Who doesn’t love a pool party in the summer? As a homeowner, you’ll want to keep your pool clean and inviting all summer long, therefore, it’s important to vacuum your pool throughout the season. If you’re a new pool owner, you may feel a little intimidated about vacuuming your pool for the first time. Here’s a quick guide to effectively and safely vacuuming your pool.
Why You Should Vacuum Your Pool
Vacuuming your pool isn’t just about keeping it beautiful, though that’s a huge incentive! Frequent vacuuming removes dirt and debris, fights algae growth, and helps filter the pool water, which will reduce chemicals and assist you in keeping the pool water balanced.
The Basics: Equipment
In order to properly vacuum your pool, you’ll need some basic equipment:
- Vacuum head
- Telescopic pole
- Vacuum hose
- Vacuum plate
While most of this equipment can be purchased at almost any big box store, your best bet is to buy from a local, reputable pool company with an extensive retail shop. This way, you’ll be able to purchase the equipment best suited for your pool’s needs.
Vacuum Pole
A vacuum pole usually comes with a number of interchangeable tools (think: nets, brushes and, you guessed it, vacuum heads!)
Vacuum Head
A vacuum head connects to the vacuum hose and the intake nozzle on your pool skimmer. Once the hose fills with water, it creates suction and holds the vacuum head tight against the bottom and sides of the pool for the best coverage.
Vacuum Hose
A vacuum hose connects your vacuum head to the pump using the skimmer inlet. Connecting the hose to the inlet provides the sucking power you’ll need to pull up all the dirt and debris.
Vacuum Plate
A vacuum plate, which is also called a “skimmer plate,” is a necessary tool if you’re manually vacuuming your pool. This component allows the skimmer basket underneath the plate itself to catch larger debris. This is important because, without it, large pieces of debris can funnel into your plumbing or into the pump strainer basket, neither of which is good for the health of your pool.
Getting Started
Once you’ve got all of your equipment, it’s time to assemble your pool vacuum. Begin by simply attaching your vacuum head to your telescoping pole. Hint: it should snap on easily and shouldn’t require force or adjusting.
Next, connect the hose to the vacuum head on one end. Then, place the pole and vacuum head, with the connected vacuum hose, in the pool(be sure to extend the pole first so it doesn’t go below the surface of the water). Now we need to rid the vacuum hose of air. Take the loose end of the vacuum hose to the nearest return jet in your pool and hold it over the opening to fill the vacuum hose with water. You will know the hose is full when the air bubbles stop coming out of the other end of the hose you previously connected to the vacuum head. Keeping the hose as low to the water as possible, drag it over to the skimmer opening and attach the hose to the vacuum plate. Then slide the vacuum plate over the basket housing inside the skimmer. You should have suction!
Now it’s time to choose your filter valve setting. There are two options: “filter,” and “waste.” For light vacuuming, use the filter setting. For bigger jobs with larger debris, use the waste setting which bypasses the filter and simply pumps the water out the waste line.
Ready, Set, Vacuum!
If you’ve ever vacuumed a rug, you can vacuum a pool. It’s important to use slow, linear movements along the pool walls for the best results. Take your time—rushing can stir up the dirt and prevent it from getting vacuumed.
If your pool is especially dirty, be sure to check the pump strainer regularly as it may need to be emptied frequently.
Need Help?
Don’t be shy about calling in the experts. Spartan Pool & Patio provides worry-free pool ownership, and we can help you choose the equipment you’ll need to clean your pool as well as show you how to use it. Give us a call today to find out how we can help you experience all the joy of pool ownership!
