Keep Your Pool Cleaning During Swimming Season With These Vacuuming Best Practices

For some pool owners, the thought of maintaining the centerpiece of their backyard, aka the pool, brings them joy. For others, it brings on a sense of responsibility that they may be dreading. No matter which way you spin it, the pool has to be properly maintained to keep it in tip-top shape for swimmers throughout the season. Pool maintenance is more than balancing chemicals and testing the water; it is also about keeping the pool clear of debris. That means using a skimmer to remove surface-level debris and a vacuum to keep your luxurious liner safe from harm. Read on as LOOP-LOC discusses pool vacuuming best practices.

Understand how to assemble the vacuum.

In order for the most effective cleaning to be done, the vacuum must be set up properly. This can be done by connecting the extension pole and vacuum hose to the vacuum head. Once the vacuum is in one piece, be sure to get all the air out of the hose. The air will need to be removed from the hose for suction to be most effective. Remove the air from the hose by submerging the vacuum head into the water. Make sure you slowly reel the hose down into the water, pushing it in as water fills the hose. This process can take up to 30 seconds once practiced.

Connect and adjust the skimmer.

For debris to be removed from your pool, you will need to connect the vacuum to the skimmer. You will need to plug the vacuum hose into the suction line at the bottom of the skimmer. To avoid the hose falling into the pool or getting in the way of the vacuuming process, place the hose in the skimmer itself. Once you have connected the hose to the skimmer and adjusted it accordingly, you will also want to adjust the skimmer. If the skimmer has multiple intake points, be sure only have one connected to the vacuum. You’ll want to ensure that only one intake point is on, to allow vacuuming to be as quick and easy as possible.

Manually vacuum the pool.

Once the vacuum is properly assembled, the filter cleared, and the skimmer is connected, it is time to begin vacuuming the pool. Be sure to use straight, slightly overlapping strokes when vacuuming. If the vacuum is leaving streaks behind or not picking up all of the debris, the suction may need to be increased.

Use an automatic vacuum when you can.

Automatic pool cleaners can serve as efficient solutions to the time-consuming pool vacuuming task. Not only will they pick up debris found at the bottom of the pool, but they will also serve as water circulators. Robotic pool cleaners are able to operate independently from the pool pump and filter system, unlike its manual counterpart. This cleaner can clean the entire floor of the pool. Simply leave it to do its job while you work on your other pool maintenance tasks.

Vacuum when needed.

With all the responsibilities of a pool, it may be difficult to remember every step necessary to keep your pool pristine. However, vacuuming the pool is easy to remember simply by glancing into your water. With daily pool skimmings to remove surface-level debris, pool vacuuming may be limited to a weekly activity. However, if there is a buildup of debris on the bottom of your pool, vacuuming should occur as soon as possible for the protection of the liner and swimmers alike.

Remember to keep these tips in mind as you begin to clean your pool this summer.