Service parts · 06
Skimmers, Weirs and Baskets
The skimmer is where a spa’s water quality is decided and where the cheapest part in the cabinet causes the most callbacks. Weir gates, baskets, faceplates and the housing behind them.
Skimmer body, weir and basket.
Four parts fail in sequence: the weir sticks, the basket splits, the faceplate seal goes, the housing cracks.
Weir gate
Floating or hinged weir in the width the throat takes, with the pivot pins that stop it sticking.
Filter basket
Basket matched on top diameter, depth and handle, in the mesh the debris load expects.
Skimmer faceplate
Faceplate and gasket that seal the throat to the shell.
Skimmer assembly
Complete housing with throat, basket and weir where the body itself has failed.
Return inlets and suction covers
Return inlets and suction covers set flush into the shell: one sends water back into the tub, the other covers the suction point to the pump.
Float valve and equaliser
Float valve and equaliser parts for skimmers that control the water line.
Reference data
Opening, throat and faceplate.
A skimmer part is bought on three dimensions and one photo. Anything else is a guess that comes back.
| Field | What we confirm |
|---|---|
| Throat width | Matched to the opening the weir sits in; confirmed per enquiry |
| Weir height | Matched to the gate travel between the stops on your housing; confirmed per enquiry |
| Basket top diameter and depth | Matched so the basket seats and still clears the lid; confirmed per enquiry |
| Basket mesh | Selected against the debris size the basket has to hold; confirmed per enquiry |
| Faceplate fixing centres | Matched to the screw pattern in the shell; confirmed per enquiry |
| Housing material | ABS or PVC, which sets the repair method; confirmed per enquiry |
| Flow direction | Pump feed or gravity line, stated before the proposal; confirmed per enquiry |
| Reference system | Why it helps | What to send |
|---|---|---|
| Faceplate or housing number | The moulded reference on the part | Photo of the number |
| Spa brand and model | Narrows the skimmer family | Brand, model and year |
| Throat measurement | The dimension that decides the weir | Photo across the throat with a rule |
| Old basket | Diameter, depth and handle position | Photo on a flat surface with a rule |
| Lid photo | Clearance above the basket | Photo with the lid open |
Skimmer dimensions are quoted per enquiry because the same nominal throat is built to different depths and fixing centres. Brand names are used for cross-reference only.
What to measure at the pool edge.
The throat and the basket are the two measurements that decide the order.
- Photo of the skimmer in place with the lid open
- Throat width measured with a rule in frame
- Old basket photographed flat with a rule
- Screw centres of the faceplate, if it is being replaced
- Whether the housing is cracked or only the parts are worn
- Water line normal level, if a float valve is involved
Related reading: which skimmer part actually failed.
Why the weir matters.
A weir that sticks open turns the skimmer into a hole in the water line; one that sticks shut stops the surface draw. Both look like a filtration fault and both are a two-dollar part.
Weir and pivots together
The gate is supplied with its pins, because a worn pin is why the old one stuck.
Basket with the weir
Bought together more often than not; quoted as a set on request.
Gaskets included
Faceplate gasket travels with the faceplate.
Questions about skimmers and weirs.
Can I replace just the weir gate?
Yes, and it is the usual repair while the housing is sound.
How do I measure the throat?
Across the opening the gate sits in, with the rule in the same photograph.
Are baskets model-specific?
The top diameter and depth decide the fit; handles and lips vary between makers.
The faceplate leaks — gasket or new plate?
Usually the gasket. A warped plate is visible against a straight edge.
Can a cracked housing be repaired?
Sometimes welded in ABS or PVC; a replacement is quoted alongside so the choice is a real one.
Do you supply the float valve parts?
Yes, for skimmers that use one to hold the water line.
Parts that fit the skimmer throat.
What a skimmer repair usually pulls in.
Send the skimmer detail for a checked reply.
One enquiry covers the skimmer part, the fittings it needs and the market it ships to. Replies come from the person who checks the specification, not an autoresponder.