Winter Skimmer Covers, Plates & Gizzmos

The skimmer is where most winter pool damage actually happens. Water sits in the skimmer throat, freezes, expands, and splits the housing — a repair that means cutting concrete or pulling a liner. A winter skimmer cover, faceplate, or Gizzmo gives that ice somewhere harmless to go. PST Pool Supplies stocks all three approaches for above ground and inground skimmers, so you can protect the skimmer whether you drain below it or leave the water level up.

The Gizzmo is the classic solution: a hollow threaded bottle that screws into the skimmer's 1½" outlet and crushes inward as ice forms, absorbing expansion instead of transmitting it to the skimmer wall. The Original Gizzmo covers 1½" MPT, and the Super Gizzmo handles 1½" or 2". Compensators work the same way for above ground and Ultimate 1½"/2" MPT applications. Numbered winter plugs with integrated blowout valves (#8, #9, #10, #13) seal the skimmer line while letting you re-blow it later without pulling everything apart.

Aquador faceplate covers take a different approach — they seal the skimmer opening at the pool wall so the skimmer body stays dry all winter and you can keep the water level up near the tile. We carry complete Aquador kits and replacement lids for above ground standard, wide mouth, Doughboy and Lomart skimmers, plus inground kits for Hayward SP1084 and SP1085 and Aqua Genie. If you would rather block the throat directly, winter skimmer plugs are sized to specific openings — 6" and 8" round standard, 11.5" x 5-3/16" and 15-3/16" x 5-3/4" wide mouth. Pair with matching winter return plugs and see the complete pool winterizing supplies range. For skimmer parts outside of winter, browse our pool skimmer parts. Industry closing guidance is published by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance.

Protect the skimmer before the first freeze — a winter skimmer cover or Gizzmo costs less than thirty dollars, and a cracked skimmer housing costs hundreds to replace.