I'm going to open my pool this year by myself for the first time and have a couple of questions.

[Woody007]

Edit-update.
With help from a friend we removed the mesh cover.
The water was pretty decent with a slight layer of silt on the bottom and a pile of dead worms in the deep end.
I managed to install all the drain plugs and the DE filter along with the SWG and took return plugs out. No leaks (knock on wood)
Set the multi valve to recirculate and everything primed up nicely and then switched to drain.
Getting the vacuum plate to stay on the skimmer was the most difficult part, but got it going and sucked up some of the debris and stirred up the rest.
The DE filter has done a great job filtering the silt and the waters very clear now.
I'll have to backwash the DE later as the silt has raised the pressure about 5psi.
Just wanted to say thanks for the guidance and it all worked out well.


I've watched long enough opening and closing that I think I can do it with a little help.
I'm on a search for a way to clean the debris off the bottom without going through the pool pump to waste. It seems that the pool pump would lower the water faster than I could get the bottom cleaned.
I was told that I can siphon the water from the pool? I have a side that is lower than the water level, so technically I should be able to do it but I've never tried. Using 1.5 hose, would that generate enough vacuum to actually pull debris out? The guys that have been opening it have an old pool pump they use, but I'm trying to see what I can do with what I have.
As far as vacuum head, is there one better than another? Liner safe. There are a ton on Amazon, and I don't know one from another.

https://www.amazon.com/Milliard-Flexible-Vacuum-Cleaning-Debris/dp/B00IT2VZIC/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=pool+cleaning+vacuum+head&qid=1677021177&sprefix=pool+cleaning+va,aps,127&sr=8-19

https://www.amazon.com/POOLWHALE-Rectangle-Vacuum-Bristles-Connection/dp/B089LKFSKT/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=pool+cleaning+vacuum+head&qid=1677021177&sprefix=pool+cleaning+va,aps,127&sr=8-14

Any input would be appreciated on my siphon idea and vac head.

 

[woodyp]

We taking about dirt....or debris.....tons of leaves and stuff?

 

[Newdude]

I think I can do it with a little help.

I promise you that you can.

seems that the pool pump would lower the water faster than I could get the bottom cleaned.
I was told that I can siphon the water from the pool?

That's the nature of the beast. You can take several gentle passes with the pool brush, allowing 20 minutes to settle, and move the bulk of it to one general area. Then you only waste a little water sucking that out. It takes some patience, but the crud will move. Once the big stuff is out, vac the rest through the filter.

I use the filter for the whole thing, then clean the filter.

As far as vacuum head, is there one better than another?

The pump and RPM options dictate that. Everyone has to experiment to see what works best with their setup. With a VS pump that I can dial in for the right suction power, the Hayward triangle one with bristles works for me. I like it because it technically brushes while vacuuming, for a two-fer.

https://www.amazon.com/Hayward-SP1068-Pool-Vacuum-Cleaner/dp/B002EL3YME/ref=asc_df_B002EL3YME/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198100862572&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3989051037947512830&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004557&hvtargid=pla-319121134762&psc=1

 

[Woody007]

I use the filter for the whole thing, then clean the filter.

I like your idea to brush the debris to one area, that should help a lot, thanks! I guess a fair amount of dirt will go out through the main drain in the deep end.

I should have mentioned my filter is DE, so backwashing is more of a deal.

Thanks for the vac head link. That looks like a good choice for a liner pool.

 

[Woody007]

We taking about dirt....or debris.....tons of leaves and stuff?

A handful of small leaves. Mostly fine dirt that made it through the cover.

 

[woodyp]

Man I gotta say.....I'd just dip out that few leaves and vac the rest to the filter if water loss is a concern.

 

[Bperry]

A deep pool net on a pole does a good job for leaves. I just had my kids scoop out leaves every week during the winter and and using a pool robot to keep picking up dirt.

 

[phonedave]

A pool leaf rake works a LOT better than a pool skimmer for removing leaves and other debris from the bottom of the pool.

 

[Woody007]

I promise you that you can.


That's the nature of the beast. You can take several gentle passes with the pool brush, allowing 20 minutes to settle, and move the bulk of it to one general area. Then you only waste a little water sucking that out. It takes some patience, but the crud will move. Once the big stuff is out, vac the rest through the filter.

I use the filter for the whole thing, then clean the filter.

The pump and RPM options dictate that. Everyone has to experiment to see what works best with their setup. With a VS pump that I can dial in for the right suction power, the Hayward triangle one with bristles works for me. I like it because it technically brushes while vacuuming, for a two-fer.

https://www.amazon.com/Hayward-SP1068-Pool-Vacuum-Cleaner/dp/B002EL3YME/ref=asc_df_B002EL3YME/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198100862572&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3989051037947512830&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004557&hvtargid=pla-319121134762&psc=1

Another question for you...
Is it a good idea to plug the other skimmer while vacuuming? I'd leave the main drain open and plug one of the two skimmers with a softball.

 

[Newdude]

Is it a good idea to plug the other skimmer while vacuuming?

I have to turn off both the main drains and 2nd skimmer to remove the other paths with less resistance.

 

[Winger 03]

A pool leaf rake works a LOT better than a pool skimmer for removing leaves and other debris from the bottom of the pool.

A rake is a game changer for loads of leaves.

 

[Woody007]

Updated first post with how the opening went for me.