: reduction – moins cher – reduction – The Proper Way to Vacuum an In-Ground Pool | Home Guides

Maintaining a sparkling, clean in-ground swimming pool requires a multitiered approach. Proper balance of pH and chlorine are the first level. Control of debris and foreign matter is next. Small particulates suspended in the pool are removed by the normal circulation of water through the filter. Larger, floating debris such as leaves are trapped in strainer baskets as the water passes through the skimmer or may be manually scooped out as required using a skimmer net on a telescoping pole. Dirt, debris and other contaminants that sink to the bottom of the pool, however, usually require vacuuming. Because debris in a pool may vary greatly from day to day depending on usage, many pool experts recommend vacuuming a residential pool “whenever it needs it” rather than sticking to a rigid schedule.

Pool vacuum heads are designed to attach to a universal snap fitting on the end of a telescoping pole that extends to a full length of 12 feet to 16 feet. This is the same pole that typically also accommodates a skimmer net, a pool brush and a hook for retrieving rafts and other flotation devices from the pool. Pool vacuum hoses come in lengths from 25 feet to 50 feet, with the shorter lengths being the most common for residential pools. Hoses generally have a swiveling 1.5-inch cuff at each end that attaches to the vacuum head and plugs into the skimmer vacuum port. The vacuum head for a standard concrete in-ground pool rides on a set of small plastic wheels that keep the vacuum head slightly elevated above the floor of the pool.

Before beginning the vacuuming process, air must be purged from all vacuum components. This is necessary to prevent air pockets from infiltrating the pool pump intake line, causing the pump to lose its prime. After attaching the vacuum head to the telescoping pole, one end of the vacuum hose is attached to the outlet fitting on the vacuum head and the vacuum head is submerged to the bottom of the deepest part of the pool. When the vacuum head is resting on the bottom, the remaining length of vacuum hose may be pushed under the surface, beginning where it emerges from the water, until the open end of the hose is submerged and the hose fills with water. Once the hose is completely filled, the open end should be held under water at all times to avoid allowing air into the hose.

A pool vacuum derives vacuum force from the pool circulation pump. Normally located in a recessed pit adjacent to the pool, the suction action of the pump pulls water through the skimmer inlets, then pumps it through the pool filter and back to the pool through the return lines. After the skimmer lid and the strainer basket are removed, the pool vacuum hose is threaded through the skimmer inlet, keeping the open end submerged at all times, then plugged into the suction port at the bottom of the skimmer well. In this configuration, vacuum force from the pump is diverted through the hose to the vacuum head at the bottom of the pool. If the pool incorporates more than one skimmer, the vacuum hose should be plugged into the skimmer located nearest to the pool pump in order to derive maximum vacuum force. If the pool plumbing includes dedicated intake valves for individual skimmers, the valves leading to all other skimmers should be closed during vacuuming.

Filter systems in smaller residential pools often incorporate two-position, “push-pull” valves that don’t give you the option of vacuuming to waste. In these pools, all vacuumed water is conveyed through the filter. Multiport filter valves, however, offer six or seven settings, including two alternatives for vacuuming. The proper setting on the multiport filter valve depends upon the debris load in the pool. Vacuuming with the valve set in the standard “Filter” setting conveys vacuumed water and debris through the pool filter, then recirculates the filtered water back to the pool. When vacuuming a pool with only a routine amount of dust and dirt on the bottom, or when the filter valve is the two-position type, the “Filter” setting can be used as long as the pool filter is backwashed after vacuuming is completed to remove debris trapped by the filter. However, if the pool has a heavy debris load, such as a pool that has sat unused for a season or a pool with a severe algae outbreak, the multiport valve should be set to “Waste.” This setting bypasses the filter and diverts vacuumed water and debris directly down the waste line to the sewer. Vacuuming to “Waste” prevents overloading the filter with debris and/or contaminating the filter media with large amounts of live algae or chemical flocculants used to clear the water after algae is killed. Since vacuumed water does not return to the pool in the “Waste” setting, the pool water level will drop during vacuuming. Fresh water should be added to the pool to prevent air from entering the skimmer inlet.

Vacuuming can be accomplished by rolling the vacuum head across the bottom in back and forth rows, much like mowing a yard. Begin vacuuming in the deep end of the pool and work your way to the shallow end. Roll the vacuum head slowly across the bottom to avoid stirring up debris that may cloud the water and reduce visibility. Should the head become stuck to the pool, such as when maneuvering the head over the edge of the elevated safety ledge incorporated near the bottom of some pools, turning off the pool pump momentarily will interrupt the vacuum force and release it. During the course of vacuuming, larger debris like leaves and sticks may accumulate in the pump strainer basket, causing vacuum force to decrease. Periodic cleaning of the strainer will restore vacuum. Also, when vacuuming with the multiport valve in the “Filter” setting, the filter pressure gauge should be monitored at intervals. If pressure exceeds manufacturer’s specifications, vacuuming should be interrupted and the filter backwashed following normal procedures for the filter model and type.

After vacuuming, remove the vacuum head from the telescoping pole and drain residual water out of the vacuum hose. Attach a cleaning brush to the telescoping pole and brush any remaining algae or dirt off the sides of the pool. Debris in the pump strainer basket should be cleared and any valves to additional skimmers re-opened to restore complete circulation. The filter will require final backwashing if the multiport valve was in the “Filter” position. If the pool was vacuumed with the multiport valve in the “Waste” setting, return the valve to the “Filter” setting and add fresh water to raise the level in the pool. After the addition of fresh water, the pool should be tested and chemicals added to restore the proper balance of chlorine and adjust the pH of the water.