Learning to vacuum

[Wobblerlorri]

You know, I've never suction vac'ed a pool. I just realized that. With the old IG pool we had the Wheely Guy (Polaris 360), and my first vac with this pool was one of those water powered jobbies. So suction vacing is new to me.

First of all, I had trouble getting all the air out of the hose, which is 25' long in a 14' pool. Then I had trouble getting the suction plate to seat (removing the skimmer sock worked there). Then the hoses kept popping off the vac head and the suction plate.

I managed to vac up a little bit of stuff off the floor, but not a lot. Curious. I also forgot to close off the other inlet.

So the question is: should I shorten the hose to about 17' or so? Or will plugging that other inlet take care of it? Can hose length be too long for a pump? What length does a 0.5 hp pump like?

It's an experience!

 

[iamnos]

We have a 1/2HP pump, and I'd guess 30' long hose.
My process:

• Close valve to drains at bottom of pool (all suction coming through skimmer)
• Filter/pump on
• Remove cap over filter
• Place vacuum skimmer plate next to skimmer
• Attach vacuum head to pole
• Attach hose to vacuum head
• Place these in water, with pole sticking out
• Unwind hose, trying to get it reasonably straight, lying in the pool as I walk to the return closest to the skimmer
• Fill hose with water using return, hose will settle in water, and wait for bubble to quit coming out of vacuum attachment
• Place hand over end of hose and walk over to the skimmer
• Quickly place hose on skimmer plate and get it in the skimmer
• Vacuum pool (keeping an eye on returns to make sure I haven't lost prime).
• Afterwards, turn check PSI on filter to see if a backwash is needed
• Turn off pump, open valve to drains, remove skimmer plate and replace cover
• Put skimmer end of hose in pool
• Pull out pole and vacuum (letting pole drain into pool)
• Pull the hose out from that end, so water is draining back into pool
• Put equipment away
• If required, backwash and rinse filter
• Turn pump/filter back on if it's during a normal filter cycle

 

[Geebot]

Definitely put a rubber stopper in the other inlet. You want all your suction at the hose. Easiest way to get air out of hose is to put the opening against the return outlet until the length of hose fills with water.

 

[frogabog]

Don't take the basket out unless you want to clean the debris from the leaf basket/strainer at the pump inlet. The Hayward skimmer works with the basket inside. Pretty sure you've got the same one I do. Sounds like you just need more suction. Closing off that other suction should do it.

To fill the hose with water, I just put the vac head on the pole with the hose attached, and then push the hose down till I get to the end.

Vacuum slowly. Stop over any very dirty spots and let it work for a few seconds when needed.

 

[Wobblerlorri]

Yeah, I left the basket in, but had to take the sock off. It kept fouling the seal of the plate to the skimmer.

have I mentioned lately how much I love that skimmer? ?

 

[frogabog]

have I mentioned lately how much I love that skimmer? ?

IKR? My 19yo son gave me a rash of ? about insisting on installing it first thing because he felt I was going overboard and was worried about a hole in the pool. He was just an actual kid when I installed my first one and wasn't the one who had to care for the pool. He knows nothing.

He also didn't like the new Quinten Tarentino movie while I liked it a lot. I went to see it with 7 people 21yo and under last night. My oldest son the history buff and I were the only ones who didn't hate it or fall asleep at some point.