How to Vacuum Waste on an Above Ground Pool

When setting up an above ground swimming pool, one of the most important things to remember is to be tree-free. Leaves and flowering buds that find their way into your pool is like ringing the dinner bell for algae. Therefore, a timely removal of organic contaminants is critical to good pool health. The best way to stay on top of this problem is by performing weekly maintenance, part of which is vacuuming. Make sure to brush the pool walls before you begin, so that any growing algae get displaced.

Instructions

1. Assemble your vac system, which consists of three independent components, the vacuum's extension pole, the vac-head and the vacuum hose.

2. Empty the basket that sits inside of your skimmer and the basket that is associated with your pump before vacuuming to eliminate debris and maximize water flow and suction.

3. Place the assembled vac system into the pool. Submerge the entire hose to fill it completely with water thus eliminating any pockets of air trapped within, which would impede suction. Attach the end of the vacuum hose into the skimmer attachment known as the skim-vac. Seat the skim-vac down into the skimmer body so that it is resting completely on the rim of the skimmer basket inside of the skimmer.

4. Turn your filter to the filter setting, turn on the pump and begin to vacuum the bottom of the pool until completed.

5. Note what the starting pressure is on your pressure gauge once the pump is turned on, and treat that number as your benchmark. Watch the pressure on your pressure gauge and backwash the filter if the pressure rises between 5 to 8-ppi (pounds per square inch) higher than the benchmark. Starting pressures vary on an individual basis, so there is no standard benchmark.

6. Monitor both baskets for leaves or other debris and stop the process to dump leaves if either gets too full.

7. Vacuum large areas of accumulated debris on the floor of the pool directly to waste. Position the vac-head slowly and carefully to not disturb the debris prematurely. Remember that the amount of chemically treated water that is exiting your pool at a high rate of speed cost you money, so use the waste process only as long as necessary and then turn the pump off as soon as you can.

8. Refill the pool with fresh fill water after wasting a large portion. Fill the pool up to the halfway point on the skimmer faceplate.

9. Test and treat the water after adding fresh water to the pool.

Tips & Warnings

• *Your vacuum's extension pole should be made of a sturdy metallic rustproof material and have the capability of extending from 8 to 16 feet long. *Your vac-head needs to have weights built into it in to keep it from floating to the surface during the operation. *Make sure that the vacuum hose you purchase is not only long enough to reach the bottom of the far end of your particular pool, but that it provides you with at least 2 extra feet of length for maneuverability as you use it.