How To Vacuum Your Fibreglass Pool
Sometimes your pool can have organic matter or dirt that your trusty skimmer simply cannot reach. For these types of occasions, you’ll need to rely on your pool vacuum to keep your pool looking its best. Thankfully, vacuuming is a pain-free process that is easy to pick up and integrate into your current cleaning schedule.
The Advantages Of Vacuuming Your Pool Yourself
Vacuuming your pool can come off as an overwhelming idea at first, especially if you haven’t used one before. The vacuum tool is quite different from a skimmer and has a few more components that you will need to be aware of.
However, doing your own vacuuming can provide plenty of benefits:
- Vacuuming your pool yourself is a cheaper option than hiring an outside service
- Vacuuming your pool contributes to its longevity and health, meaning you will be able to enjoy your pool for longer
- Regular vacuuming can keep organic debris and dirt from negatively affecting your pool’s Ph balance
- It’s a great workout for your arms!
The Different Parts Of A Vacuum That You’ll Need
So now that you know how important it is to vacuum your pool, it’s time to understand the tool itself and what you will need in the first place.
A vacuum head is the first component that you will notice: the head is what will suck up any dirt from the floor of your pool. It is attached to the telescopic pole of the vacuum.
The telescopic pole is what you will be holding onto while you clean. Modern-day vacuums have adjustable poles so that you can get to those hard to reach spots in your pool.
A vacuum hose is the ribbed tube of plastic, usually coloured blue, that connects your vacuum head to your pool’s pump. All dirt will travel through this tube, so it is important that you keep it untangled and make sure there are no leaks.
A skim vac or vacuum plate is the final component of your pool’s vacuum. This part sits on top of your pool’s strainer basket.
How Do I Use My Vacuum?
Follow these easy steps to vacuum your pool efficiently:
- Don’t underestimate how strenuous vacuuming your pool can take. It is harder than skim cleaning your pool, so you should come prepared. Make sure to take regular breaks!
- Using long strokes, start your vacuum at the shallow end of your pool and work towards the deep end. Make sure that if any sediment comes loose you come back to clean it again. Always overlap your vacuum strokes somewhat, to ensure you don’t miss any sediment.
- Always make sure to be patient and take your time as you vacuum. Unlike skim cleaning, you can’t rush vacuuming. This is because moving your vacuum head too fast may disturb any sediment that is resting on your pool floor and make your pool water cloudy.
- If the water does become too cloudy because of disturbed sediment, make sure to take an hour or two break to let it settle, before coming back and cleaning again.
- Finish your vacuum strokes at the deep end of your pool, adjusting your telescopic pole’s height if necessary.
Post-Clean Finish
The final step to vacuuming your pool requires you to clean your vacuum! Surprising, we know, but it’s essential. Unscrew the head of your vacuum and drain any excess water that might have collected there during your clean.
Once the vacuum is clean, replace the head with a brush. Use this brush to scrub down the surface of your pool, or any blemishes caused by organic debris (leaves) that you can spot. This sediment should be dissolved by your pool’s chlorine, but if you notice it settling onto the floor of your pool, then consider doing brushing before you vacuum.
As always, you will want to double-check that your filter is performing optimally. Vacuuming tends to put your filter under additional strain. Ensure that not blockages have formed as a result of your clean – this will be less likely if your vacuum clean is a regular affair.
Final Steps
Congratulations! You just successfully vacuumed your pool! Many pool owners can make the mistake of thinking they only need to skim clean their pool; but properly vacuuming is a crucial component in keeping your pool healthy for many years to come. A pool cover will help tremendously in keeping out most organic debris, making your cleaning process even easier; but first, you’ll need a pool! Here at Newcastle Swimming Pools, we have Australia’s favourite range of fibreglass pools. Contact us today for your free quote!
