Am i vacuuming my pool wrong?

[JeremyH]

I have always vacuumed my pool with the skimmer basket on, and yet when I vacuum; even now my filter clogs extremely quick as I am on week 2 of trying to open my pool yet it is still cloudy. My skimmer basket gets clogged with I believe algae or something green which restricts flow to the skimmer. Which causes my jets to turn gray or green when i can tell my skimmer basket is plugged off.
Would it be better to take my skimmer basket off and my pump basket off or leave the pump basket on and let it run to my filter. Then wash my filter down after it gains 10psi?
Btw it is a cartridge filter and I dont have a waste line just a hard piped line with a valve to drain the filter

 

[Fast7]

I definitely wouldn't try to vacuum without pump basket on. You will risk damaging propeller on a pump or getting it stuck and burning out the pump.
Do you have a lot of debris on a floor like leaves, etc. or is it just cloudy water? Do you have a pool cleaner you can run?

 

[Oly]

I would suggest using a leaf net to get out as much debris as you can.
You can also buy an inline filter canister that installs in your hose line and will catch the debris before it reaches your skimmer or pool filter.

 

[zea3]

Could you please post a complete set of test results? Your filter is doing its job to collect dirt and debris and may need more frequent cleaning if it clogs quickly. You always keep the pump strainer pot basket in place while you vacuum. You risk damaging the pump if you vacuum without it in place.

 

[JeremyH]

I am currently starting my pool up which isn't clear 2 weeks later, and am thinking I have algae in the pool. I have went to the pool store to many times and currently have another forum on here where i posted my results from the pool store. I am currently waiting on a taylor k-2006 test kit which comes Monday but here is what the pool company gave me yesterday. Another person told me to wait until Monday to add chemicals. And said to only add liquid chlorine.

 

[Fast7]

What did you add to your pool since you start opening it this year? By any chance did you add flocculant? Do you have pump running all the time?

 

[JeremyH]

chlorine, chlorine shock, pH balance, , alkalinity increase, and phosphate remover. I have also added clarifier last week but only once. And yes I have has the pool filter on 24/7 for 2weeks now. Also btw I have added about 45gallons of liquid chlorine in 2 weeks and im still at this dilemma.

 

[Fast7]

I bet your problem with poor vacuum performance and baskets plugging up is caused by clarifier you used. Your pool seem to have algae in it and clarifier just make it clump together.
At this point I would suggest adding about a gallon of 10% or 12% liquid chlorine a day until you receive your test kit. This should prevent the problem from getting worse. Once receive your kit, do all the tests and post your results.

 

[JeremyH]

Sweet thank you so much!

 

[JeremyH]

Btw I just scooped about 2 full skimmer bags of leaf's out the pool and a nice greenish blue gray is coating the pool now so I forsure have algae. Should I wait for my test kit or can I start to slam with those sticks until I get my kit? Or is the test that delicate and why I probably failed the first time?

 

[Pool_Medic]

Remove all organic material before you start pouring chlorine into it, it’s a long drawn out process trying to clear a pool with leaves and junk in it.

 

[LoneWolfArcher]

EDIT: Wait for a proper test kit.

 

[CarolineM]

First you need to get the leaf's out and add liquid chlorine everyday until your test kit arrives. Do not put anything else in your pool but liquid chlorine until you run the test and post your results. Vacuum and brush as much as possible to break down the bio film of the algae

 

[Fast7]

You can’t start SLAM without determining your CYA. If by any chance your CYA will be very high, you might even have to do partial drain. You also need to be able to keep checking your FC level often. That’s why you need your kit to do this.

 

[JeremyH]

So are test strips really that bad for measuring anything? Like I have some my cya says it's basically 0 and I go the pool store and it says its 3 I feel like that is pretty accurate to have to different tests telling me the same thing even if people believe only in dye tests. I'm all for using good test kits but idk if it just bias at that point.

 

[Fast7]

Test strips are the least accurate. They might give you some ballpark idea but that’s about all they are good for. Biggest problem is the fact that most if not all can only read to 5 FC, so they are useless when you try to SLAM properly.

 

[LoneWolfArcher]

Jeremy, pitch the strips!

 

[JeremyH]

I mean I plan on pitching the strips and have wanted to for the past year. And am currently doing so as my test kit comes Monday, but these test strips go to 10fc so they can read a little higher but definitely not to 50fc. I'm just trying to learn all I can and not spend tons of money in the process! Thank you for all your help will definitely keep you updated through the process!

 

[Oly]

Testing your pool water accurately at home and at the FC ranges necessary is the foundation of proper pool water management. Test Kits Compared
No guessing, no waiting for results, repeatable and no BS sales pitches.
A little money spent up front on proper tools can save you much more in the long run.

 

[JeremyH]

I just got my test and my pool is pretty clear. Should I wait to so my test after I vacuum cause all the dead algae and stuff is at the bottom or test and balance then vacuum?