Replace a broken weir door yourself.

Yes, it’s a ten-minute fix that costs about $20 and doesn’t require a pool guy.

Inspection is simple: if the weir door doesn’t swing freely, or it’s cracked, warped, or missing entirely, replace it. A broken door means debris floats back into the pool, and the skimmer loses suction.

Replacement is even simpler. Measure the width of the skimmer opening (the slot the door sits in). Most residential skimmers take a standard size, but measure anyway. Buy a replacement weir door (universal ones exist, just match the width). Pop the old one out of its hinge pins, snap the new one in. Done.

Don’t overthink it. Your pool won’t throw a tantrum if the door is a different shade of black.