it goes right back to work. It’s a few-seconds job, not a chore.
Will it hold up to chlorine and pool chemicals?
It’s built from PP and ABS plastic that resists pool chemicals. That’s the same plastic family most skimmer bodies use, so chlorine and shock shouldn’t degrade it under normal use.
Do I need to lower my water level to install it?
No. It mounts to the wall without draining anything. The basket height adjusts to match your water level, and I actually left a little room at the top so evaporation doesn’t force me to re-adjust constantly.
What if my water level drops over the week?
Loosen the little nut on the adjustment and slide the skimmer down. There’s plenty of travel left to push it further. I set mine high on purpose because my level tends to drop, so I’m not out there tweaking it every day.
Get it now
Above Ground Pool Skimmer
Get the best price on Amazon βThis post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
ποΈ Shop everything in this video
Every product mentioned, in one place β these are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
ποΈ Above Ground Pool Over the Edge Skimmer β check price on Amazon β
ποΈ Pool Skimmer Socks β check price on Amazon β
About the reviewer
Scott Ayres
Welcome to the Product Demo lab where I (Scott) demo products so you can make an educated buying decision. I keep it real, honest and laid back.
