Pool Skimmer Replacement in Lake Barrington, IL – Schedule a Repair
JG Pool Service repairs and replaces cracked, leaking and separated pool skimmers throughout Lake Barrington, Barrington, Long Grove and the surrounding Chicago suburbs.
24+
Years servicing residential pools across the Chicago suburbs.
FREE
Estimate before any skimmer repair or replacement begins.
7 DAYS
A week, we're reachable for pool repair calls across the Chicago suburbs.
24/7
Emergency response for leaks, pump failures and equipment breakdowns.
Why Pool Skimmers Crack in Chicago's Freeze-Thaw Climate
A pool skimmer is a plastic box set into the concrete at the waterline, and it sits exactly where winter does the most damage. Every in-ground pool in the Chicago suburbs spends months closed, and any water left inside the skimmer body or the suction line beneath it freezes, expands and pushes against the plastic walls. One hard freeze with a full skimmer can split the body from top to bottom. More often the damage is quieter: a hairline crack at the throat, where the plastic meets the pool wall, that opens a little wider every winter until the pool starts losing water in spring.
The concrete around the skimmer moves too. The deck and the bond beam expand and contract through each freeze-thaw cycle, while the plastic skimmer body moves at a different rate. Over several seasons that mismatch opens a gap between the skimmer and the shell, and water escapes behind the tile and into the soil under the deck. Because it drains out of sight, this kind of leak rarely leaves a wet spot. It shows up as a pool that keeps losing water with no obvious cause, exactly the problem our leak detection service is built to track down.
Age finishes the job. Many skimmers in older suburban pools are the original plastic from the day the pool was built, and years of sun, chlorine and winter cycling leave that plastic brittle. A brittle skimmer can crack from something as small as a dropped lid or a slight shift in the deck. Replacing it before the crack reaches the suction fitting keeps a small repair from turning into a plumbing job.
The concrete around the skimmer moves too. The deck and the bond beam expand and contract through each freeze-thaw cycle, while the plastic skimmer body moves at a different rate. Over several seasons that mismatch opens a gap between the skimmer and the shell, and water escapes behind the tile and into the soil under the deck. Because it drains out of sight, this kind of leak rarely leaves a wet spot. It shows up as a pool that keeps losing water with no obvious cause, exactly the problem our leak detection service is built to track down.
Age finishes the job. Many skimmers in older suburban pools are the original plastic from the day the pool was built, and years of sun, chlorine and winter cycling leave that plastic brittle. A brittle skimmer can crack from something as small as a dropped lid or a slight shift in the deck. Replacing it before the crack reaches the suction fitting keeps a small repair from turning into a plumbing job.
01
Freeze Cracks in the Skimmer Body
Water trapped in the skimmer or the line below it expands as it freezes and splits the plastic, usually at the corners or the bottom where the suction fitting connects. These cracks often stay invisible until spring, when the pool is filled and the water level starts dropping to the same point every day.
02
Separation at the Skimmer Throat
The throat is the opening where the skimmer meets the pool wall, and it is one of the most common leak points on a concrete pool. As the deck shifts through winters, the seal between plastic and concrete breaks, leaving a gap that surface sealant alone rarely holds for more than a season.
03
Brittle, Aging Plastic
UV exposure and pool chemicals slowly turn skimmer plastic brittle and chalky. Weirs stop swinging, lids crack, and the body itself becomes fragile enough that repairing one spot can crack another, which is usually the point where a full replacement costs less over time.
Benefits of a New Pool Skimmer
A skimmer replaced by JG Pool Service protects more than the water level: it keeps your pump, your chemistry and the deck around it in working order.
A leaking skimmer costs more than the water it loses. When the level drops below the skimmer opening, the pump starts pulling air, and a pump that runs dry wears out its seal and motor far faster than one with a steady water supply. Constant top-ups also dilute the chemistry, so the pool needs more chlorine and balancing just to stay where it was.
Replacing a skimmer on a concrete pool means cutting out the deck and part of the coping around it, setting the new body at the correct height and angle, and pouring new concrete that bonds to the shell. The part itself is a small share of the job. The work around it decides whether the new skimmer stays sealed through many winters or starts leaking again after two. Before the deck is closed, JG Pool Service checks the suction line under the skimmer for cracks, so a hidden crack in the pipe below does not undo the new installation.
Because the coping and waterline tile next to the skimmer have to come off anyway, a skimmer replacement is a natural time to fix loose stones or chipped tile on that side of the pool. Our coping replacement and tile replacement work can be handled in the same visit, so the deck is opened once, not twice.
Replacing a skimmer on a concrete pool means cutting out the deck and part of the coping around it, setting the new body at the correct height and angle, and pouring new concrete that bonds to the shell. The part itself is a small share of the job. The work around it decides whether the new skimmer stays sealed through many winters or starts leaking again after two. Before the deck is closed, JG Pool Service checks the suction line under the skimmer for cracks, so a hidden crack in the pipe below does not undo the new installation.
Because the coping and waterline tile next to the skimmer have to come off anyway, a skimmer replacement is a natural time to fix loose stones or chipped tile on that side of the pool. Our coping replacement and tile replacement work can be handled in the same visit, so the deck is opened once, not twice.
01
Water Loss Stops at the Source
A new skimmer body and a properly sealed throat close off one of the most common leak points on a concrete pool. Instead of topping up every few days and chasing chemistry that keeps getting diluted, the water level holds where it belongs.
02
Protection for the Pump and Filter
A pool that holds its level keeps water flowing to the pump, so it never runs dry or pulls air. That protects the pump seal, the motor and the filter from the kind of damage that turns a skimmer problem into an equipment repair.
03
Cleaner Surface Water
A working skimmer with an intact weir and basket pulls leaves, pollen and oils off the surface before they sink and stain the floor. That means less brushing and vacuuming between cleanings and clearer water through the whole season.
Pool Skimmer Repair and Replacement Options in Long Grove, IL
From a new weir door to a full skimmer replacement, each option is matched to the damage we find during the inspection.
01
New Skimmer Body
When the body is split at the bottom, cracked at the suction fitting or broken in several places, replacement is the only lasting fix. The deck and coping around the skimmer are cut out, a new body is set and connected to the suction line, and fresh concrete is poured to lock it into the shell.
02
Skimmer Throat Repair
If the skimmer itself is sound but has pulled away from the pool wall, the gap at the throat can be cleaned out and resealed with a flexible, pool-rated material. It is a smaller job than a full replacement and works well when the separation is caught early.
03
Coping & Tile Repair
When the coping stones or waterline tile next to the skimmer are cracked or loose, they are replaced while the deck is already open. Combining the work with our pool coping replacement service keeps that side of the pool from being torn up twice.
04
Weir Door Replacement
The weir is the floating flap at the skimmer opening that keeps debris from drifting back into the pool. A stuck or missing weir lets leaves escape the basket, and replacing it is a quick fix that restores how well the skimmer cleans the surface.
05
New Lids and Baskets
Cracked lids on the deck are a tripping hazard, and a broken basket lets debris reach the pump. New lids, collars and baskets are matched to the skimmer model so they seat correctly and stay put.
06
Suction Line Repair
The pipe that runs from the bottom of the skimmer to the pump freezes the same way the skimmer does. If the line is cracked at the fitting, it is repaired while the skimmer area is open, then checked for leaks before the concrete goes back.
07
Replastering Add-On
A pool that is already drained for replastering or painting is the easiest time to replace a worn skimmer. Scheduling both in one project avoids lowering the water a second time later in the season.
08
Freeze Protection
The cheapest skimmer repair is the one that never happens. At closing, water is kept out of the skimmer and the line below it is blown out and plugged, which is part of our pool opening and closing service.
Skimmer Replacement Process
A skimmer replacement holds up only if the leak is confirmed first and the concrete work around the new body is done right. JG Pool Service follows the same sequence on every job, from a throat reseal to a full replacement with new coping.
01
Leak Test and Inspection
02
Deck Cut-Out and Skimmer Removal
03
New Skimmer, Concrete and Coping
FAQ
How do you check if my pool skimmer is cracked?
Three signs to check first
We start with where the water level stops: if it keeps dropping and then holds near the middle of the skimmer opening, the skimmer is the likely source. Then we look for cracks inside the body, gaps at the tile and new cracks in the deck around the lid, and confirm with a leak test at the throat before quoting any repair.
Can you find the leak if my pool stops losing water at the skimmer?
What that water line tells you
Yes. When the water drops and then holds at the skimmer opening, the leak is usually in the skimmer body or throat: once the level falls below the crack, there is nothing left to escape through it. JG Pool Service can pinpoint where the pool is losing water, so you only pay to fix the part that is actually leaking.
Can you repair a cracked skimmer instead of replacing it?
It depends on where it cracked
Often, yes. Small wall cracks or a separated throat can usually be sealed, while a skimmer split at the bottom or at the suction fitting needs a new body. We inspect the skimmer and the line below it first and tell you which option the damage actually calls for.
Do you have to drain my pool to replace the skimmer?
Short answer: no, and here is why
No. We only lower the water below the skimmer while we work, so most of your pool water stays in place. Once the new concrete around the skimmer has set, the pool is topped back up to its normal level.
How do I stop my skimmer from cracking over winter in Lake Barrington?
Two steps at pool closing
Keep water out of the skimmer and the line below it for the whole closed season. That means lowering the water below the skimmer or using a freeze guard, and blowing out and plugging the suction line at closing, both of which are part of our pool opening and closing service.
Will you have to remove my coping or tile to replace the skimmer?
What gets removed and reset
Yes, the coping stones and waterline tile right around the skimmer come off so we can reach it. We reset them once the new skimmer is in, and if that section was already loose or the tile is discontinued, we can match or replace it in the same visit.
Is there a pool skimmer repair service near me in Lake Barrington?
Towns we cover and how to book
Yes. JG Pool Service repairs and replaces skimmers in Lake Barrington, Barrington, Long Grove and nearby Lake County communities from our base in Lake Bluff. Call 847-532-3752 to schedule an inspection.
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Pool Service
in Chicago Suburbs
JG Pool Service is your go-to company for all your pool maintenance needs. With years of experience in the industry, we specialize in providing professional pool cleaningnd more.
