If you are the new owner of an above-ground pool or have just taken over the cleaning duties, sooner or later you will need to operate the vacuum cleaner.
The manual suction system consists of a sweeper’s head with brushes and rollers, and a roll of ribbed plastic pool hose, and a long pole made of either metal or fiberglass.
While vacuuming a pool can be tedious, it’s a breeze once the technique is mastered. So, if you’re tempted to neglect your maintenance schedule, remember that debris at the bottom of a pool can cause algae growth, and swimming in green, slimy water is not fun at all.
Firstly remove leaves, insects, and other debris from the surface of the pool using a deep or regular net scoop. Check the skimmer basket and the pump basket for debris and clean them if necessary.
Turn on the pool pump and make sure that water flows easily through the filter.
Attach the swivel end of the pool hose to the suction head. Attach the head to the extension and lower the assembly into the pool, extending the adjustable pole until the suction head reaches the bottom of the pool. Lock the adjustable pole and press it against the edge of the pool.
Hold the free end of the suction hose in front of the water return jet to completely fill the water hose with water. Keep one hand on the pole to prevent the vacuum head from floating to the surface when air is pushed out of the vacuum head.
Continue to prime the hose until it is full of water and no more bubbles escape from the vacuum head.
Keep the end of the hose submerged while removing it from the return water jet then attach it to the inlet fitting of the skimmer. Some vacuums require plugging the end of the hose directly into the suction port.
If you need to remove the end of the water hose to insert it into the suction hole, do so as quickly as possible to avoid leaving too much air in the hose.
Stand in a position so you can see the bottom of the pool clearly. Slowly move the vacuum head over the bottom of the pool, slightly overlapping the previous path with each new vacuum head pass.
Keep the vacuum head underwater at all times, otherwise, the vacuum cleaner will lose its effectiveness due to air being drawn into the system. Continue to vacuum until the bottom is completely clean.
A Word Of Advice
Brush the edges of the pool the night before vacuuming to remove debris, then vacuum the pool in the morning before anyone uses it. Adjust your water returns jets so that the body of water moves continuously in a circular pattern.
This allows the debris to be concentrated in the center of the bottom of the pool, where it is easier to vacuum. When you have finished vacuuming use the pressure gauge on the filter to determine if a “back-wash” is necessary.