🧹 How to Manually Vacuum Your Swimming Pool
Vacuuming your swimming pool is one of the best ways to keep it clean, clear, and free of dirt and debris. While it might seem a little intimidating at first, manual vacuuming is a skill most pool owners can quickly learn — and the results are well worth the effort.
🛠 What You'll Need:
-
Vacuum head
-
Telescopic pole
-
Vacuum hose
-
Skimmer plate (vac plate)
🧼 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Assemble Your Vacuum
Attach the vacuum head to the end of your telescopic pole.
Step 2: Attach and Submerge the Hose
Connect the vacuum hose to the vacuum head, then completely submerge the head and hose in the water. This removes trapped air from the hose.
💡 Tip: You can also hold the free end of the hose in front of a return jet to help push air out.
Step 3: Connect to the Skimmer
Attach the skimmer plate (vac plate) to the free end of the hose. Then, place the plate over the skimmer basket and gently insert it into the skimmer.
Step 4: Adjust Suction for Vacuuming
To improve suction:
-
Locate your equipment pad
-
Close the valve for any skimmer not in use so all suction goes to the vacuum-connected skimmer.
Step 4.5: Optional – Vacuum to Waste
If your pool has a sand or DE filter, you can choose to vacuum to waste instead of sending debris through the filter:
-
Turn off your pump
-
Set the multiport valve to "WASTE" or if you have a cartridge filer you may have a 3 way valve somewhere between your pump and your heater that you turn to go to waste
- Lay out your backwash (blue hose) to somewhere away from the pool
-
Restart the pump
⚠️ Note: This will drain water from your pool, so it’s best to overfill your pool before starting this process.
Step 5: Begin Vacuuming
With the vacuum connected:
-
Slowly move the vacuum head across the pool floor.
-
Avoid fast movements that may stir up debris.
-
If the pool is especially dirty, you may need to pause and empty the pump strainer basket during the process.
Repeat until all debris is removed.
Step 6: Wrap Up
Once vacuuming is complete:
-
Disconnect the vacuum hose and head
-
Remove the skimmer plate and clean out any collected debris
-
Reset your filter valve if you used the “waste” setting
-
Backwash your filter (if applicable)
-
For a finishing touch, attach a brush to your telescopic pole and scrub the pool walls and floor
🎥 Helpful How-To Videos
Here are a few YouTube videos that visually demonstrate the vacuuming process.
📝 Note: These videos may include general directions that vary slightly from the steps outlined above. Always follow equipment-specific instructions when in doubt.
Need help or have questions about vacuuming your pool?
📞 Contact Premier Pool & Spa — we’re happy to walk you through it or recommend the right tools for your pool!
