There are plenty of upkeep responsibilities that come along with being a pool owner!
Just like the way you’ll need to make sure that you’re maintaining your poolwater’s chemical balance and regularly cleaning the filter, another general maintenance chore that you’ll need to make sure you’re keeping on top of is vacuuming.
Sure, even though vacuuming can seem somewhat of an annoying task to have to carry out (especially when the weather is less than cheerful), it’s a quick and convenient way to help keep nasty contaminants and dirt at bay, while also ensuring that your pool water is safe to swim in and kept in optimal conditions. The only question is - how do you do it?
If you’re currently asking yourself this question, then rest assured that we’re here to lend you a helping hand. To help ensure that you’re able to vacuum your above-ground pool, this article is going to be talking you through everything that you need to know to successfully vacuum your pool. Ready? Just read on!
How To Vacuum Above-Ground Pool: Step-By-Step Instructions
1. Make Sure That You Have All Of The Equipment You’ll Need
First things first, before you even think about vacuuming your above-ground pool you’re going to need to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment.
If it’s going to be your first time vacuuming your pool or you’d simply like a knowledge refresh to make sure you have all the tools you’ll need, check out the following list;
- Pool rake and net
- Pool vacuum
- Trash can/bag
- Gloves
2. Get Rid Of Surface Debris With Your Pool Rake
After you have made sure that you have all of the equipment you’ll need to get rid of all the surface debris that might be too big for your pool vacuum.
Typically, you’re likely going to find that the surface of your pool contains leaves, insects, and other debris that the wind has blown into your pool, so it’s a good idea to take a rake to scoop all of the debris into one area of the pool, where you will then be able to go in with your net and lift everything out.
As a side note, it’s a good idea to get your trash bag or a trash liner, so that you will be able to safely dispose of all the debris without getting it anywhere else in your garden. We also recommend that you wear gloves while cleaning out your pool to prevent any of the debris from getting on your hands.
Even though this step might seem a little bit tedious, it’s very important that you make sure you are cleaning away as much surface debris as you possibly can, as this will help to raise the efficiency of the pool vacuum when you use it.
In addition to this, as we have already touched upon above, taking the time to get rid of as much debris as you possibly can before vacuuming will also help to prevent your pool’s vacuum from becoming damaged, especially if your pool has large debris objects floating around.
3. Prepare Your Vacuum So That It Is Ready To Be Used In The Pool
So, once you’ve effectively removed all of the surface debris from your pool, the next step will be to prepare your vacuum so that it is ready for use.
For the best results, we recommend using a vacuum that has been specifically designed for above-ground pools, as inground pools will not be able to effectively clean the model and style of pool that you have.
More often than not, you’ll need to assemble the vacuum yourself so that the head and pole are attached together, although this will depend on the type of vacuum that you have.
Then, once you’re ready to begin, you will need to submerge the vacuum into the water, where you can then begin gliding it across the pool floor and walls.
If you’re in need of a recommendation, then we suggest that you check out the Kokido Telsa 5 Rechargeable 3-Piece Above-Ground Pool Cleaner.
Designed like a traditional house vacuum cleaner, this one from Kokido is specifically designed for use in small to medium-sized above-ground pools, and offers a dual vacuuming and filtering system that will help to ensure that your pool water and pool structure remain clean and in pristine condition.
4. Prime Your Vacuum
Once you have gently submerged your pool vacuum into the water, the next step you will need to do is to prime it.
To do this, you will need to fill your vacuum with water by submerging the hose in order to remove any trapped air that could potentially reduce the efficacy of the vacuum. Once you have done this and you do not see any air bubbles escaping the head of the vacuum, you will then be ready to begin vacuuming.
More often than not, most pool vacuum cleaners are designed to work in conjunction with the pool’s filtration system, however, if you don’t find that this works, then you may need to connect your vacuum to the skimmer.
5. Vacuum The Pool!
As soon as you have achieved adequate suction levels, you will then be ready to begin vacuuming your pool.
Firmly grasp the pole of your vacuum and begin gliding the head over the bottom of the pool’s floor, ensuring that you don’t lose suction with the floor, as this will interfere with the vacuuming.
While you are guiding your vacuum across the pool floor, we recommend that you double back on areas that you have already cleaned just in case you missed a spot, and continue to vacuum until you can visibly see that the pool’s floor has been cleaned.
In addition to the above, keep in mind that the key to successfully vacuuming your pool is to not rush, as dragging your vacuum too vigorously across the floor could cause all of the dirt and debris to rise to the surface of the pool, and then you will be unable to vacuum it.
