How To Vacuum A Pool: Step By Step Guide
Learning how to vacuum a pool properly is key to keeping your swimming pool sparkling clean. Vacuuming is one of the most important maintenance tasks. Vacuuming your pool removes debris, prevents algae buildup, and improves water quality. Prioritizing how you vacuum your pool can also save you money in the long run.
At ePoolSupply, we understand the importance of a perfect pool environment. That’s why we’re here to provide you with a helpful step-by-step guide on how to vacuum a pool. Let’s dive in.
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Choose a Pool Vacuum
The first order of business is choosing the right vacuum for your pool. Selection is important. From ease of use to storage, picking the right one only sets you up for success—now and in the future.
There are two types of pool vacuums to choose from: manual and automatic. Let’s look at each variety.
Manual
Manual pool vacuums are operated by hand. This involves manually pushing the vacuum over pool surfaces that need to be cleaned. The vacuum’s weighted design makes manual operation convenient for underwater use. Manual pool vacuums can be battery-operated or rechargeable and some types offer a more thorough cleaning due to their high suction power.
Things to consider for manual pool vacuum cleaning are application and required extensions. Manual pool vacuums are especially effective for deep cleanings and they often require a pool pole and vacuum hose extension, which are typically sold separately.
Automatic
Automatic pool cleaners are completely hands-free. Once the vacuum is set up, it’ll roam the pool floor to clean and circulate water. For thorough cleaning of the pool, it’s important for the automatic pool vacuum to be used as frequently as possible.
What You’ll Need to Vacuum a Pool
Vacuuming a pool isn’t achievable without the right equipment and tools. There are several essential pieces of equipment you’ll need, and a couple of others depending on your specific needs.
Essential Equipment
- Pool vacuum head - This is also known as a “vac head.”
- Vacuum hose - The hose will need to be long enough to reach every area of your pool.
- Telescopic pole - This is attached to the pool vacuum head.
- Skim vac or vacuum plate - This is needed if you’ll be using the skimmer basket.
Optional
- Brushes - Attachable to a vacuum for hard-to-clean spots.
Based on your pool’s specific needs, additional tools can be entirely optional. When it comes to a manual vacuum versus an automatic, it all depends on how deep of a clean you’re looking for. Lean towards the manual type if it aligns more with your pool’s needs and vice versa. In instances of stubborn debris, you may want to opt for a vacuum with brushes to address these tougher areas.
How To Prep Your Pool for Vacuuming
Before we cover the steps of how to vacuum a pool, you need to prep.
First, remove large debris with a skimmer net. After that, check and clean pool cleaner parts like the skimmer basket. Once the skimmer basket is inspected and cleaned, you’ll need to make sure the pool’s water level is at a sufficient level for the vacuum to work. Lastly, turn on your pool pump and adjust the filter valve.
When the pool pump is turned on, it’ll be able to flow water through the pool filter. Adjustment of the pool filter depends on the amount of present debris. If the pool isn’t dirty, it can stay on the “Filter” option. If there’s a heavy accumulation of debris, set the filter valve to “Waste” to help filter debris down the drain.
After all of this is done, your pool is finally ready to be vacuumed.
Step-by-Step Guide to Pool Vacuuming
Now that your pool has been prepped, it’s time to start the vacuuming process. Follow this step-by-step guide for a successful vacuuming of your pool.
Step 1: Assemble Your Equipment
Start by attaching the vacuum head to the end of the telescopic pole. Reminder—the pole needs to be long enough to reach every area of the pool. The last part of the assembly comes with connecting the vacuum hose to the vacuum head. Make sure everything is tightly connected and ready to go.
Step 2: Prime the Vacuum Hose
Next, submerge the vacuum hose to fill it with water. This helps remove any presence of air bubbles. Pay attention once all bubbles have been removed, but keep the hose submerged. Now you can attach the other end of the hose to the pool’s skimmer or vacuum port. This initiates the vacuuming process.
Step 3: Start Vacuuming
With vacuum in hand, start at the shallow end of the pool. Move the vacuum head slowly across the pool’s floor. Do this step in a grid pattern while slightly overlapping the previously vacuumed areas for an effective clean. Make sure the pool filter is on the correct setting, “Filter” or “Waste.”
It’s important to vacuum the pool slowly. By going too fast, you might end up stirring too much debris, and this complicates the entire process. If too much debris is kicked up, the water can become cloudy and require you to stop vacuuming for a couple of hours until the pool is clear again.
Step 4: Clean the Pool Walls (Optional)
How do your pool walls look? Even though it’s optional, there’s no harm in cleaning the walls of the pool in the process. Use your vacuum or a separate brush attachment to clean the walls.
Step 5: Check and Maintain Equipment
During the vacuuming stage, it’s important to periodically check and maintain your equipment. Throughout the process, check the skimmer basket for debris and remove the accumulated amount.
If at any point the suction is lost during vacuuming, you’ll need to reprime the hose. Repeat the priming process to resume vacuuming.
Step 6: Finish Up
Now that your pool is clean, it’s time to finish up the process. Turn off the pump and remove the vacuum equipment. This includes disconnecting the hose from the skimmer plate or vacuum port and returning the pump and filter back to their original settings. Backwash the sand filter if you have one. After that, disconnect the hose from the vac head, drain tapped water into the pool, and disconnect the pole from the head as well.
Clean each piece of pool equipment after they’ve been used and place them in their proper place of storage.
Visit ePoolSupply for all of your pool vacuuming needs. We offer a large selection of pool supplies and equipment, from pool skimmers to cleaners that make vacuuming your pool as efficient and effective as possible.
Pool Vacuuming FAQ
How often should I vacuum my swimming pool?
Vacuuming your swimming pool should be done on a weekly basis. By following this routine, your pool stays clean and healthy.
What setting should the pool filter be on when vacuuming?
If there are light amounts of debris, the pool filter should be set to “Filter.” If the pool is overly dirty with large amounts of debris, set the setting to “Waste.”
Do you vacuum a pool on backwash or waste?
When debris accumulation is heavy, always use the “Waste” setting. Avoid the “Backwash” setting because it reverses the flow of water.
Can I leave the skimmer basket in when vacuuming the pool?
If a skimmer vacuum plate is in use, keep the basket in during vacuuming. If a skimmer vacuum plate isn’t being used, remove it so the basket doesn’t infringe on the process—it can prevent the suction of the vacuum.
Why does dirt come back in when I vacuum my pool?
If you notice this happening in your pool, it’s because the pool filter is struggling to keep up with the influx of debris. Turn the filter valve to “Waste” and hopefully it does the trick.
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