The SkimmieBasket Buddy Grate Keeps Debris from Pump Line - Sacrificial Aluminum Anode Grate Helps Prevent Pool Equipment Corrosion

This little jewel can save you a little embarrassment and a fair amount of money. My pool service tech has a crew member who accidentally dropped a river rock into the skimmer port while cleaning out the basket. It got sucked into the labyrinth headed toward the pump. River rocks are used to weigh down the skimmer basket in the port. After several unsuccessful attempts to blow it out, the valve manifold had to be removed and replaced. I bought these to prevent future accidents. The old valve manifold was mounted on a plaque and presented to the crew member in a ceremony earning him the nickname, "Skimmer Greer!"

I purchased this in June 2023 to stop leaves from getting to the pump strainer. There is a drain plug in the bottom of my skimmer so this grate does not lay flat but it gets the job done. My pool isn't covered and I have a lot of trees including Cypress. If you're not familiar, think of Cypress droppings in a pool like cat hair on black pants. It will plug a skimmer basket in minutes. This grate catches the majority of what gets past the skimmer basket. I just pull the grate, knock everything off, and drop it back in.Be aware that it is designed to corrode, which might prolong your equity life.If you have trees around your pool, get this. You can thank me later.

Too large for our skimmer. Very sturdy.

We live in an area with very hard well water with lots of minerals. This tool placed at the bottom of our skimmers will attract most of the minerals that would normally cling to the pump system before they can enter the system. This should prolong the life of the system. In addition the tool adds a layer of debris protection for times when the skimmers are full or out of kilter and debris misses the basket.

does not fit the skimmer hole way to big.

I use anodes in my pool due to our well water characteristics and we also get our fair share of frogs in the summer so this anode/large debris blocking grid looked like a great idea. The only problem with my pool, and may not be the same for anyone else, is that the grate, even though it's very thin (1/16~1/8" thick?) it causes my skimmer basket to sit up by that little amount above the surface of the skimmer hole, and the skimmer basket's top edge no longer seals in the hole. When using the grate, quiet a few leaves and things get sucked into that gap and significantly collect on the grate to the point they are getting pulled into my skimmer suction line. Again- probably just my pool but I'll just go back to the skimmer basket without the grate. If my skimmer baskets were a hair shorter in depth, the grate would work fine. It's still a great item for those who can use it.

If you've owned an in-ground pool for a while, you know that the water motion and dissimilar metals in the pool and filtration system can cause problems from electrolytic corrosion. This strainer, made of a less noble metal will sacrifice itself first if there is any electrolytic issue. This is a comfort to know, but I also discovered that in my pool skimmer the thick aluminum grate helped prevent blow-out of the plastic pool skimmer basket.I have an open pool with no screen enclosure. There are several nearby trees that seasonally lose leaves and drop into the pool. Its difficult to keep up with the load of leaves in the basket and when it gets clogged the suction of the pump pulls the bottom or sides out of the plastic basket. I buy the baskets by the half dozen at a time because they're constantly needing replacement. Since I installed the 'Skimmie' the baskets last much longer because the plastic skimmer basket distorts only so far. The thick grate underneath then supports the basket delaying the inevitable basket blow-out. The suction rating asks about suction power but I'd have to rate the Skimmie five stars for preventing suction power from ruining my baskets.

No more running to empty the skimmer basket! This has greatly reduced the amount of leaves and debris that sneak by me when cleaning out our skimmer basket. Leaves that float into the skimmer while cleaning out the basket get stopped for easy removal before replacing the skimmer basket. I’ve had this a year or more and will buy another when needed. Great purchase.