We had them at the swim club. I was on the board and they were one of my jobs. They just get grit in them and become hard to turn. Best to pull them out once a season and clean out the female part (think plumbers brush for inside of 1/2 inch fittings and a shop vac). Then be sure the allen hole in the male part is also clean so the wrench can seat all the way. As to losing them, well, buy new ones and be more careful next time. Also be sure you buy the right ones as there are several types and they are not all interchangeable. When we remodeled in 2000, we installed a new pool that did not reuire we keep water in it and solved the problem. Wish I had saved the male part of the anchors, I could have made a fortune selling them to folks.