Short answer
To vacuum a pool by hand, attach the vacuum head to a pole, fill the hose with water so there is no air in it, connect it to the skimmer or vacuum port with the pump running, and move the head slowly across the floor in overlapping rows. For heavy dirt or dead algae on a sand or DE filter, vacuum to waste.
Vacuuming looks like the easy part of pool care until the pump loses prime halfway through or the dirt you just picked up blows straight back in through the returns. Here is how to do it so it actually works, and when to send the water to waste instead of through the filter.
How do you vacuum a pool manually?
Set up, then go slowly. The steps are below. The two things that matter most are getting all the air out of the hose before you connect it, and moving the head slowly enough that you lift the dirt instead of stirring it into a cloud.
What does vacuum to waste mean?
It sends the water you vacuum straight out of the pool instead of through the filter. On a sand or DE filter with a multiport valve, turn the valve to Waste. Use it for heavy dirt, dead algae after a shock or fine silt that would pass right through the filter and back into the pool. It drains water as you go, so watch the level and top it up afterward. Cartridge filters have no waste setting; vacuum through the filter and clean the cartridge after.
Why does my pool pump lose prime when I vacuum?
Air. Usually the hose was not completely full of water when it went on, the head came up out of the water, or the water level is low enough that the skimmer is pulling air. Refill the hose, keep the head under water, and check the water level. More on the right level in what level should pool water be.
How often should you vacuum a pool?
Once a week for most Florida pools, and after any storm that drops debris in. Pools under oaks or without a screen enclosure often need more. Vacuuming is part of every visit in our weekly pool service.
Should you brush before you vacuum?
Yes. Brush the walls and steps first so what is clinging to them settles on the floor, give it some time, then vacuum it up.
Can you vacuum a pool without a pump?
You can siphon it with a garden hose, which is slow and works best for small spots. For a whole pool, the pump or a robotic cleaner is the practical way.
Is a robotic pool cleaner worth it?
It does a good daily pickup and saves a lot of manual vacuuming, especially in leafy yards. It does not test or balance the water, clean the filter, or brush the tile line, so it is a help, not a replacement for the rest of the weekly routine.
How to vacuum a pool by hand
- 1
Brush first
Brush the walls and steps so the dirt settles to the floor.
- 2
Assemble the vacuum
Attach the vacuum head to the pole and the hose to the head.
- 3
Fill the hose with water
Lower the head to the floor and feed the hose into the pool, or hold its open end over a return, until no more bubbles come out.
- 4
Connect to suction
With the pump running, connect the full hose to the skimmer vacuum plate or the vacuum port without letting air in.
- 5
Vacuum slowly
Move the head slowly across the floor in overlapping rows, keeping it under water. For heavy debris on a sand or DE filter, set the valve to Waste.
- 6
Finish and clean up
Empty the skimmer and pump baskets, check the filter pressure, and top up the water if you vacuumed to waste.
Quick answers
- Why is dirt blowing back into the pool while I vacuum?
- The filter is letting it through, usually because it is too fine for the filter or the filter needs cleaning. Vacuum to waste on a sand or DE filter, and clean the filter.
- Should I vacuum a green pool?
- Shock and filter first. Once the algae is dead and has settled, vacuum it out, to waste if you can.
- How long does it take to vacuum a pool?
- Usually half an hour to an hour for a typical backyard pool, longer after a storm.
Keep reading
How often should you clean a pool filter?
Clean or backwash the filter when the pressure gauge reads about 8 to 10 psi above its clean starting pre...
What level should pool water be?
Keep pool water about halfway up the skimmer opening, or roughly the middle of the tile line. Too low and...
What does a weekly pool service include?
A proper weekly pool service includes skimming the surface, vacuuming the floor, brushing the walls and s...
How to get algae out of a pool
To clear a green pool: balance the pH to about 7.2, shock with roughly three times the normal dose after ...
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