How to Manually Vacuum a Pool

Manually vacuuming your pool is one of the most effective ways to keep it clean. It requires a bit of preparation, but once you’ve got the right setup, the process becomes much smoother. This guide will walk you through the entire process, so you can maintain a crystal-clear pool.

What You’ll Need:

• Manual Vacuum Head
• Telescopic Pole
• Vacuum Hose (make sure it’s long enough for your pool size)
• Vacuum Plate (if using a skimmer for vacuuming)
• Garden Hose (optional, for priming the vacuum hose)
• Wall Brush

Step 1: Prepare Your Pool and Equipment

Clear Surface Debris: Start by using a skimmer or leaf rake to remove any floating debris like leaves, bugs, or twigs. This will prevent clogging the vacuum and ensure you focus on cleaning the pool floor.

Inspect Pool Water Level: Check that your pool’s water level is at an optimal height, which is typically about halfway up the skimmer opening. This ensures proper vacuuming and avoids the possibility of air entering the vacuum hose.

Gather All Equipment:

• Attach the vacuum head to the telescoping pole. The pole should be long enough to reach all areas of the pool.
• Connect the vacuum hose to the vacuum head. Ensure the hose is long enough to cover the entire pool and reach the skimmer or the area where the vacuum plate will be placed.

Step 2: Brush the Pool Walls

• Before you start vacuuming, brush the pool walls and steps with a pool brush. This step helps loosen debris, dirt, and algae that have clung to the walls, ensuring a more effective vacuuming session.
• Start from the bottom of the pool and work your way up the walls, brushing in small sections. Pay extra attention to corners, water lines, and any areas where algae or dirt tend to build up.
• Brushing the walls will also help reduce the chances of algae growth, especially in areas that are harder to reach with the vacuum.

Step 3: Using the Vacuum Plate for the Skimmer

If you’re using your skimmer to power the vacuum, you’ll need a vacuum plate. This plate allows the vacuum hose to be connected to the skimmer and ensures proper suction while you vacuum.

• Remove the skimmer basket: Take out the skimmer basket to make room for the vacuum plate.
• Install the vacuum plate: Place the vacuum plate over the skimmer opening. This plate should fit securely inside the skimmer and have a port where you can attach the vacuum hose.
• Connect the vacuum hose to the plate: Attach the free end of the vacuum hose to the vacuum plate’s port. Ensure it is securely connected so no air leaks in, which would reduce suction.

Note: If your skimmer doesn’t have a vacuum plate, you can purchase one designed for your pool’s skimmer model.

Step 4: Prime the Vacuum Hose

• Submerge the hose in the pool: Start by submerging the entire vacuum hose underwater. This step is crucial to eliminate any trapped air, which can cause the vacuum to lose suction.
• Fill the hose with water: Hold the hose underwater while filling it. You can use a garden hose to help fill it or simply submerge the hose fully until water starts coming out of the other end.
• Attach the hose to the skimmer: Once the hose is full of water and free of air, connect the hose’s other end to the vacuum plate attached to the skimmer

Why This Step Is Important: If the hose is not primed, air can enter the system, causing poor suction and making vacuuming inefficient.

Step 5: Start Vacuuming the Pool

• Lower the vacuum head into the pool: Slowly lower the vacuum head to the pool’s bottom, making sure it is fully submerged.
• Vacuum the pool floor: Start at one end of the pool and begin vacuuming by moving the vacuum head slowly across the pool floor. Work in sections to make sure you clean all areas. Use long, smooth strokes to prevent debris from floating back into the water.
• Vacuum the pool walls: Once the pool floor is done, switch to vacuuming the pool walls. Angle the vacuum head slightly to clean the walls from the bottom up, making sure to cover all areas, especially corners where dirt can gather.

Step 6: Finish Vacuuming and Clean Up

• Turn off the pump: Before you start removing the vacuum plate or the vacuum hose, turn off the pool pump. If the pump is running, it will create suction that could make it difficult and potentially dangerous to remove the vacuum plate from the skimmer. It can also cause air to be drawn into the system once you disconnect the hose, which may damage your pump or cause it to run inefficiently.
• Remove the vacuum head: Once the pump is off, carefully remove the vacuum head from the pool. Be mindful of any water that may drip off the hose as you lift it out.
• Disconnect the hose: After removing the vacuum head, detach the vacuum hose from the vacuum plate attached to the skimmer. Make sure you don’t pull too hard to avoid damaging the hose or other components.
• Remove the vacuum plate: Once the pump is off, you can safely remove the vacuum plate from the skimmer. Simply lift it out and set it aside for cleaning and storage. Important: If you leave the vacuum plate in while the pump is running, it could create a vacuum that makes it hard to remove and could damage the plate or skimmer.
• Clean the vacuum hose and vacuum head: Rinse the hose and vacuum head thoroughly with fresh water to remove any debris, preventing buildup and clogs for the next use.
• Reinstall the skimmer basket: Don’t forget to put the skimmer basket back into place before turning the pump back on.

Final Tips:

• Work in sections: Vacuuming smaller sections at a time makes it easier to ensure the whole pool is cleaned properly.
• Don’t rush: Move the vacuum head slowly to allow it to pick up debris efficiently and prevent stirring dirt back into the water.
• Brush the walls regularly: Brushing the pool walls before vacuuming prevents algae buildup and helps ensure that dirt is loosened from the surfaces, making vacuuming more effective.
• Vacuum regularly: Depending on debris buildup, vacuum your pool at least once a week, or more frequently during heavy debris seasons (like fall).