If you have an above-ground Intex pool at home, you may be wondering if it is possible to add a skimmer to your pool to keep it clean and clear. In this article, I will share with you why you may want to use a skimmer in your Intex pool and the different types and options that are available.
Skimmers can be added to above-ground and Intex pools. These aftermarket skimmers come in two types: hanging or integrated wall mount. Hanging skimmers hook onto the side of the pool, whereas a wall mount skimmer is screwed into the side of the pool wall.
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out what kind of skimmer you can use in your pool, so let’s take a look at your options and what to consider when deciding on what one to get!
Article Contents
What is a Skimmer For?
First, let’s start with what a skimmer is. Skimmers are essentially a chamber that draws water into them. As they draw in the water, they capture any floating debris.
Leaves and other larger materials will get captured in the skimmer, which commonly appears as a strainer-like structure. The water then goes to the pool’s filter, gets filtered then is returned to the pool. This, in turn, keeps the pool clean to swim in.
Having some sort of skimmer is vital to maintaining a healthy swimming pool and avoiding unwanted conditions in the pool.
Do Intex Pools Come with a Skimmer?
Above-ground Intex pools generally do not come with a skimmer. Some of the high-end Intex pools come with a filter pump that includes Hydro Aeration® Technology. However, this does not catch leaves and debris that may be on the surface of the water.
Therefore, you may need to purchase your own skimmer separately. Intex does produce a variety of skimmers as an add-on product that you can purchase if you wish, such as the Deluxe Wall Mount Pool Cleaning Surface Skimmer and different types of handheld nets.
Do You Need a Skimmer for Your Intex Pool?
It is highly beneficial to have a skimmer for your Intex pool to ensure any debris is caught before it sinks to the bottom of the pool. Floating debris doesn’t just look unsightly, it creates extra demand for chlorine which in turn allows bacteria to grow.
If a skimmer is not used in your swimming pool, it can cause cloudy water, algae to form, and other issues.
In actual fact, no inground pool is designed without some sort of skimmer. It’s that important.
Therefore, using a skimmer is recommended if you want a clean and healthy pool and to avoid messing with the quality of the pool water, which can come with additional costs to fix.
Pros & Cons of Skimmers
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using skimmers in your swimming pool.
Pros of Using Skimmers
- They can catch leaves and debris before it sinks to the bottom of the pool.
- Using an automatic pool skimmer can save you time from manually using a skimmer net yourself.
- They can take the pressure off the pool filter to do all the work. As a result, the filter will require less cleaning.
- They ensure your pool water stays in good condition for your family to swim in.
Cons of Using Skimmers
- You need to clean out the skimmer regularly.
- If bought separately from the pool, it will be an additional cost and add extra time to set up.
Related Reading: How To Clean a Small Pool Without a Filter
How Many Skimmers Do Intex Pools Need?
One skimmer is enough for the majority of Intex pool sizes. The number of skimmers required will depend on the size of your pool. You want to ensure you have one skimmer per 400 square feet of surface area.
Once you know the size of your pool, you can get the right number of skimmers required to keep your pool healthy and clean.
We’ve listed all the Intex models and how many skimmers they need for you:
Skimmer Requirement for Intex Easy Set Pools
| Pool Size | Skimmers |
| 6′ | No Skimmer |
| 8′ | No Skimmer |
| 10′ | No Skimmer |
| 12′ | 1 skimmer |
| 13′ | 1 skimmer |
| 15′ | 1 skimmer |
| 18′ | 1 skimmer |
Skimmer Requirement for Intex Prism Frame Pools
| Pool Size | Skimmers Needed |
| 15′ | 1 skimmer |
| 16′ | 1 skimmer |
| 18′ | 1 skimmer |
| 20′ | 1 skimmer |
| 16′ x 8′ | 1 skimmer |
| 16.6′ x 9′ | 1 skimmer |
| 20×10′ | 1 skimmer |
Skimmer Requirement for Intex Ultra XTR Pools
| Pool Size | Skimmers Needed |
| 24′ x 12′ | 1 skimmer |
| 32′ x 16′ | 1-2 skimmers |
Skimmer Requirement for Intex Metal Frame Pools
| Pool Size | Skimmers Needed |
| 8′ | No Skimmer |
| 10′ | No Skimmer |
| 12′ | 1 skimmer |
| 15′ | 1 skimmer |
| 18′ | 1 skimmer |
Related Reading: Should You Add Pool Chemicals to the Skimmer?
Skimmers Suitable for Intex Above Ground Pools
Let’s explore three different types of skimmers that you can use for above-ground Intex pools.
- Hanging Skimmer
- Integrated / Wall Mounted Skimmers
- Hand Held Skimmer Net
1. Hanging Skimmer
Intex’s Deluxe Wall Mount Pool Cleaning Surface Skimmer is mounted and hangs off the edge of the wall of the pool. It is easy to use and attach to your above-ground swimming pool.
- Help catch leaves and debris
- Automatic skimming
- Fits Intex, Summer Waves, Bestway pools etc.
You also have the Bestway Flowclear Mount Surface Skimmer, which hangs up as well. These skimmers are easier to install compared to an integrated / wall-mounted skimmer, but may not be as reliable depending on how well it attaches to your pool.
- Cleans & skims automatically
- Easy setup
- Fits Bestway, Intex, Summer Waves pools etc.
2. Integrated / Wall Mounted Skimmers
These are skimmers that are fixed to the side of the pool. You will install it yourself and have a skimmer that is firmly integrated and mounted directly into the pool’s structure.
You will need some time to install it and be able to use some tools and screws to mount it to your pool, but it isn’t too difficult if you follow the installation instructions carefully.
The Hayward SP1091LX Dyna-Skim Above-Ground Pool Skimmer is a great example of a wall-mounted skimmer that has excellent ratings from homeowners around the world.
- Easily add a skimmer to above ground pools
- Works for Intex, Summer Waves, Best Way etc.
- Keeps pool much cleaner & clearer
3. Hand Held Skimmer Net
Don’t want to install a skimmer directly onto your pool and instead just do the cleaning work yourself?
In this case, you can buy pool Skimmer Nets that you hand hold and move around the pool to collect leaves and debris in your pool.
- High-quality plastic frame
- Fine mesh netting
- Telescopic pole design
This will require you to do all the work on a regular basis compared to having an automatic skimmer do it, but you may enjoy getting outside and maintaining your swimming pool yourself!
Now let’s look at the type of skimmer you’ll need for your model of the pool.
| Pool Model | Skimmer Type | View Product |
| Easy Set 6-10′ | Handheld Net | Net Skimmer |
| Easy Set 12-18′ | Hanging | Intex Deluxe Wall Mount Surface Skimmer |
| Prism Frame – All Sizes | Integrated Wall Mount | Hayward SP1091LX Dyna-Skim Above-Ground Pool Skimmer |
| Ultra XTR – All Sizes | Integrated Wall Mount | Hayward SP1091LX Dyna-Skim Above-Ground Pool Skimmer |
| Metal Frame Pools – All Sizes | Hanging | Intex Deluxe Wall Mount Surface Skimmer |
Easy Set
For Intex easy set pools 6-10 feet in diameter, you can use a hand net to skim the leaves and debris. These pools are mostly too small for a pump, filter, and skimmer.
For 12-18 feet pools, use the hanging skimmer type.
Prism Frame
Intex Prism Frame pools can either be fitted with a hanging type of skimmer. This is the easiest option. Alternatively, you can fit an integrated wall mount skimmer.
Metal Frame
A hanging type of skimmer is the best option for Intex Metal Frame pools of all sizes.
Ultra XTR
With Intex Ultra XTR pools, the choice is yours. Hanging skimmers or integrated wall skimmers will work.
Related Reading: What is a Pool Skimmer Sock, and Do You Need One?
How Much Do Skimmers For Intex Pools Cost?
Let’s compare prices between these popular skimmers that you can purchase on Amazon that can go on an above-ground Intex pool
Comparing Costs Between Skimmers
| Type | Price (USD) |
| Intex Deluxe Wall Mount Pool Cleaning Surface Skimmer | $20 – $30 |
| Summer Waves SkimmerPlus | $40 – $140 depending on the size needed |
| Hayward SP1091LX Dyna-Skim Above-Ground Pool Skimmer | $60-$70 |
| Bestway Flowclear Mount Surface Skimmer | $20 – $30 |
From this table, we can see that prices vary, with most hanging, plastic skimmers costing under $40, while the wall-mounted Hayward skimmer that requires more time and effort to install is more expensive. However, this may reflect the better quality of the skimmer and all the parts involved, in the long run.
What About Installation?
The installation of your pool skimmer depends on the type used. You will need to read the instructions for your skimmer carefully and install it as instructed.
Hanging skimmers require very little installation.
Intex’s hanging Deluxe Wall Mount Pool Cleaning Surface Skimmer needs to be connected to a filter pump that has a minimum flow rate of 800 gph. It comes with two adjustable mounting brackets and a connector hose for easy installation.
The Hayward SP1091LX Dyna-Skim Above-Ground Pool Skimmer requires a bit more work to install as you need to cut into the side of the pool and use screws to integrate the product into the pool. It requires focus and patience to ensure you install it correctly.
No matter what skimmer you get, generally, any homeowner can easily install it themselves by following the installation instructions carefully and making sure they are applying it to the right kind of swimming pool.
Other Skimmer Considerations
When using a skimmer in your above-ground pool, you want the water level to be at about the midway point of the skimmer so it can catch the leaves and debris and the water can travel through the skimmer and to your filter and pump.
If the water level is too high, the skimmer will be unable to do its job properly and you will find that there is still debris floating in your pool. Alternatively, if the water level is too low, this can cause major issues with the pool’s systems, as it was not made to suck in air, only water.
Be sure to keep an eye on your pool’s water levels regularly in case the pool water needs to be topped up or drained to maintain the right level.
More Skimmer Options for Intex Pools
There are a few leading brands for skimmers to use for above-ground Intex pools, so let’s see what they are and their pros and cons.
Intex Brand
The Intex brand is all about affordable quality products, and their Deluxe Wall Mount Pool Cleaning Surface Skimmer and range of handheld net skimmers are made to last and to suit your needs no matter what pool you have.
- Very affordable
- Is easy to install yourself
- Provides automatic skimming
- You can pull the strainer bucket out easily
- The pool chemicals don’t affect the polypropylene plastic skimmer
- Being a hanging skimmer, it could have trouble staying in place compared to wall-mounted / integrated skimmers
- You need an Easy Set or metal frame pool for it to fit on properly
Summer Waves Brand
Summer Waves have a variety of above-ground pools and skimmers to work with them. The Summer Waves SkimmerPlus is a great skimmer option as all you need to do is attach it to the side of the pool and hook up the hoses to keep your pool clean and clear.
- Skims & cleans water efficiently
- Easy installation
- Fits Summer Waves, Intex, Bestway portable pools
- Different size options are available and are efficient
- It is like a skimmer and filter pump in one
- Fits most metal frames, and above-ground pools
- It uses a circle connection and not a square one which may not suit some pools
Bestway Brand
Bestway produces high-quality pools and the Bestway Flowclear Mount Surface Skimmer, which, just like Intex’s skimmer, hangs onto the edge of the pool. It is made out of plastic that is corrosion proof and it is easy to maintain.
- Is easy to set up
- Cleans automatically
- Due to it being made of plastic, it may snap and break easily
Conclusion
Overall, I would definitely have a skimmer in my pool to keep the leaves and debris out. For me, an automatic skimmer would be the way to go to avoid having to do all the work myself! Happy shopping!
