Vacuuming your pool can seem tedious but once you get into a regular maintenance routine things will become just that: routine. Of course if you’re not interested in performing your own pool maintenance services you can always contact your local pool company to schedule it.
Here are some basic steps to follow when vacuuming your pool:
- Brush the pool down (click link here for tips on pool brushing) the day before you vacuum when at all possible. This will allow the filter time to remove the brushed particles from the pool prior to vacuuming.
- If your water appears cloudy consider adding a clarifier.
- Allow all pool water to settle by turning off the pool overnight prior to vacuuming.
- Add water to your pool if extra water is necessary for back washing.
- Next figure out which is the main drain and which is the skimmer.
- Remove the skimmer basket from the skimmer where you will be placing the vacuum.
- Close the valve for the main drain to increase suction to the vacuum.
- Install a vac-pole to the vac-head.
- Install the end of the vacuum head that swivels to the vac head that will go in the pool and allow it all to sink to the bottom of pool.
- Then push it a foot at a time in the water beginning with the end of the pool. The goal is to have no water in the vacuum hose when you attach it to the hole in the bottom of the skimmer.
- When the vac hose is completely filled with water, install the end of the vac hose into the skimmer hole.
- Now it’s time to actually vacuum! Using the vac pole, push the vac head across the pool floor.
As you vacuum up all the dirt, it will become trapped in the filter. If your pool is especially dirty you may find yourself needing to repeat the backwashing process a couple of times. And of course, don’t forget about the automatic pool cleaners which can do the vacuuming for you.