Things that we love to use require proper maintenance so that we have a longer future with them. When it comes to pools, vacuuming on a regular basis keeps you from encountering debris while swimming laps or throwing a pool party. Unless you own an automatic cleaning device, you’ll want to use a pool vacuum and attach it to a filter tank to keep your pool leaf and branch-free.
This option saves you time and effort by sucking debris into the pump basket. However, the effectiveness of the vacuum/filter tank combination needs to be set up properly so that you don’t have to clean the pool again. Here are some tips to follow so that you keep your pool clean until the fall.
Set Up
An overflow of debris in the basket strainer can create an even bigger mess, so clean and empty the basket before you start the vacuuming process. This is especially important on days following storms or severe weather, as leaves and twigs might have landed in your water.
The vacuum will have a tough time getting rid of debris if the pool doesn’t have enough water in it. The water level in your pool needs to be high enough to the middle of the skimmer’s faceplate, which will offer the vacuum great suction.
Positioning
The hose for the vacuum needs to be able to reach all parts of the pools so that no debris or smudges are left unchecked. While having a longer hose helps, the positioning of the hose with the filter goes a long way. The vacuum should be placed on the farthest edge of the pool from the filter. Next, the hose will connect the vacuum to the skimmer basket. This will help capture piles of leaves at the bottom of the deep end if the filter is at the shallow end.
This may require more work if your pool is among the larger options and has more than one skimmer basket. In this case, adjust the hose to reach as close to the furthest basket as possible, and take advantage of any baskets that may be in the middle at the side.
Attachments
Your vacuum should include all necessary attachments before being put into use, including the pool pump and skimmer system. Some pools come with a port that is usually located in the middle right below the surface of the water, while others have a port in the skimmer canister on the deck. In the first case, the port will need a permanent adapter fitting, though the latter will require an elbow fitting.
Applying the Hose and Vacuum
The vacuum will be able to function well if there are as little air bubbles inside the hose as possible. While lowering the vacuum head and hose into the water, push the hose down so that all of the air leaves. Pushing the opposite end of the hose into the water slowly and a few inches at a time will help you avoid missing any debris.
Once all of the air is removed, turn the filtration system on so that the hose can capture the leaves and twigs. Make sure that the water flow in the pump system isn’t too fast or slow, which affects how the wheels of the vacuum unit rotate. This could lead to the vacuum missing debris or damaging the floor’s surface. A balanced flow will allow the wheels to rotate normally.
Disposing of the Debris
After the vacuum captures all of the unwanted material, remove the vacuum from the pool and turn the system off to keep anything from getting back into the water. You’ll need to then remove the skimmer basket, hold the exposed hose end over the basket’s opening and dump the debris into the basket.
Dump the debris from the basket into the garbage or grass in the backyard before cleaning the basket to prevent any leftover leaves and branches from returning to the pool.
Additional Precautions
These tips are helpful for not only keeping your pool clean, but avoiding potential lawsuits. Having personal injury attorneys with expertise in pool accidents comes in handy, especially if a lack of maintenance is claimed to be the cause of the injury. If one takes places at your pool after you cleaned it, make sure to have evidence of the situation so that the court knows that you take care of your pool.
If you just opened your first pool, talk to a professional such as this swimming pool contractor in New Jersey. They can educate you on how to properly use your vacuum and filter to avoid recleaning.
Put these tips into practice so that your pool stays in good shape for the whole summer.