How to Vacuum a Pool to Direct Waste

Keep your pool looking good with regular vacuuming.

Vacuuming is a primary method of cleaning swimming pools. The process sucks debris such as sand and algae off the pool bottom. Vacuuming is done through your pool's filter system or by sending the debris out a waste line. Vacuuming the debris directly out of the pool is called vacuuming to waste and prevents the pool filter from getting dirty at the expense of losing pool water.

Things You'll Need

• Sand filter system
• Vacuum head
• Vacuum hose
• Pool pole

Instructions

1. Set up your vacuum equipment. Attach your vacuum head to the pool pole. Connect the vacuum hose to the vacuum head.

2. Prime the vacuum. Make sure your pool is on. Set the vacuum head onto the pool bottom. Move to a pool jet and place the back end of the vacuum hose over it. Hold the hose firmly to the jet until all the air is pushed from it and the hose is full of water.

3. Ready the vacuum for suction. Quickly move to the skimmer and connect the back end of the vacuum hose to it. Turn your pool off.

4. Set the filter to the waste option. Push down on the dial valve on top of your filter and rotate it to the "Waste" setting.

5. Vacuum the pool. Turn the pool on. Retrieve the pool pole and move the vacuum head along the bottom of the pool. Fill the pool with a water hose to compensate for the water lost to vacuuming.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not move the vacuum head above water to avoid losing prime.

• Move the vacuum head slowly over the bottom of the pool to avoid pushing the debris about.

References

• Pool Center: Pool Vacuum Information