Imagine swimming in a green slippy, and unsafe swimming pool! It sounds awful, right? This is what eventually happens to the swimming pools lacking maintenance. One of the core swimming pool maintenance practices is vacuuming the swimming pool. Here is a golden opportunity to learn how to vacuum above ground pool.
Read on to get our ultimate guide….
Why Vacuum Above Ground Swimming Pool
As much as the swimming pool looks clear, it usually accumulates organic materials from your skin cells every time you dive into it. The accumulation of these materials, small fibers from the swimwear, and debris cause scum and stain leading to algae or mildew growth.
You also need to vacuum the swimming pool for safety reasons. You spend the more significant part of your leisure time in your swimming pool, and you don’t want to be infected from your best hanging place. Besides, the pool needs vacuuming regularly to increase its lifespan.
Cleaning Apparatus To Vacuum The Above Ground Pool
Before embarking on cleaning your swimming pool, you need a few cleaning apparatus. They include a Vacuum head, nets, a skimmer, brush, a telescopic pole, a hose, and a vacuum plate.
Each of the mentioned materials is essential in every stage of cleaning your above-ground pool. For instance, you should have a vacuum head adapted to the type of your pool.
If you have a vinyl pool liner, you will need a vacuum head having a soft brush to increase its lifespan. For a concrete or gunite pool, you will need a vacuum head having wheels for smooth movement. Other attachments such as nets, skimmers, and brushes are also essential in the process.
The telescopic pole, on the other hand, should be long enough. Ensure you find the right size matching the size of your pool. It should also be strong enough to avoid breaking as you clean your pool. When it comes to a vacuum hose, ensure it is able to reach every corner of your swimming pool.
Steps To Follow On How To Vacuum Above Ground Pool
Here are easy steps to follow on how to vacuum above ground pool.
Step 1: Assemble the pool vacuum.
This requires a short procedure. First, run the pump and filter. Then attach the vacuum head to the telescoping pole. Get your hose and attach its one end to the vacuum head. You might need a hose clamp to keep the hose in place if it is slippery.
Step 2: Drive all air out of your system.
After assembling the vacuum, place it in the pool. Ensure the vacuum head is resting on the pool floor. Then put the other end of your hose attached to the vacuum against the pool return jet. Hold on to the hose until the air bubbles cease from coming from the hose.
Step 3: Get rid of waste.
Before cleaning your pool, you will need to get rid of debris. Learn a simple trick of how to vacuum above ground pool to waste in this step. The process is required when conducting heavy vacuuming.
Simply choose the “waste” setting on your filter system to allow water out through the drain rather than the filter. The “filter” setting is ideal for light vacuuming.
When your filter system is set to the “waste” setting, the pool water level will decrease rapidly. To keep the water level even, use your garden hose for a steady stream of fresh water.
Step 4: Start vacuuming.
If you have seen or cleaned your rug using a vacuum cleaner, this job is no different. You will also find it easy if it’s your first time working with vacuum cleaners. All you will need to do is make slow linear passes through the pool.
Start from the shallow end slowly up to the deep end of your pool. Suppose you are going to sweep in strokes, clean through longer strokes. Ensure that your strokes overlap slightly to uniformly clear the debris.
When the pool is too dirty, it will hinder smooth cleaning. In this case, take a break to empty the pump strainer, then proceed. Cleaning once might not remove all dirt from the pool. If you notice more debris a few minutes after finishing, you will have to repeat the process.
This is evidence of a simple way of how to vacuum a pool. Nevertheless, you will have to take your time. If you rush, the debris will rise, reducing their visibility. This will force you to wait for hours before they settle down again.
NOTE: Sometimes, the vacuum head might get stuck. If you incur such a problem, switch off the pump to break the force before switching it again for a few seconds. Ensure you monitor the pool filter’s pressure gauge in the vacuuming process. If the pressure exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended levels, stop for a while and backwash the filter.
Step 5: Wind up the process
Vacuuming alone will not leave your pool stunning and attractive to the eyes. After finishing with the process above, you need to follow through with a short winding-up procedure. This includes clearing the bottom of the skimmer and disconnecting the vacuum.
Ensure the hose is free of any water. Then, attach the cleaning brush to the telescoping pole and scrub the pool walls. Check on the filter pump settings. If you changed the settings to “Waste,” ensure you change them back to the “Filter” setting. Also, add fresh water to your swimming pool to restore the water level.
Lastly, test your pool water. If it is not balanced, adjust the pH, alkalinity, and chlorine as required. Then rinse all your apparatus, let them dry before storing them.
How To Vacuum Above Ground Pool With Sand Filter
You might prefer a sand filter over other filtration methods. In this case, you will have to ensure that your swimming pool has very little debris with no visible algae. Below are clear steps showing you how to vacuum above ground pool with a sand filter.
Step 1: Proceed with steps 1 and 2 above.
Step 3: Attach your hose to the dedicated suction port.
Attaching the hose to the suction port applies to those swimming pools with the port. If yours lacks a dedicated suction port, use a skimmer instead. Remove the basket if your skimmer has it and attach it to the hose.
Step 4: Start vacuuming your pool.
With longer strokes, sweep your vacuum slowly, starting from the shallow end down to the deep end. Ensure the strokes overlap slightly to obtain a uniform cleaning. Another thing to consider in your job is to do this process slowly without stirring the water.
Repeat this process several times, with breaks in between the sweeping until you are satisfied. Also, remember to vacuum the sides too.
Step 5: Disconnect the vacuum.
After you are sure that the pool is clean, stop the pump. Get the vacuum out of the pool and disconnect the hose from the pool’s dedicated suction or your skimmer. Then disconnect the rest of the vacuum equipment. Rinse its parts and let them dry before storing them.
Step 5: Backwash.
Set the filter valve to a backwash position. This will reverse the water flow to force dirty water with debris out of the swimming pool through the waste line. Turn on your pump and backwash for a few minutes before turning the pump off. You can tell it’s time to turn off the pump when you see the water in the sight glass running clear.
Step 6: Rinse the filter valve.
Change your filter valve to rinse position, and then turn on the pump. Run the rinse process for about 1 to 2 minutes to clean the filter valve. Then turn off your pump.
Step 7: Wind up
Once you are done rinsing the filter valve, it’s time to ensure you leave the pool in good condition before leaving. But also, you need to keep your apparatus to increase their lifespan.
Ensure you clean the filter. First, close the skimmer valve before emptying the filter skimmer basket. Then clean out the hair catcher. Lastly, reopen the skimmer valve; change the filter valve back to filter before turning on the pump.
It gets interesting when you can complete these simple steps by yourself. It does not matter how big your pool can be. With these easy-to-follow steps, you can tell how to clean above ground pool without hiring someone for the job.
Final Thought
It isn’t always easy to undertake a new process by yourself for the first time. We are aware of the disappointments that come in the process. With our ultimate guide on how to vacuum above ground pool, you can learn the process in the easiest way.
We have provided the procedure, including the most used filtration methods. For bigger jobs, the earlier method employing the “waste” setting in the filtration system is ideal. On the other hand, use the latter method of vacuuming your pool with a sand filter for a lighter cleaning without much debris or visible algae.
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