What is the primary purpose of a swimming pool skimmer?

The primary purpose of a swimming pool skimmer is to remove debris. Skimmers are designed to collect leaves, insects, and other surface contaminants from the water's surface before they can sink to the bottom of the pool. By capturing this debris, skimmers help maintain water clarity and reduce the amount of dirt and organic matter in the pool, making it easier to keep the water clean and safe for swimming.

The functionality of a skimmer is crucial for overall pool maintenance. It works as part of the pool's circulation system, allowing cleaner water to be drawn into the filtration system, where it can be further processed and cleaned. Regular removal of debris also minimizes the workload on the pool filter and enhances the effectiveness of the disinfection process.

Other functions often associated with swimming pools, such as heating water, controlling water levels, and circulating chemicals, are managed by other components in the pool system. Heat exchangers or heaters are responsible for heating, while automatic fillers or overflows control the water level. Chemical distribution is typically handled by chemical feeders or the pool circulation system itself, which disperses pool chemicals evenly throughout the water. Thus, while those aspects are important for pool maintenance, they do not define the primary function of the skimmer.