When temperatures drop, your pool skimmer becomes the most vulnerable part of your entire system. Water that sits in the skimmer throat over winter can freeze, expand, and crack the housing, and that is a repair no homeowner wants to wake up to in March.
Galaxy Pool Spa Patio has been helping families winterize their pools for 50 years across our showrooms in Prosper, Fort Worth, Fort Smith, Rogers, Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. Two small pieces of equipment do most of the work to protect your skimmer through the cold months: a compensator (sometimes called a Gizzmo or skimmer plug) and a return plug. This guide walks you through installing both correctly.
What a Pool Compensator Does
A compensator is a hollow bottle with a universal threaded plug on one end. It seats directly into the drain hole at the bottom of your skimmer and serves two purposes at once.
- First, it keeps water from draining out of the skimmer line into the pool.
- Second, and more importantly, the hollow body absorbs the expansion force when any remaining water inside the skimmer freezes. Instead of ice pushing outward against the concrete or plastic skimmer walls, it pushes inward against the compensator, which gives slightly and protects the surrounding structure.
Without a compensator, freezing water in the skimmer throat has nowhere to go except into your skimmer body, and the result is almost always a cracked skimmer that needs to be replaced come spring.
How to Install a Skimmer Compensator
The process takes about two minutes per skimmer.
- Remove the skimmer basket and set it aside. Most homeowners store baskets indoors over winter to prevent UV damage and brittleness.
- Locate the drain hole at the bottom of the skimmer. This is the opening that connects to your plumbing line.
- Press the threaded end of the compensator into the hole. Wiggle it gently as you push down to create a tight seal.
- Confirm the compensator sits flush and stable. The bottle portion should stand upright inside the skimmer well.
That is the entire installation. You do not need to drain the skimmer or disconnect any plumbing.
How to Install a Return Plug
The return jet is the fitting that pushes filtered water back into your pool. Like the skimmer, it holds water in its line that can freeze and split the pipe.
- Start by removing the directional eyeball from the return fitting. The eyeball assembly comes apart in three pieces: the locking ring, the directional eyeball itself, and an inner ring that sometimes stays seated inside the wall fitting. If the inner ring is stuck, use a pair of needle-nose pliers to grip the two interior notches, then twist and lift it out.
- Once the fitting is clear, slide the threaded return plug into the opening. Tighten the wing nut on the front of the plug until it seals firmly against the wall fitting. The plug expands slightly as you tighten, which closes off the return line completely. Repeat the process for every return jet in your pool.
Why This Method Keeps Water Levels High
Most winterization methods involve lowering the pool water below the skimmer and return lines, which reduces the risk of freezing but creates a new problem. A lower water level puts more stress on your winter cover, especially during heavy rain or snow load, and it can damage the top rails on above-ground pools.
By plugging the skimmer and returns instead, you keep the water level at its normal operating height all winter. The cover floats on the water rather than stretching across a gap, extending its life and reducing the risk of structural damage to the pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I install winter plugs in my pool?
Install winter plugs before the first hard freeze in your area. For most of our service region across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and North Texas, that means completing winterization by mid-November.
Do I need to drain water out of my pool to use a compensator?
No. The compensator is designed to maintain normal pool water levels while protecting the skimmer from freeze damage.
Can I reuse winter plugs from year to year?
Yes. With proper storage, a quality compensator and return plug set will last many seasons. Inspect the threads and seals each fall before reinstallation.
What happens if my skimmer freezes without a plug?
Ice expansion almost always cracks the skimmer body. Replacement requires excavation around the skimmer and is a significant spring repair expense.
Visit a Galaxy Showroom for Winterization Supplies
Compensators, return plugs, winter covers, and the full range of closing chemicals are stocked at all seven Galaxy locations. Our design consultants can walk you through your specific pool setup and recommend the right combination of supplies for your region’s climate.
Find your nearest Galaxy showroom.
Want to learn more? Visit any one of our 5 locations to speak to one of our design specialists or shop our Swimming Pool Accessories online.
