A common question, but the answer is not always simple. This article will go over some of the most important aspects to think about for your pool especially if you are thinking of doing it yourself.
First off, there are different types of pools that use different kinds of filters and different ways to vacuum them. There is a big difference between an inground pool with a cartridge filter and an under the ground pool with an automatic sand filter system. So let’s separate these into two different articles.
For this article I am going to assume you have a standard type cartridge filter. There are many benefits for this type of filter, but they can also present challenges when trying to clean them or backwash them properly compared with an automatic sand filtration system. A sand filter is a fantastic way to go because it not only saves you money, but also requires less work from you to maintain it compared with a cartridge filter. There are four main parts of a standard cartridge filter that need to be considered when trying to vacuum the pool:
When vacuuming an inground pool in my opinion there are two key things that need to happen in order for you to successfully vacuum your pool without too much effort and time being wasted, they are as follows:
1.) The pools water level needs to be correct. If the water level in the pool is too high it will affect the suction produced by your pump and hose. If this happens it can create many problems when trying to vacuum the pool. For example, if you try to vacuum with too much water in the pool, not only will your hose suck air, but it also take forever because there is so much resistance due to having so much water in the pool.
2.) The skimmer basket needs to be properly adjusted. If you have a cartridge filter then this is one of the most important aspects that need to be considered for your inground pool or spa when vacuuming. I cannot stress how important it is for you to make sure that your skimmer basket works properly and does not interfere with suction produced by your pump and hose. It can create many problems if the skimmer basket restricts water from entering into the pump which can cause backwashing and/or suction problems which will not only waste your time but also the life of your pump.
With that said, here are some practical tips to consider when vacuuming an inground pool:
1.) Put Pool Vacuum on a Long Pole – This is by far one of the best ways to vacuum an inground pool or spa without much effort involved.
It is so easy it’s almost like cheating. A long pole vacuum works especially well because you can typically adjust its angles and select different heads depending on what type of flooring and walls you have in your pool.
It just makes the job much easier than lugging around a bulky pole-vac or trying to stand there holding onto your hose for dear life as you try to vacuum the pool.
2.) Buy a Quiet Pump – One of the most important aspects that need to be considered before buying a pump for your inground pool or spa is that it needs to be extremely quiet.
I cannot stress how irritating it can become when you are trying to clean and take care of your water and all you hear is this loud obnoxious noise coming from your pump motor.
You really do not want this because it will cause you, your family and neighbors great displeasure so please keep this in mind when selecting a new pump for your inground pool or spa.
3.) If You Have a Grassy Area Set up Reel Mower – Not only does manual reel mower save gas and money and makes the job much easier (which in turn will help you to successfully vacuum your pool or spa) but it also saves time.
When you go back and forth across the grass with a reel mower you are actually cutting the grass at a much higher level so when it begins to grow back, all you have to do is push your mower over it again to return the lawn to its previous state of being cut.
With a traditional gas powered mower this would take hours upon hours because you have to go over the same patch of grass dozens of times just for it to come out even.
How do you manually vacuum an inground pool?
Once you have decided on the best pool vacuum for your situation, all you need to do is purchase a reel mower before your scheduled vacuuming time.
Then when it comes time to actually get out there and vacuum, after you are done mowing just simply attach your hose directly onto the bottom of the pool or spa skimmer basket then turn on your pump.
