Pool Fitness: How To Vacuum A Pool Manually

Some people may ask this question; why should I vacuum my pool manually when I can do so with ease using an automatic pool cleaner? The automatic cleaner is very efficient, though it has the disadvantage of tossing the debris back into the water after cleaning it.

This is mostly seen in situations where you vacuum a pool filled with algae, debris, or something of that kind. Manual vacuuming can be very efficient in such circumstances. In cases of full growth of algae, an automatic pool cleaner can't be effective.

A lot of people dive into a pool, have a good time and leave but have little or no idea the amount of work put down to make this a success. In vacuuming a pool manually, the following things are needed: a telescopic pole, a vacuum hose, a scrub brush, and a skim vac or vacuum plate.

When vacuuming your pool manually, you are expected to begin at the shallow end of the pool and slowly move toward the deeper end. For clean vacuuming, make use of slow, sweeping, and long strokes.

You are to ensure that your strokes slightly overlap so as not to leave any debris left. In situations where the water gets cloudy, give it a few hours to settle down before vacuuming again.
By having all the equipment at hand, you can easily start vacuuming manually through the following steps.

THE FIRST STEP: PRIME THE VACUUM

Priming a vacuum can also be done by purging air from the vacuuming system. Your unit can lose suction because of the air pockets. So it is recommended that you remove the air pocket, this will aid in keeping the system on for a longer interval.

To make this possible, the vacuum head will be snapped on the telescoping pole and lowered into the bottom of the pool. The air is let out of the hose by a jet, which an end of the hose is pushed against. At the moment when bubbles are no longer present, and the hose is free of air, you are to start.

THE SECOND STEP: RUN A CONNECTION TO THE PUMP

The suction of the pool circulation pump is responsible for powering the skimmer inlet, which is attached to the vacuum system. Before connecting the open end of the hose the inlet, there is the need for removing the strainer basket.

The open vacuum hose is to be plugged into the suction port which is located at the bottom corner of the skimmer.

THE THIRD STEP: START THE VACUUMING PROCESS

This isn’t a tough process; it is as simple as just moving the vacuum head back and forth on the pool’s surface until it becomes clean. In cases where you lose suction, you will have to repeat the first and second step.

VACUUMING WITH A GARDEN HOSE

Another technique that can be applied to vacuum your pool manually is by using a vacuum system attached to a garden hose. This technique is also inexpensive and serves as a vacuuming alternative for much smaller pools.

Below are the simple steps to take when vacuuming with a garden hose:

1. Create a connection between the telescoping poles with the vacuum head.

2. The end of the pole that is connected to its spigot should be connected to the other end of the hose.

3. The vacuum bag is to be attached to the central opening on the vacuum

4. Your pool’s filtration system should be turned off.

5. The water should be then turned on, and the vacuum should be submerged into the pool.

6. Your vacuum is then to be moved along the surface of the pool to remove debris and dirt. During this process, if you notice that the vacuum is losing suction, it is recommended that the vacuum be pulled out and the collection bag emptied.

If this doesn't work, you are to turn off the source of water and to turn it back on after a short period before finally lowering it back into the water.

During this whole process, it is essential to do the vacuuming without undue rush so as not to stir up the debris located at the bottom of the pool. If the debris is stirred up, the vacuum won't be able to clean it up thoroughly.

The debris will float for some time and then settle down at the bottom. So you are to clean all the surface of the pool patiently.

7. The filtration is then turned on to help in remaining floating debris.

CLEANING A POOL WITH A SAND FILTER

As per the guidelines at The Pool Support, When using the sand filter as your vacuum filtration method, you are implored to make use of the proper setting. The sand filter has six types of settings: backwash, waste, re-circulate, rinse and filter and closed.

Amongst the settings, the filter setting method is used more often in the vacuuming process. It takes care of the minimal level of debris, but in cases where the degree of dirtiness of the water is more than usual, you are to use the waste setting.

When you are done with the vacuuming process, it is necessary that you make use of the manufacturer’s instruction to backwash and clean your filter efficiently for proper functioning.

This filter method is not fit for cleaning pools that have a high level of algae and debris. The water level will experience a noticeable drop, so add more water.

AFTER YOU ARE DONE VACUUMING A POOL

When you are done cleaning the pool, you are to remove the head of the vacuum from the telescoping pole and drain water left in the vacuum hose. Then you attach the cleaning brush to the pole and use it to scrub dirt, algae, debris from all the corners of the pool.

Make it a point to clear away debris in the pump strainer basket regularly.

Thus, if you abide by the simple process enlisted above, you will successfully vacuum any pool manually.

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