How to Vacuum a Pool

When shopping for a pool vacuum, there are a wide variety of types and brands to choose from, and each has various features that make the process easier. Likewise, pool vacuums are available in different price ranges, so you should be able to find one that fits your budget.

Manual Pool Vacuum

• Vacuuming a pool with a manual pool vacuum, or handheld pool cleaner, requires manually pushing the vacuum over different surfaces of the pool that you want to clean. Some types of manual pool vacuums deliver higher suction power than automatic pool vacuums, providing a deep clean for your pool. A manual pool vacuum is ideal for focusing on areas that are especially dirty, while an automatic pool vacuum skims the entire pool for an overall clean.
• Manual pool vacuums can be battery-operated or rechargeable, and are weighted for easy underwater use. They require an extendable pool pole and vacuum hose (often sold separately). To assemble, connect the vacuum head to the hose, and then securely fasten the pole in place. Follow the instructions provided with your model on how to hook up a pool vacuum and whether to leave your pool pump on or off. Take your time and cover all surfaces for the best cleaning results.

Automatic Pool Vacuum

• Vacuuming a pool with an automatic pool cleaner
  or a robotic pool cleaner is a hands-free process. The vacuum crawls around the floor of your swimming pool to clean the surfaces and circulate water. Other than setup, it doesn’t require any effort on your part. For optimal cleaning, use your automatic pool vacuum frequently.

To start the cleaning process, there are several things that can make the job quicker and easier.

• Use a pool skimmer or leaf rake to gather any visible leaves, dirt or excess waste that may have blown onto the surface or settled at the bottom of the pool. Clean out the skimmer basket.
• Turn on your pool pump to ensure water is flowing through the pool filter.

In-ground pool vacuums are designed to clean in-ground pools and should be chosen based on the size, shape and depth of your pool. Make sure to choose a pool pole long enough to accommodate while vacuuming a pool.

• Lower the vacuum head into the water until it touches the bottom.
• Keep the vacuum pole locked in place and make sure the head stays in contact with the floor of the pool.
• Take the free end of the vacuum hose and hold it in front of the water return outlet to fill it with water. Bubbles will begin to rise from the vacuum head. Wait until all bubbles have escaped to pull it away from the outlet, but make sure the hose remains fully submerged.
• Insert the open end of the hose into the vacuum plate (also known as a skimmer plate or skimmer disk). Place the plate into your pool wall skimmer directly atop the suction vent. This will initiate the vacuuming process.
• Starting at the shallow end, move the vacuum along the pool floor in a slow and controlled manner until it's clean. For larger pools, it may help to move in a grid pattern.
• If the vacuum gets stuck, turn off the pump, reposition the head and turn the pump back on again. Remove large debris from the pump strainer if it begins to overflow.
• If you lose suction power during the vacuuming process, remove the hose from the vacuum plate and hold it over the water return outlet again. Follow the same steps after all bubbles have escaped.

Above-ground pool vacuums are designed to work with above-ground pools. They are often made of metal or steel and usually come in simple shapes like rounds, ovals or rectangles. Fortunately, both manual and automatic pool vacuums can work in an above ground pool.

• Lower the assembled vacuum into the water until the head is touching the bottom.
• Keeping the vacuum pole locked in place, hold it down with one hand and make sure the head stays in contact with the floor of the pool. Lean the pole along the side of the pool to make this process manageable.
• Take the free end of the vacuum hose and hold it in front of the water return outlet to fill with water. Bubbles will begin to rise from the vacuum head. Wait until all bubbles have escaped to pull it away from the outlet, but make sure the hose remains fully submerged.
• Insert the open end of the hose into the vacuum plate (also known as a skimmer plate or skimmer disk), and place the plate into your pool wall skimmer, directly atop the suction vent. This will initiate the vacuuming process.
• Slowly sway the vacuum head in straight lines along the bottom of your pool until it's clean.

For pools equipped with a sand filter, the vacuuming process is similar:

• First assess the amount of dirt and debris in your pool and use the appropriate valve settings on the filter.
• Once you fill the vacuum hose with water, connect it to the vacuum plate or skimmer disk and place it directly atop the suction vent to initiate the vacuum process.
• Move the vacuum head along the floor of your pool in a slow and steady motion.
• Dirt and debris will be transferred through the vacuum plate and into the pump. It will then move through the sand filter.
• Depending on the chosen settings, the filter should capture the excess particles.
• Make sure to backwash your sand filter after you’ve finished vacuuming the pool.