How To Remove The Pool Skimmer Gizzmo
By The “gizzmo” is a specially made piece of molded plastic that fits in your swimming pool skimmer during the winter or the off season to protect your swimming pool skimmer in two ways.The pool skimmer gizzmo will protect your swimming pool in two different ways. The gizmo is designed to stop the skimmer from breaking from ice expansion. 
The pool gizzmo is also designed to plug off the bottom of the skimmer so that water can not enter the skimmer plumbing. The swimming pool gizzmo comes in a few different sizes as well as colors. The shorter gizmo is made for above ground pools and small skimmers. The Ultra gizzmo is made for deep skimmers. The original gizmo comes in green, however other brands will come in colors such as blue and black.
Here is how to remove your swimming pool gizzmo:
Remove the skimmer cover:
The first thing you will want to do is to remove the skimmer cover. Sometimes the skimmer cover will be secured by two flat head screws. Once the screws are removed you can stick your finger into the whole and then pull up on the skimmer cover to remove it. If the skimmer cover is stuck you may want to tap on it a bit and try again.
Removing the pool gizzmo:
To remove the pool gizzmo you will want to make sure the skimmer cover is removed as we described above. Now you will place your hand on top of the gizzmo and turn it counter clockwise a few turns. If there is water in the skimmer the gizzmo will pop up in the water because its full of air.
Replacing the pool skimmer cover:
Once you have removed the pool skimmer gizzmo you will now see some air bubbles in the skimmer if you have water in the pool. This is caused by water rushing into the plumbing of the swimming pool. Once the air and bubbles stop you can place your skimmer basket into the skimmer. Now that the skimmer basket is in the skimmer you can place the skimmer cover back on to the skimmer.
Small Note to anyone removing the gizmo:
If you unscrew the gizmo from the skimmer and it feels like it is full of water then the gizmo is no longer good. Once the gizmo is filled with water this means that it has cracked somewhere and will no longer protect the skimmer in the winter. The solution is just to replace the gizmo before the end of the pool season so you will have a new one for the pool closing.
My pool guy put the Gizzmo in and left the pump running but we are not ready to close the pool for a few more days. Can I turn the pump off, remove it turn on the pump and let water circulate for a few more days? Also is this gizzmo attachment still good?
This web site really has all the information I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I just had the bottom of my gizmo break off in the skimmer and now I can’t get it out. The part that broke off is the threaded portion and there is nothing left to grab on to and unscrew it. Any suggestions?
Our gizmo broke in our skimmer also how did you get it out
Did you get it out mine did too
My husband used a long narrow pry bar poked a slit and turned. Came right out. He drilled a small hole first but the pry bar didn’t even go throught that part it made it’s own hole. Releasing some water pressure may have helped it turn easier. We got the idea from a different site. Guy used a large flathead screwdriver. Hope this helps someone.
I have the same problem as Chris did in the above comment but I see no answer. My gizzmo snapped off in my skimmer and just the threaded part is left in and I can’t get it out. I cant grab it as there’s nothing to grab onto its completely severed flush. How can I get it out?
did you ever get it out? same thing happened to us.
any advice on this?